The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-05-02
THE PROPOSAL.
By FRANCOIS DE MON.

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 per-
fumes lowered in the warm air,
while fragile, delightful rustlings
and whisperings were all that
broke the silence.
A white skirt futtered near the
edge OF the little wood, moving
with a quick, rustling motion; he
recognized the parasol, the dainty
rose-colored waist and the white
skirt, and as the owner Of the par
asol turned the corner he caught
d glimpse. of a beautiful face.
M. de Gace felt happier and
younger than ever; his 45 years
slipped away from him as 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 per-
ceived the passing of time. There
was no touch of white among his
brown hairs Eor in his short mus
tache, and his step was quick and
alert.
But during the last year, since
the Mainfroys had moved into the
country house that adjoined his
owD 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 dominating thought that he
was in love with Helen Mainfroy,
and that, in all probability.
should he ask her hand, it would
be given to him.
Suddenly she called to him.
~ have just been down to see
your horses run; Norfolk is sim
ply superb"
M. de Gace was enchanted, not
with the compliment bestowed up
on his horse, but with the bright
joy of Helen's smile. He looked
longingly at her, delighting in
each fresh aspect of her beauty
and then, feeling that it was time
for him to make some reply, &c
asked:
as your father here?"
eyes" she answered, conscious
of his emotion, che is settling his
accounts in the summer house. |
heard the little tinkle OF the bell
by the garden gate, and, thinking
il was you, came to meet you"
How good Of you! Guess, if
you can, who dropped down upon
me yesterday, fresh from the
skies, or rather from another
world?"
"From another world?"
Eyes; it was Robert, my young
/ didn't expect him for
another month, but he came
through without stopping, and ar
rived without even sending me
telegram. He seemed to think it
was an everyday affair to come
back from Japan"
II shall be very glad to meet
him." said Helen, lowering her
parasol.
Gone reason of my coming here
now was to ask your permission
to bring him to call tomorrow"
said NJ. de Gace, slowly. He was
silent for a moment, as if to give
more emphasis to his words, and
then he went on, his words coming
,risply and his eyes fixed upon the
ground.
''Robert is now definitely set
tied, his career is established, and
ne has nothing to do but to go
ahead; he was still a good deal of
boy when he left for Japan, but |
le has come home a man; | do not |
leed to worry any longer about
him. And it is this fact that has
iecided me to take, with your |
q fbor,C x,nrrn;.c,or = 49, Ls1ts