The Newark journal. (Newark, Ark.) 1901-1959, 1906-03-23
THREE PROPOSALS
By HAROLD EYRE
Copyright, 1905 by Joseph e. Bowles
THE FIRST.

THE FIRST.
From where he sat the young man
could see his reflection in the pier
glass Taking advantage of moment
when the girls attention was distract
ed, he raised his hand furtively to LIS
brow and with a movement almost inn
perceptible. rufiled the long hair into
more picturesque disorder.
Miss Norton he began when her
gaze agail met his, will you allow
me to leap fo1 an instant the barriers
of con- ention which surround u.s."
Certainly" she answered, If you
don't leap too high.
.Oae cannot leap too high" he OBJ
served sententiously. not even to
reach star. want you to let me
talk 70 you for a little while freely
and frankly, as one human being to
another Let me ask you this: DO you
not have moments when the whole
world seems a vast eXpanse of dark
ness without the oasis OF a single beam
OF light?"
I suppose, she assented, we all
have our moods of depression. | don't
know why l should hope 10 escape
them
Yes, be continued. You have
youth beauty. intellect-a rare com
bination. And still by your own ad.
mission you are not happy. Does not
that point a morale"
i don't know. I'm sure. What
moral?"
1t is that you were not sent into
the world to live alone. What you need
is the companionship of kindred
soul. OF one endowed with the quail
ties requisite to round your life into
a harmonious whole.
Il see And what kind of person dc
you think that kindred soul ought tc
be-"
Involuntarily the young mans eyes
again sought the glass. In the first
place he should have youth and
health. Worldly possessions in such
a matter are of little consequence
When two people are happy in them.
selves, poverty loses its sting. What
is much more important is that this
kindred soul should be in complete
sympathy with you. He should be 8
man of the world, yet unsullied by
contact with the more ignoble things
of life. He should have an artistic
temperament. capable of approaching
the beautiful in every form. Above
all, he should understand you fully
so that he might read your heart like
an open book"
What a wonderfully gifted individ
ual ne would have to be" remarked
the girl. DO you know anyone who
could do all that:
Il think so" replied the young man
confidently. In fact | may say | am
sure | do. One who not only is pos
sessed of the qualities | have referred
to, but who is most anxious to be put
to the test.
why. who could that be-"
Myself say it in all modesty
although it is perhaps more than
ought to say, and yet when two souls
who need each other who. firmly be
lieve, were intended for each other
when two such souls may-er-unite
to the lasting happiness of both. surely
the lack of a few plain words should
not keep them apart"
Believe me" said the girl, after
oecent interval of silence, Il appre-
ciate what you SAVIOUR interest in
my welfare and your desire TO help
me- But 1t cannot be-"
The young mans face changed color.
May | ask why?"
Because you are too romantic.
Too romantic.'
Yes. | believe III iOatry AID ro-
nance, but after all they are only a
part of life. Happiness depends, so
much more than you seem to realize.
upon material things. I'm afraid
was never intended for poor mans
wife | might stand poverty for awhile
but in your ease-forgiye my being so
frank-I fear it would be permanent.
No, my friend, | respect your good
qualities, but / am sure that if | were
to marry you. we should both be
wretchedly unhappy"
THE SECOND