The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1906-03-09
TIE PROPOSAL
By FRANCOIS dc MON.

the fruit trees that were
goSsS one immense bank OF
bloom and the sunshine that played
upon It all, throwing some Of the colors
into high relief and shading others
glowing richly in the soft shadows,
tender perfumes lowered in the warm
mir, while fragile, delightful rustllngs
and whisperings were all that broke
the silence.
Jean de GAGE, as ne opened the gate,
drew in a long breath Of happiness.
From where he stood he could see the
green sweep Of the lawn, the graceful
trees and winding walls; his hear.
grew light, and, smiling, he bowed
deeply to this paradise.
A white skirt futtered near the edge
OF the little wood, moving with a quick,
rusting motion; he recognized the par
asol, the dainty, rose-colored waist and
The white skirt, and as the owner of
the parasol turned the corner he caught
glimpse of n beautiful face.
M de GAGE felt happier and younger
than ever; his forty-fve years slipped
away from him as a dead leaf from its
branch; he did not know what it was
to grow old. He had married very
early in life, and his wife whom he
adored, had died soon after the birth
OF their son; and since then, on account
Of the passionate eagerness with which
he had thrown himself into his work
he had scarcely perceived the passing
of the time. There was no touch of
white among his brown hairs nor in
his short mustache, and his step was
quick and alert.
But during the last year. since the
Mainfroys had moved into the country
house that adioned his own estate. he
had grown younger than ever; he had
scarcely noticed that his son Robert
had left for Japan, as attache to the
French Embassy, nor that Miss Maud.
his finest mare, whom he had entered
for the Oaks race had suddenly gone
lame He was absorbed in one dom
mating thought that he was in love
with Helen Mainfroy, and that, in all
probability, should he ask her hand. it
would be given him.
Suddenly she called to him.
Il have just been down TO see your
horses run; Norfolk is simply superb. I"
nj. de GAGE was enchanted, not with
the compliment bestowed upon his
horse, but with the bright Joy Of Hell
ems smile. He looked loncingly ut her.
delighting in each fresh aspect of her
beauty and then feeling that it was
time for him to make some reply, he
asked:
us your father here%
Eyes" she answered conscious of
his emotion, "he is settling his accounts
in the summer house. / heard the lit.
tie tinSle of the bell by the garden
gate, and, thinking it was you, l came
to meet YOU"
How good Of you!-Guess, If you
can, who dropped down upon me yes.
terday, fresh from the skies, or rather
from another world?"
Prom another world?"
Eyes; it was my Robert. my young
diplomat I didn't expect him for an,
other month, but he came through
without stopping, and arrived without
even sending me n telegram He
seemed to think it was an everyday
affair to come back from Japan"
Il shall be very glad to meet him, y
said Helen, lowering her parasol.
zone reason of my coming here now
was to ask your permission to bring
him to call tomorrow" said NJ. dC
GAGE slowly. He was silent for a mo
ment, as if to give more emphasis t.
his words, and then he went on, his
words coming crisply and his eyes fixeC
up on the ground.
Robert is now definitely settled, his
career is established, and he has moth
ins to do but to go ahead; he was still
a good deal of boy when he left fo1
Japan, but he has come home a man
/ do not need to worry any longer
about him. And it is this fact thai
has decided me to take, with your
fathers permission, a step with whose
nature have already acquainted him.
In spite of himself, the man looked
mp to watch the effect of his words
Helen was standing motionless while
the quick color played in her cheeks
Her little hand trembled upon the
handle of her parasol as she traced
vague patterns in the garden walk.
AZ. de GAGE longed to take possession
OF this little hand, to tell her how
much he loved her and ask her if she
would be his wife. He felt instinct.
lively that the moment was divine. Had