The Pickens sentinel-journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1903-1906, 1904-11-23

E9s=s5gIs EaS9sSsi= zlIs! further side of the house.
a-S4 softened by distance.
moonlight, broken up by intervening
trees into bars and splotches OF gold
en- radiance, lay all about them as they
< walked up and down the veranda.
The right kind OF a woman always
appreciates q proposal of marriage
from any man as Il great compliment.
Coming from YOU it is the much more
to be valued, but L cannot marry you"
said the woman.
Il have to thank you for having lis
tened to me so patiently. Might L
respass a little more upon your good
nature and ask permission to discuss
the matter further with you?"
No amount of discussion can profit
either of us, so far as | can see. But
as | have said, in asking me to marry
you great compliment was paid me,
and in return for that compliment I
suppose that owe you permission to
andulge your love for discussion or ar
gument."
Thanks for the permission" said
the man, still In his stolid manner. 81
cannot recognize my proposal as. in
any sense, u compliment, but L am
willing that you should, If you wish.
take the manner In which / made It MS
compliment. Recognizing the sDlen-
did development of your own logical
faculties. have made my offer Of mar
riage In perfectly buslness-like form.
have heard you often declare that a
contract Of marriage is like any other
contract, and should be entered into
only when both parties are fully aware
OF what they are doing"
DO you think women are ever en-.
flrely consistent?' interrupted the wo.
man.
The man looked trihc surprised
and replied:
AT least, / give you credit for hav-
ing splendidly consistent mind. You
do not mean that 1 have erred In my
manner OF proposing. that you would
nave preferred more or an air OF ro-
nance, and all that sort Of thing?"
Now, the situation Is something like
this" continued the man In very much
fhe same tone of voice that he would
nave used In arguing an important case
before the Supreme Court. you are
twenty .nine--or Is 1t thirty?-years old.
nave reputation as beauty, and all
that You can, | know, marry any one
OF two or three men who eau offer vOu
at least as mnch,as /, but modesty was
never a prevailing characteristic of
nine, and I have rot feared TO meas.
ure myself with these other men.
"On the other hand 1 can give you
pretty much anything You desire that
costs money 1 stand well in my pro.
ression. and have prospects OF soon be
ing near the tpp of Ii. Altogether. I
am satisfied thnt any one would call II
very suitable match all around"
Does the prosecution here close its
caser inquired the woman laughing
little.
Il hardly care to regard the matter
as one OF prosecution ana defense. -
SAID the man imperturbably. "but if
you wish to use the terms am forced
to admit their applicability. VIII the
defense rest it's case on The testimony
submitted By the prosecution, or will
II elect to submit un argumcntf"
The defense Will submit an arg,l.
ment, replied the woman. II admit
that the match would be. as you say.
pronounced suitable TO every one. AZ
for the two or three other men whom
you aver that can marry at any time.
cannot answer. / have noticed that
the number OF my proposals has been
falling OFF of late, and I attributed the
fact to advancing age. You were right
when you seld was thirty. / NAV
close the discussion by saying that I
i've made up my mind to become IN
old maidn
Bar y" il fropt me to say anything
keinst tnoec estimalle members OF
ely, the pld maids" said the man.
do'not think sou win ever bc
them. "A use man once sais
cowi d reelusa always hides
disappointea lover or a great
alid. while DO not lad6fse tfp
llissrielldedi& am arm ii 80
,;fy old maid is woman
ppoirted in love or who
seiqsh ever TO