Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-11-19
in a burst of confidence, 'Im going to

F., in burst of confidence, "I'm going to
propose after that dinner"
Good" said I, shaking his hand, 81
| hope she won't turn you down as she
did-me," Then, lodging the book he
aimed at my head, went out.
I wandered along until, strangely
enough, l found myself mounting the
steps of Miss Loves, house. | really
thought that, Thanksgiving day being
| so near and poor Stanisford on the
awful verge of proposal, it would be
a kind and generous thing for me to
| drop in and say a few more lovely
| things about his character and habits.
I found Winifred looking as sweet as
| a wild rose and full of enthusiasm
| over her Thanksgiving celebration.
I'm just having few of the girls
and boys" she said, mot more than
| sixteen, and mother will lend dignity
by presiding at the head of the table.
| Now, will you get me some chrysan-
| themums?"
why, certainly But Stanisford is
so much better at selecting flowers
| than | am don't you think he
She interrupted me with spirit.
| "Stanisford! Stanisford! 1 fairly hate
the name! If he wasn't your
| FRIEND"
Hes a thousand times better fell
low than l. His aims are so exalted
his abilities so unlimited-his--'
stop it," she commanded, or I'll
scratch him off the list!"
90, don't do that I cried in agony.
HE is counting on but my good
angel stopped me in time. | almost
told her he was going to propose after
the dinner. I would gladly have pro-
posed for him then and there.
'You get the flowers she said to
me winsomely at the door, land, of
course, you'll let nothing prevent your
being here for the dinner?'
20, nothing" l exclaimed confident
", nothing in the world save battle,
murder, or sudden DEATH
She smiled brilliantly and took my
departure.
The rest of the story learned from
one or two of my friends among the
invited guests. StanisfOrd has never
spoken to me since, though heaven
knows | never meant to wreck his
hopes. This is the tale as young Will
Dunscombe related it to me:
1--WE were all gathered in Miss
Loves beautiful drawing room, with
our appetites on edge for the good
things we knew awaited us for dinner.
old Stanny made a dive to take in
Miss Winifred, who had been looking
sort Of pale and distraught for quite
I few minutes-when your messenger
gave the door bell a terrific ring.
The maid brought the message
right in to Miss Winifred. She read
it, gave one scream, and topped over
in a dead faint. You can imagine the
confusion that ensued When she
finally regained consciousness it ap-
Deared that you had told her that moth
ing short of sudden death would pre-
vent you from coming to dinner, and
your message wasn't exactly reasSur-
ing, you know. Dangerously i'll. Don't
be alarmed. Heaven bless you!' Who
helped you contrive that mess, | won
der?"
II did it myself" l admitted rue
fully. II didn't want to scare the
irl, so I said don't he alarmed and
and the last phrase was kind of invol-
untary-slipped in by accident. When
you love a girl and she's such a dar-
ling you'll often find yourself saying
heaven bless you!' just on general
principles"
Sounded as if it was a dolorous
farewell ere your departure for your
long, long home" said Duncombe.
And then after that-you heartless
wretch pursued. "after you had brok-
while the poor girl was lying upstairs
Frustrated with grief at your illness,
YOU went to the football game and
yelled yourself hoarse with the rest
of us
THAT didn't look quite right" 1 re-
flected.
Well, anyhow, Winifred forgave me
sufficiently to marry me.