The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1904-07-07
a RgAsosAslG c ouRrshlp.


as reason bad became . fetish With him.
Every humsn action. he argued, should be
conirolled by +, The majority Of people
we're largely IL 6aenesd by their feelirgs !;
he, Thomas EllIoi, twenty -slI, good look
leg and fairly wealthy, would turn bis
mental sdvsntsge 10 some sccoun, ard tc
guided solely BY hIsrsson.
lie explained ti, theory to an attractive
yourg woman who had gone Gu, on The
river with him. Partly bsosuse her mind
Was too much occupied with the speaker to
comprehend the full purport OF his remarks
and partly becsufe her feminine tact for
bAde opposition 10 an urirportant thug,
Miss Marshall nodded her pretty bead In
entire assent.
la an assured fact, he went %, that all
the unhsppiness In the world 10 csu,ed BY
the Inability TO reason. Maried life 10
miserable Jast bebauie II 10 not put upon =
reasonable basis. Any two human telrgs
cspsble OF reasoning would be happy to-
ge,her II ths, poIat were kept constantly
In view. P,rf,ct, abiolute truthfulness
aud constant reasoning from 1t, form the
only sure foundation for happiness. Am
rlgh,f
She twisted the corners Of her hsndker-
chief Yes, thirk you are.
Ellio, paced up and down with his hands
10 his pockets a symptom OF ner.
vousness which women mistake ford eep
thought.
Belle, be said suddenly, | have always
liked you. You have so much more sense
than most giils. | am sot going to natter
you, but you are the only woman ever
saw who seemed to be reasonable being
What want to aik you 10, will you try u
with mes
Miss Msrshall opened her brown eyes In
amtz ment. Since she left boarding
school the approach Of the Eliot plinet
had materially confused her orbit. S1e
had often dresmed Of the effer Of Toms
heart and hand, but for orce the conien-
aus Of masculIEe opinion to the contrary.
. woman WAS surprised by proposal.
What on earth do you mean fhe gasp.
ed.
Just this. You and are congenial, OF
an equal station in life, and ! believe we
could be happy together--happier than the
average married couple. There's no wishy.
wasby sentimentsllty about It, we know
each other, and that is enough.
There was terrific thumping going on
In the region where Miss Marshall had
mentally located her heart. She took
refuge 10 that platiiude Of her sex which
gosds an ordinary lover to desperation:
This 10 so iudden, Mr.. Elliot ! must
take time to consider.
Very well, take your own time. III
be good husband to you, Belle, II you'll
only give me the chance.
In the solitude Of her "den", Belle Mar. Z
shall gave the matter serious consideration. !
Safely intrenched behind formal proposal I
.he admitted to herself that she loved him '
"a confession that no woman ever makes
until the Rubioon has been crossed. But a
even the most love blinded dsnsel could
not trantfixure Elliot's demeanor into that u
Of q lover. Within her reach, In secret g
was q Pile Of impsssioned letters
and withered rose; on her desk . photo Z
graph CT q handsome face which she had r
last seen white to the lips with pain. He
had called her cruel, and she had smiled 8
family at the Harvard pin which ihe wore, o
ard bade him 60. II
Then there was another, Of whom Belle q
did not like to think, though she went 10 v
bis grave sometimes with remorseful de-
sire to mske iome tort Of an atonement.
He was oply boy-and some women know Y
what 1t ia to be loved by aboy.
She compared the pleading Of the others
with Elllot's business.like offsr ,and wonder "
ID at the severity Of fate. Then she wrote y
. note: miss Marshall accepts with plea. o.
lure Mr.. Eliots klrd invitation to become h
bis wife" AID sent It by MESSENGER. ~
Before burning her relics, as an engaged IL
,irl should, she sat down to look them over u
,nce more. With Spartan-like resolve nl
he put every letter and keepsake into the 81
Itcritical nime. When II was over thc
iehoo, for the hsd nothing left but memory al
md the scarcely impas,ioned promise OF the e'
morning I'll be agoed husband to you, re
,elic, II you'll only give me the chance. W
Her note would doubtless be answered 10 ~
'erson, and she donned pretty white gown
hat she might not keep him waiting. She al
ried vainly to tone down her 4 nished NJ
heeks with powder.
You're nice sort Of Giil, she tald to 10
erself, for reasonable marriage!
Just then the dooIbell rarg, and she pi
sw to answer the summors. There was nc
o one else In the house, the coat was
lear, she was AZ engaged girl. She start w
a ln surprise as Elliot walked aolemnly on tn
y her after ,he had closed the door. OF
Nice afternoon, he iaid. ne
There Was no doubt about It; Miss Mar sn
bali had expected to be kissed. SIN, un- 10
Bile to speak, she followed him into the
nlor. He turned to q .r her chair, ard an
lsiartly read her thought. hi'
Ysu need fear nothing OF the kird from III
'e, he said, 10 the laundering way which ini
zen consider high power Cf tact. I.i ye
pt hygienic, and 10 known cause Of WI
Iscase. Above all things, let Us be sensi. pi'
10. ",
Yoa got my nottf abe iqaired family.
Yes, ard cane to thank you for the Nv
onor you have conferred upon me. 10. 1n'
ire you fully appreciate i.S-noie, per. We
,ps, than can make you understand. nin
Throughout hi, cali be WAS diEuined and AL
iendly, but she WAS In = state tf nervous wn
rci.ement which bordered on hYsteris. 10
700 are reivcus and wrought, he ca
I'D 10 kiDdg way Perh,ps would bet. e''
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