Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1908-12-23
Showing the Importance
of a Proposal. /.

Miss Francesca Singleton, and Miss
SingletoA was ready to marry Mr..
Brown Reed. The only thing needed
to complete this desideratum was a
proposal Mr.. Reed considered this a
mere form.
He asked the lady to go to church
with him one Sunday evening and dur
ing the walk to the sanctuary endeav-
ored to dispose Of the matter. Un-
fortunately his repugnance to saying
the words delayed him until the couple
were going into the church door, when
he blurted them. In another moment
he was standing In pew by the girl
to whom they had been spoken with
out a reply and singing, Onward,
Christian Soldier" He regretted that
be had not gone onward a trifle more
rapidly.
Mr.. Reed fully expected that Miss
Singleton would at least refer to his
proposition as soon as they had left
the church. To his surprise she did
not. When they reached her house she
asked him to come In. He said 1t was
rather late and he thought he would
go home.
Mr.. Brown felt very uncomfortable.
He made a conf1dant Of his friend
TRULY Robbins. TRULY laughed at
him. SERVES you right" he said. "fOr
proposing to girl on your way to
church. You might as well have done
1t at a funeral. Do 1t again and under
more favorable circumstances"
Brown Reeds second attempt was in
this wise: He bought couple of seats
at the theater and invited Miss Single
ton to go to the play with him. She
accepted with pleasure.
There was lovemaking In the play
and q fascinating hero who made
a proposal In such graceful form that
It brought down the house. After the
performance Reed walked home with
Miss Singleton and, after several eff
forts to get out what was on his mind.
said:
81 am going to repeat what / have
once said to you'll love you and i'vite
you to be my wife,"
"And l decline the invitation" said
Miss Singleton sharply.
Again Mr. Brown Reed sought his
friend TRULY Robbins and told him ALL
"What a blunderer," said Robbins, ito
put your proposal in contrast with that
Of a finished actor! But don't be dis
couraged. Try it again. You've SIM
ply been unfortunate in the time and
place Of your proposals."
what kind Of a time and place
would you suggest?" asked Reed.
"I'll tell you. We're going to have a
slide tonight with the Toboggan club
Bring your girl on my invitation
There will be merrymaking in the
crisp air, laughing, shouting, Chinese
lanterns, boys and girls In blanket
suits, and all that. You can get her In
the dark and tell your story to the best
advantage. Is 1t go?"
Reed consented, but he was getting
discouraged. He informed Miss Sim
gleton Of the invitation. and she ac-
cepted again with pleasure" When
the evening came round he called for
her to find her in very becoming to-
boggan suit, while he was In ordinary
clothes. She looked disappointed. On
arriving at the club grounds every man
except Reed looked liked Canadian
voyageur.
"Great Scottv sang out TRULY Rob-
bins. "Why didn't you wear the blan-
ketsY'
"Oh, I'm not member Of your club:
I'm only a visitor. Besides. I'm no
man for show; I'm only plain Brown
Reed"
Robbins was called away, and Reed
took Miss Singleton to the slide where
the toboggans were shooting down
over the ice. The couple did their
share Of the tobogganing, sometimes
together, sometimes apart. Reed look
ed for a dark corner and found one
very near the starting point. He in
weighed Miss Singleton into 1t and be-
gan his proposal as follows:
"Once on our way to church l asked
you an important question. I got no
reply. Again asked 1t on our return
from the theater. l met with a re-
fusal. Once more I say I love you
and
"Hil You there! Room for two
more on this toboggan."
Miss Singleton made rush for the
toboggan as If to escape from further
persecution. Reed followed her. TAX
ing his place directly behind her. and
the toboggan was showed on to the in
cline. Reed was mad. He swore he
would finish his proposal If he had to
do it in an upset. "Will you be my
wife" he shouted in her ear.
When they reached the bottom Of
the slide Miss Singleton arose from the
toboggan and made a bee line for the
gate. A street car was passing, and
she boarded it. Reed stood paralyzed
for awhile; then he walked home.
Robbins having proved bad ad-
wiser. the unfortunate lover sought
comfort elsewhere. He went to his
aunt.
poor fellow" said that lady sooth-
ingly. "I'll set you right. know my
sex perfectly. The proposal is a very
imDOrtant matter I'm n love affair