Willmar tribune., 1908-04-29
An Up to Date Proposal.
lOrisinal.1

tue papers ana Sald abruptly:
care you ready?'
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 one can trust.''
Certainly. Is that all?''
He fidgeted. taking up first pen,
then book. and dropping both. Then,
turning squarely to me. he said:
"No; there's a lot more to come. It
isn't business. but I've been business
man so long that can't do anything
except in a business way. So shall
make muddle of it,
''Can't do it for youT'
"No-yes."
"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 we'll. Proceed"
"1'm going abroad. I 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. Will you marry me?"
Excuse me. Mr.. Burton. I'm not
capable Of infusing any sentiment into
that bald statement. One might as
we'll try to turn a growl into a lul-
laby."
''Then why not dispense with the
sentiment?'
"The statement is yours, not mine.
If you prefer to dispense with the sen.
timent l am agreeable"
swell. what is your answer?'
"No."
"YOur reason"
Il decline to give reason"
HIN! l like that. How do you sup
pose l am to reduce you to my will
without knowing what have to over.
come?
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
W. A"I N1uu VI d uudllcF uO you call
it-something like an auxiliary yacht
that is moved part by steam and par,
by wind?'
"Yes: the steam is the only force by
which it can be sure to get anywhere
This disposition to take a wife and tc
get her is the all important factor in
my case. The rest is wind"
"That makes it very easy. Almost
any of the girls in the office would
Jump at your proposal"
"You f1atter me. I'll not give any OF
them the opportunity to jump"
"1f marry it will be for love-"
"What is love but sentimental con
dition?'
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 tc
you. You take all the roughness out OF
my letters, replacing it with policy
and when they go to their destination
they produce the best possible effect
In other words, you have become a
part Of me-"
"Only an intellectual part"
"You keep me from doing many fool
ish things"
If succeed in keeping you from
marrying simply to take stenogra.
pher abroad with you. will certainly
prevent your doing 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. I didn't mean by
saying you keep me from doing fool
ish things that you can run me better
than can run myself; referred more
especially to my communications with
Others"
"The woman you propose to take
with you. for instance"
He smiled faint. sickly smile. 1T
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, if so, it
will still be only job.''
He sat for some moments in silence.
evidently rolling the matter over and
over in his mind. Presently l arose
and was about to withdraw.
"Sit down."
I resumed my seat.
"You have beaten me at every point"
he added presently. "You have a lot
of common sense in that head Of yours,
and that's the reason / want you.
though I presume there are other rea-
sons to which my practical nature
blinds me. But can't talk soft and
IT there's no way but that to get you
fear must let you co.
Somehow this statement seemed to
take the wind out of my sails. 1t was
my turn to feel that he had the advan.
tage of me.
"1-1-don't know" I said haltingly,
that it is necessary to talk exactly
soft"
Isn't the usual method in such cases
talking soft? At any rate. it is bit
old fashioned: it has been going on
ever since Adam was spoons on Eve"
1T isn't necessary to talk at ALL"
He looked aside at me quickly and
threw his arms about me. That which
he was endeavoring or pretending to
endeavor to conceal poured forth with
the rush Of mighty waters. For half
an hour he gave me what he had told
me he considered maudlin sentiment.
l went abroad with him.
urI nTCr ANE0