The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1905-04-20
AN EASTER PROPOSAL.

iudicrous, gushing cpistle. I could hardly
refrain from laughing aloud and naturally
thought how different it was from the
nice, sensible one I had dispatched to Miss
Helen GoldroN that afternoon, wherein I
had politely added that L would call for
my answer in a couple of days-on the fol-
lowing Sunday in fact, Easter Sunday.
Bifkins looked the whole thing over, and
then, looking up at me obviously, asked:
Say, old fellow, do you think this is all
right? Isn't it just-er-just a trihc-er-
strong?"
1t was all I could do to keep from
laughing right at him, poor chap, but l
restrained myself and said in an injured
tone:
That's the usual thanks a fellow gets
for helping a friend out"
ooh, say, old chap, 1 didn't mean that
he said, apologizing profusely. of course
it's all right if you say so"-this even
more obviously.
of course it isl 1 answered gayly, and
then / stayed until l saw him put it in
an envelope and send it out to be posted.
1t was a great lark, I thought, as /
strolled home afterward, and when Easter
Sunday came l spruced myself up to wait
upon the sweet and wealthy Helen, to
whom I thought, after 1 had been ac-
cepted, l might tell the farce, and. as
she always exceedingly enjoyed a joke,
after she had playfully chidcd me for be-
ing SO cruel, ] was quite sure to have her
join me in a hearty laugh at poor Bifkins'
expense.
] made my way to the GoldroX mansion,
and being admitted waited in the parlor
several minutes for Helen to come down.
Having to wait was unquestionably a good
sign, thought !; girls always like to put
a few finishing touches on their toilet
before they come down to meet their
future husbands, and I was rather glad
she made me wait.
When she did come Down she didn't act
just as I'd hoped she would-that is, she
didn't come nesting into my arms or any
thing of that sort. But then, thought I,
Helen always q sensible sort of girl and
wasn't very apt to do that sort Of thing.
So we just shook hands and 1 sat down
on the sofa, but instead Of joining me
Helen took a seat in one Of the chairs
that stood quite near to the sofa, but yet
not near enough to be comfortable.
I confess I was slightly embarrassed for
a moment, but recovering my self COM
mand 1 softly whispered:
Helen, I've come in person to urge what
I asked in my letter of proposal and hon
estly, sincerely trust that you care suf-
ticiently for me to trust your future hap
piness in my hands,"
Helen didn't speak for nearly a minute,
when, sinking her voice, she said: Be
lieve me, Mr.. Hardup, l am equally sin
cerely sorry, and 1 should have written
you, only 1 didn't know how to put it,
but the very next day after your pro-
posal 7 received another, SO passionate,
SO f1attering, so-oh, so beautiful,'-and
her eyes lit up-"that, though / have al
ways had a most friendly regard for you
I could not resist-thc gentleman who
wrote the other proposals passionate
beautiful pleading, and l wrote him a let.
ter accepting him by return mail. Il
4 hama o,-nr p, M .,-n ma T'y, n r,f,,ll =,
awfully sorry, but then there are any
number of other really nice girls, and
and" and then no doubt fearing She
might put her foot iii it Helen said ne
more.
I sat half dazed for a moment ant
murmur, May I ask the gentleman:
nane?"
Yes she answered timidly; sit!
Mr.. Bifkins.'
1 was almost tempted to burst on
laughing. l thought it must be a joke
+ But instead l merely murmured, ''Anc
: do you care SO much for him?'
!? well, candidly,'' she replied, ..
I hadn't thought much about him before
. y-before I received his proposal. bu
+ when / read that, SO fiery, so kind, 81
full of burning admiration, my eye
seemed to open and read my heart Alright
5 and in the-the-enthusiasm and fervor o
the moment ] sent him my reply
? After that l didn't stay to hear mucl
+ more, and as I went down the front stair
e L didn't know whether 1 ought to laugl
or feel sorry.
But as i went up the street and tn
RECOLLECTION of that ludicrous letter file.
with the mbecile gush and farce coined
heroics that l had dictated for Bifkin
came back to me and I came to conside
that Helen Goldrox had taken the Laur
Jean Libbyian sentiments as serious an