The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1909-11-09
WHERE MEN REALLY PROPOSE

ariably tell the story OF then
loves young dream" amid most ro-
antic surroundings. and. Of course,
der most romantic circumstances?
pust surely be an unwritten law
writer's Of love-stories, that dec
ions Of la grande passion must
US be aided by "background" "
bme sort. Ball room conservato-
secluded spots up-river, cosy
by the sad sea, lonely moor,
y ruins, upper decks Of ocean,
ING liners, and interiors Of brough-
ans. are few haphazard examples.
For instance, the dashing young
man of romance, with a name like
"Ronald Heathcote," the physique
Of Hercules, the face of an Adonls,
and finished off by fine pair Of clear
blue eyes," always trots the lady Of
his heart usually named "Vera" or
':Una') into dimly-lighted con-
servatory, where, surrounded by ex-
o:ics, and entranced by the dreamy
strains Of waltz generally
straussD, he pours into her ''sheIl-
ike ear' the story Of his heart,
hopes and happiness. All me! how
romantic it ali is! Of course, what
happens in real life is this: Ronald
Heathcote (whose name is really Tom
Parker) is taking his lady-love for a
ramble, when heavy shower OF
rain drives them into the shelter OF
a neighboring doorway, next door to
a chemists, and there, with nothing
but a harmless necessary gingham, he
tells her, apropos Of nothing at all,
that he thinks they really ought to
make "settled thing Of it, and
asks her to name 1he day.
Or again! It is sweet summer
time in Novel-land. He and she
are floating down the stream together
she steering! He, Of course, is a
typical short-story Apollo in spotless
and faultless flannels, with loose
limbs, close cropped curling brown
hair and all the rest Of it! Yes,
s:Hector Guthbertson" is a hand
some, broad-shouldered young fel-
low, and needless to add, SOULS "de-
lightfully, ''while'' 'NestnF Farrington" :"
is a sweet English flower, with sunny
eyes and wealth Of red-gold hair.
You know the style! They stop for
tea'neath the shade Of restful Clleve-
den woods, and there amid the
soothing silence Of the silver stream
in this "murmurous haunt OF flies
on summer eyes," as Keats has IT.,
she makes him the happiest fellow IN
the world, and he responds as a true
hero should. And the command OF
love language possessed by the pair IS
remarkable. All me! how charming
" it reads! But what really hap
pened was this: Hector's fair COM
oanion was anxious to handle the
sculls. and to achieve that object,
Hector (otherwise Fred) attempted
to change places (nid-stream). Most
unfortunately, in doing so he Tell
into the silvery Waters-as so often
happens in cases Of this sort-and IN
bor aoitation. apprehension and dis
may, Nesta OIL should say Adaw
prematurely called him ''Darling!"
After such an opening, and after
drying himself, Fred naturally had
ITO saw something more, and did, so
while shivering in a borrowed suit
of fannels (very Tight.
Then there is that romantic can
ter across the black and lonely moor,
after all the usual misunderstanding
have been cleared up. The heart OF
Row Fairfax is beating dangerously
fast as the horses hoofs ring out IN
the clear, still air, etc. And that
beautiful moonlight evening in sweet
Noyember-Land when two figures are
leaning over the deck rail (elose to-
gether) gazing dreamily at the dane
ing waves-how wen We kno" 1t!
But in real life, the lady (who was
plain Gertie) was simply feeling
poorly on the boat, and Jim, IN try
ing to comfort her, suddenly realized
what dear clinging little thing she
was, and so came to the poin5 when
she recovered. But not in Love-Land
language-oh, dear no! We can't
reel it off like that nowadays. W1tn
Us, there is more Of the blurt than
the blarney!
Bernard Shaw introduces very
humorous incident in one Of. his
earlier books. He makes a cabinet
minister's private secretary propose
while walking round Russell square.
The heroine tries to help him out,
ond +ha p 6 remarks: ''Walt TIL