The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1906-03-16
THREE PROPOSALS
By HAROLD EYRE
Copyright, 1906. 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 Las
brow and with a movement almost i'm
perceptible ruffied the long hair into
more picturesque disorder.
Miss Norton" he began, when her
gaze agaiL met his, will you allow
me to leap for an instant the barriers
of convention which surround us?'
Certainly" she answered, 'if you
don't leap too high"
"One cannot leap too high" he OBJ
served sententiously, mot even to
reach a star. l want you to let me
talk to 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 single beam
of light?"
81 suppose" she assented, 1--WE all
have our moods of depression. I don't
know why should hope to escape
them"
YES" he 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 moral?"
81 don't know, I'm sure. What
moral?"
1T is that you were not sent into
the world to live alone. WkAt you need
Is the companionship Of a kindred
soul, of one endowed with the quail
ties requisite to round your life into
q harmonious whole"
Il see. And what kind of person do
you think that kindred soul ought to
be?"
Involuntarily the young mans eyes
again sought the glass. I'm 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 a
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
ell, he should understand you fully,
so that he might read your heart like
. an open book"
What a wonderfully gifted individ-
ual he 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 I do. One who not only is pos
to, but who is most anxious to be put
10 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 few plain words should
not keep them apart"
Believe me-" said the girl, after q
accent interval of silence, 81 appre-
ciate what you say-your interest in
my welfare and your desire to help
me- But it cannot be-"
The young mans face changed color.
MAY I ask why?"
Because you are too romantic
TOO romantic!"
Yes. I believe in poetry and 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 l
was never intended for poor mans
wife. might stand poverty for awhile,
but in your case-forgive my being so
frank-I fear it would be permanent.
No, my friend, I respect your good
qualities, but | am sure that if | were
to marry you, we should both be
wretchedly unhappy"