The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-24
An Up to Date Proposal.
foriginai.I

lOriSinalJ
There was n ring at the bell that
called me to my chief. took up my
pencil and book and went to his Office.
He didn't notice me- busylng himself
with some papers before him. took
my usual seat, sharpened pencil and
waited. l glanced at his face, and 1t
occurred to me that he had something
on his mind. Presently he threw down
the papers and said abruptly:
"Are you readyT
l told him that was, and he die
tated two or three letters. then said:
"If you give these letters to the girls
to type please read over their copies
before they are sent out. You are the
only oneDI can trust"
Certainly. Is that allT"
He fidgeted, taking up first pen,
then book. and dropping both. Then,
turning squarely TO me. he said
"No: there's n lot more to come. IL
isn't business, but I've been business
man so long that / can't do anything
except in business way. SO l shall
make muddle of It,"
Cant do 1t for you"
Moves"
"How"
'"The way you often help me with
my letters when you infuse policy into
them, only in this case sentiment is to
go in instead"
every well. Proceed"
"T'm going abroad want stenog-
rapher with me. I'VE dictated so long
that can write nothing but my name.
I want you. You can't go without be-
ing married. VIII you marry meT
Excuse me, Mr.. Burton, I'm nQs
capable of infusing any sentiment into
that bald statement. One might as
well try to turn growl into a lul-
laby."
"Then why not dispense with the
sentimentr
"The statement is yours, not mine.
il you prefer to dispense with the SEN
tlment I am agreeable"
"Well. what is your answeri"
"No"
"Your reason?"
II decline to give a reason"
HIN! like that. How do you sup
without knowing what / have to over
comeT
"You seem to be able to get your
way with people in business"
"But I told you in the beginning this
is not matter of business"
"What kind of a matter do you call
it-something like an auxiliary yacht
that is moved part by steam and part
by wind?'
"Yes; the steam is the only force by
which It can be sure to get anywhere.
This disposition to take wife and to
get her is the all important factor In
my case. The rest is wind"
"That makes 1t very easy. Almost
any Of the girls in the office would
jump at your proposal"
"You flatter me. I'll not give any of
them the opportunity to jump"
''If marry 1t will be for love-"
"What is love but a sentimental con-
ditlonT
"If that is true, why do you marry?
There are plenty of men stenogra-
piers. Take man abroad with you"
HIN! That, no doubt, would be the
most sensible way out of It, The trou-
BILE is that I've got used to debating to
you. You take all the roughness out of
my letters. replacing 1t with policy,
and when they go TO their destination
they produce the best possible effect.
In other words, you have become
! part of me-"
"Only an intellectual part"
"You keep me from doing many fool
ish things"
"If l succeed In keeping you from
marrying simply to take a stenogra-
pher abroad with you. l will certainly
prevent your doing a foolish thing"
He drummed with his fingers on his
desk for awhile. My last argument
had told. Presently he said:
"As to the folly of the proceeding.
am the best Judge. didn't mean by
saying you keep me from doing fool
ish things that you can run me better
than / can run myself; I referred more
especially to my communications with
, others"
"rhe woman you propose to take
with you, for Instance"
L Tie binlleu luiut, blChly bIulle. IL
she were some one else you could do
the job beautifully" he said shame
| facedly.
"There you are wrong. No one can
do such job for another. or, IL 80. 1t
will still be only job"
He sat for some moments in silence.
evidently rolling the matter over and
}'Uver in his mind. Presently l arose
and was about to withdraw.
"Slt down."
resumed my seat.
"You have beaten me at every point"
he added presently. "You have lot
OF common sense In that head of yours,
and that's the reason | want you.
though presume there are other rea-
sons to which my practical nature
blinds me. But can't talk soft and
IL there's no way but that to get you
| fear l must let you CO." A.5.
| Somehow this statement seemed to
take the wind out OF my sails. II was
my turn to feel that he had the advan-
tage Of me.
| "I-I-don't know" said haltlngly,