The Cairo bulletin., 1907-10-01
the
PROPOSAL


alton had been characteristic, my al
] dor, once 1t was aroused, was no les
natural. assure you, for the Eiddlei
mother says haze always been q cav
tlcus race. but stcadfast and devote'
when once they have esponsad
cause. And 1t is but hereditary,
suppose. that 'nesdr 10 this daN have,
seen anything remarkable In she iac
that il took me ten years 70 make u
my mind to propose 10 sally II dit
not take me ten years 10 know tina
She was pretty, and good, and charm
ing; but II did take me ten years tc
be sure that | wanted 70 marry her
That, admit. Hut what Is there
amusing In that? Heavens, has not a
man right to pause and consider SO
important matter as getting mar
RED? And what right have people to
I link ones name with aaothcr's prcma-
! turely? Isn't II dreadful?
Well, as was saying, | had made
1 up my mind, and | went 10 see Sally.
/ | was full OF the subject. Never had
| felt so much a man before. ! was,
! don't you know. lifted up. was ner-
gous, Of course. All men are at such
times, | suppose. and don't know
how | managed to get into the house.
I think | did remember to ring. Oh.
I'm sure | rang, OF course did
But what mean is, that was In such
state, don't you know, that | was
quite unstrung
Wen, Sally came down, as pretty
and darling as ever, and with rose
in her hair. She wore her gray crepe
de chine-you know. the one she had
,or Mrs. Gales reception, with the
venetian lace. had never seen her
look befter-neyer. And that very
TACT disconnected me Still when |
make up my mind to anything. you
know. nothing daunts me-nothins'
il is not my way to let anything inter
Gere. So. after the usual salutaloas
said to her:
sally. / have something very inn
portant to say to you.
And | said this to her, mind, in such
a way that supposed she might
guess the nature OF my intended con
fidence, not so much by the words
themselves, as by the-by the mel
lowness with which don't you
know. But, would you believe it?-
she did not dream Of what | meant
She only laughed, and said
"Ohl | know: you've come to tell
me about Minis puppies. Elaine told
me yesterday Aren't you going to
give me one Of them? | think you
might"
oh, no. 1t wasn't that l came to
tell you; though. Of course. you shall
have one IL you like. 1t was to tell
you"
And right then bright idea came
to me-to turn defeat into victory.
Tt was to tell you, Sally. ! said, that |
sou might have all of them-all seven |
and Mimi, too"
"Oh! should like one she said;
but what would | do with all seven
and Mimi?'
And she went on laughing at the no
ton till | was quite-oh! quite dis
eQmfted, you know.
Sally" said, you persist in mis-
my-my intentions"
Why" she replied, Il thought you
offered me all seven. and Mimi"
so did. Sally, in way said.
Obi" she said. then it was an
indian gift, was it?'
AN Indian gift?" / repeated, per
picked
Yes; a gift with a string to 1t.
And what is the string. Freddie? Do
ell me- | want to know"
Well-would you believe it?-right
hen an idea struck me, Another
dea | suppose ii was love that put
20 many new ideas into my head.
Oh, it must have been love. SO l
aid:
Yes, there is string to my gift.
Sally: | am the string,"
The string?" said Sally.
The string" said I. And then pas.
ionately: "Oh. Sally, don't you com
,rehend me? Don't you? Have you
lever heard the ola, ola saying Love
ne. love my dog?'"
She was pink all over. and would
AVE taken her In my arms-I really
would had she not said TO me:
Well. | have already told you.
freddie, that | might take one Of
he puppies, but not all of you,"
She did. She used those very words
D me, and ! was-oh! | was crushed,
ont you know. But rose to the oc-
aston. | would not let her see my
espair. was determined, at all haz-
rds, to assert my manhood. and so,
18th an air that--if do say twas
ulte. quite in the old-time manner.
ont you know. said:
My dear Sally. you have told me
hat you will accept one of the pup
les. it is true; but you have not told
be which one"
I think smiled. Oh, | am sure
milcd as ] said those words. and |
now bowed sli~ A1y. But ] shall
ever, ncses smile again. for she
aid:
-Oh, 1t doesn't matter in the least /
.hich one you give me. Freddie,
ley're all such dear little wobbly