Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-03-21
THREE PROPOSALS
BY HAROLD EYRE
{CopyriRht. 1906. by Joseph f. Bow,ss. }
THE FIRST.

copyright. 1906. by Joseph f. Bowlss)
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 I'M
perceptible, ruffled the long hair into
more picturesque disorder.
Miss Morton" 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, III you
don't leap too high"
"One cannot leap too high" he OBJ
served sententiously, mot even to
reach a star. I want you to let me
talk to you for 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?"
Il suppose" she assented, 1--WE all
have our moods of depression. I don't
know why should hope to escape
them"
Eyes" he continued. "You have
youth, beauty, intellect-a rare COM
bination. And still by your own adj
mission you are not happy. Does not
that point moral?"
II don't know, I'm sure. What
morale"
1T is that you were not sent into
the world to live alone. What you need
is the companionship of a 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 do
you thiuk 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 it's 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
all, lie should understand you fully,
h. srr1,% l. SOD
an open book"
What 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 I am
sure l do. One who not only is pos.
sessed of the qualities I have referred
to, but who is most anxious to be put
to the test"
why, who could that be-"
myself. I 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 a
accent interval of silence, Il appre
ciate what you say-your interest ir
my welfare and your desire to helI
me. But it cannot be-
The young mans face changed color
MAY ask why?"
Because you are too romantic"
TOO ro.mantic!"
''Yes. I believe in poetry and TO
nance, but after all they are only 9
part of life. Happiness depends, sc
much more than you seem to realize
upon material things. I'm afraid
was never intended for a poor mans
wife. l might stand poverty for awhile
but in your case-forgive my being sc
frank-I fear it would be permanent
No, my friend, I respect your gooc
qualities, but l am sure that if I were
to marry you, we should both be
wretchedly unhappy"
THE SECOND.
"I'm plain man, Miss Morton. and
haven't the knack of dressing nv
thoughts in frills, like French lamt
chops. When I have anything to say
come right to the point. That has