Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1908-07-25

said had been slow before. II my
deliberation had been characteristic,
my 'ardor, once 1t was aroused, was no
less natural, assure you, for the Bid
dies, mother says. have always been a
cautious race, but steadfast and de-
voted when once they have espoused
q cause.
And 1t is but hereditary, suppose.
that never to this day have seen
anything remarkable in the fact that
1t took me ten years to make up my
mind to propose to Sally.
IT did not take me ten years to
know that Sally was pretty, and good,
and charming; but 1t did take me ten
years to be sure that / wanted to
marry her-that / admit
But what Is there amusing In that?
Heavens! Has not man a right to
pause and consider so important a
matter as getting married? And
what right have people to link ones
name with another's prematurely
Isn't 1t dreadful?
Now, haven't told soul before
not a living soul--and II l open my
lips now it's because l am tired of
hearing people litter when l APP
proach, and because think it's about
time that some one knew the truth
of the whole matter l hope am
man enough-Down, Mimi, down!-
will put her out If she annoys you
Naughty! Naughty! Mimi. lie down.
There!
Well, as was saying, l had made
up my mind, and l went to see Sally,
l was full of5the subject Never had
l felt so much of a man, before.
was, don't you know, lifted up.
was nervous, of course. All men are
at such times, l suppose, and / don't
know how managed to get into the
house. think l did remember to
ring. Oh. I'm sure rang! OF course
l did! But what | mean is, that
was in such state, don't you know,
that l was quite unstrung.
Well, Sally came down, as pretty
and darling as ever. and with rose
in her hair. She wore her gray crepe
de chlne-you know, the one she
made for Mrs. Gales reception, with
the Venetian lace. had Eever seen
her look better-neVer! And that
very fact disconnected me. Still,
when | make up my mind to any
thing, you know, nothing daunts me
nothing! 1t is not my way to let
anything interfere. So, after the
usual satutations, said to her:
sally, l have something very i'm
portant to say to YOU"
And said this to her, mind, In
such 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 mal-
lowness with which don't you
know. For-would you believe it,
she did not dream of what meant!
She only laughed and said:
oh! l know; you We cone to tell
me about Minis puppies. Elaine
told me yesterday, Aren't you going
to give me one of them? think you
might"
Fancy! Fancy my feelings! Here
had come to her on wings of fire! IT,
to offer my heart and hand. 1 was
stunned. l did not know how to pro-
eeed But | said
"oh, no! IL wasn't that came 10
tell yoa; though. of course, you shall
have one II you like. 1t was to tell
you"
And right then bright idea came
to meLto turn defeat into victory!
1T was to tell you, Sally" said,
"that you might have all Of them.
all seven--and Mimi, too"
| wish you wouldn't laugh at me-
How else could put it--after what
she had said to me? l thought 1t
rather clever OF me-rather neat, you
kEow--to turn the phrase into what
one might call its larger sense, and so
seize victory from. defeat. But even
then she did not understand. She
burst out laughing.
oh, should like one, she said;
"but what would / do with all seven,
and Mimi"
And she went on laughing at the
. notion until / was quite-oh, quite
discomfited.S you know.
Sally, ., l said, ''you persist In mis-
constituting my-my intentions
Why" she replied, II thought you
offered me all seven, and Mimi"
!. $50 did, Sally, In way" I said.
"Ob," she said, "then 1t was an
Indian gift. was mr.
IAN Indian 'gift?" repeated. per-
picked.
Yes; a gift with a string to it.
And what is the string, Freddie? Do
tell met / want to know!"
Well--would' you believe it?-right
then an. idea struck me! Another
dea! l suppose 1t was love that pnt
. many new ideas into my head.
N. it must have bean love. So /
sald
Yes, there is a string to my gift,
Sally; am the string!"
"You.' she repeated.
I'll" said.
The string?" said Sally.
The string?" said /. And then
passionately; "oh. Sally! Don't you
comprehend me? Don't you? Have
you never heard the old, old saying:
Love me, love my dog?'"
She was pink all over. and would
have taken her in my arms---I really
would---had she not said to me;
Well, l have already told you,
Freddie, that 1 might take one OF the
puppies, but not all of you'll"
She did She used those very
words to, me, and was-oh, / was
crushed, don't you know But rose
to the occasion. / would not let her
see my despair. was determined. at
all hazards, to assert my manhood.
and so, with an air that---if do say
twas quite; was quite In the old
time manner, don't you know. said:
My dear SalAe.. you have told me