The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1906-03-16
THREE PROPOSALS
BY HAROLD EYRE
THE FIRST.


From where he sat the young man
couls see his reflection in the pier
glass Taking advantage OF moment
when the girls attention was distract
cd. he raised his hand furtiveIy TO las
brow and with a movement almost i'm
perceptible, ruffied 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 u.s."
Certainly" she answered. If you
don't leap too high"
lone cannot leap too high" he OBJ
served sententiously. mot even TO
reach a star. 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 vast expanse OF dark
ness without the oasis OF a single beam
OF light?"
Il suppose" she assented. we all
have our moods Of depression. .lon'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 moral?"
Il don't know, I'm sure. What
moral?"
1T is that you were not sent into
the world 20 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 do
you think that kindred soul ought 10
be-"
lnyoluntarily the young mans eyes
again sought the glass. In the first
place be should have youth and
health Worldly possessions in such
a mater 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 woild. 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 indiyid-
ual he would have 10 be" remarked
the girl. do you know anyone who
could 10 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
10. but who is most anxious to be put
to the test"
why, who could that be?
Myself say it in all modesty.
although il 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 1
the lack OF few plain words should I
not keep them apart"
Believe me-" said the girl. after .
oecent interval OF silence. Il appre- I
ciate what you SAVIOUR interest in
my welfare and your desire TO help 4
me. But it cannot be.
The young mans face changed color. 1
May ask why?"
Because you are too romantic"
Too ro.mantic,"
Yes. believe In poetry and TO
nance, but after all they are only a
part OF life. Happiness depends, so
much more than you seem TO realize. 4
upon material things. I'm afraid l /
was never intended for a poor mans
wife. | might stand poverty for awhile.
but In your case-forgive my being so
franls-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"