The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-06-08
MARSTON'S
PROPOSAL
Rv MARGARET WESTRUP
Copyright, by Joseph Is. Bo"ieSJ


Suddenly she had an idea.
Being by nature as irish as he'
lame and eyes, she was lmp"iS''e'
and choosing a clean sheet OF paper
she dashed off the following letter;
"Dear Marston: How does youhs
man propose at all? In a letter mlhu'
No getting off with glances and haIl'
words want a letter from an orol-
nary nice young Englishman, my nero
10 my heroine, asking her TO marry
him. My imagination evidently iaf''
10 supply a correct letter for the
EDITOR of The Crescent ton, MarS'oH'
think of me appearing in Inc Nre',
centO well, he writes that ne llNeS
q short story Of mine very much, ana
ne thinks the plot original out t!a'
fail in depicting the heros love lor
the heroine, more especially IN the ie'-
for no writes TO her to ask her to mar
ry him.
CHOW. have an inspiration, Mars
ton: could you write a proposal loi
me? Just as you think you "ouiu
write to anyone you wanted 10 MAJ
rv. You see, you're man, ana Wouiu
know what to say, at any rate Delle'
than should; so you will help me,
won't you? Yours,
"SHEILA DESMOND
She posted it then and there.
The next afternoon when she re-
turned to the rooms she shared Win
n fpll0w-Writer she found his answer
waiting for her. She bounced on II
delightedly.
1t ran thus:
"Mv Dear Skeila: After all I'm go
ing TO write it. I've tried so ofteh lc
say it, and | never can screw UP my
courage. | want to ask you II you /
be my wife. | know you've never
thought of me like that, and you IT
heaps too good for me, but | love yo'
81 I'd have to make you happy II
give nv whole life to that. Won yo'
trv and care for me a little, dear
You're Just the world to me-eVer!
things meaningless without YOU
Forgive me if I've startled Eo'
dear I'm but a clumsy brute an!
way .- -.
..... "MARSTON HUGHES.
Marian her friend, looked up froI
her letters first.
We'll" she said. will it do
Sheila's head was still down, be-
over the sheet of smudged note-paper'
YES" she said. slowly, lit will d
T must write and thank him IN
evening"
That evening. Sheila dashed on
, note:
y" Dear Marston: Thanks for lett
~ I'm quite sorry for you-you do II
w we'll, But It will do beautifully
~ the hero in my story. | could neE
W. have written one like it myself.
- not know you had so much eloquen
I'm SIRE it'll be compensation Tor yC
ID trouble when you see your lettef
or Molly, the Maid in The CreScen
,od Yours sincerely,
. leu "sHEILA DESMOND
use IN.
rse sbeila flung down her pen with
ap- impatient sigh. -... ~-.r-
Cant YOU get on" Marian ash
lay sympathetically
lily "No Marian; will you come and
ar me when I'm in the workhousee e.,
he'll ayes dear, and bring you bun
es- paper bag." ...-.,.-.,,
acc "Aren't YOU mixing me up with
las hears at the zoo?"
h1r. Marian eyed her thoughtfuliy'
dir. CTS pity you don't try to gel
with that other story-'Molly'
:. Maid" she said "You know
sc editor of The Crescent will 10
au- Won It's over three. weeks since
FER sent your story. back for you to al
our 81 think III go cut" said sheila
.luu consequently. : l144N - 4
per'e Narian's eyebrows rose a little.
w. w. glanced out at the thin drizzle OF
! ~ ~ Ealing from heavy gray skies.
~ beautiful day for walk she
b,on. sheila went forth into the or
he i, a slim gray figure, and proceeds
nj h. -rv and walk herself into SUI
free, ~rame of mind. She shared Central Central
"a Val, With a workman for awhile ,t then
,amen I5Sa vent away and apparently sh
we'd Che park to herself. ill YF I
it wa Then she say a tail figure app
Martin ,ng. II I sF kE. d. &
y, and "oh, 50 you are back, ] Maratsorl
more cr,ed gavly wit you hold m
I. But arella while snake hanu' WV
never 81 wouldn't think OF troupilhs
BalTbere was a little, pause OF
ion. Il Der face, pink as "a rosebud iro
Webb damp air, was raised to his
IN Miss ,rbilTs who had been chidden
d Rob- CwnInown fault. But sheeila W
rst re- a child. so she smiled a stifl
lad dig emile. and ,a-a ac.ss,
4 with. "rt;is d, nuisance" she agreed
S been ,erently, Isn't il s'hepTs:laplfes ga
and hn EF.,l ~ - " ~