Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-04-29
.AReal Hero
He Had Never Received Any
Encouragement.

I'm engaged! I'm going to be mar
ried! No more bachelor quarters or
stag dinners for me!
IT'S almost too good to be true. I'm
pretty brave, after ALL or l never
should have had the courage to pro-
pose to Jennie.
How delightful it is to have the
agony over! When think of my pro-
crastination-
ut wasn't so hard to propose as
had imagined 1t would be. I'm glad
to discover that I'm brave.
Many time / had thought the mo-
ment propitious for proposing to her,
but | always found my tongue frozen
to the roof of my mouth, even though
| IL had been glib enough until one of
those unspeakable silences came and
| the very air seemed charged with
proposal of marriage.
How l wished she would help me!
But now / am glad she isn't that kind.
A man ought to do the asking. Jennie,
l know would have died rather than
lead me on.
| Yet our conversation somehow
often got around to matrimony. Jen-
ME seemed to think 1t the right thing
for man to marry.
| "'True happiness Is only for those
who are married. Jennie would say.
"'Now's my time | would think.
Then my jaws would become set, as ii
they were paralyzed. Being certain
that perfect girl like Jennie never
would accept me for husband, l felt
it would be only a case of making my
self ridiculous if l should ask her.
"'Of course | should hate to see you
marry she said one evening. You
are such dear friend to us all that
1t would be almost like losing one of
| the family.
Let me be one of the family /
blurted out. Let me to IA brother.
why did | speak that final word?
| didn't mean TO, but she couldn't
know that.
Certainly, II you like she an
swered, rather frostily, l thought
Doubtless she felt that | was presump-
tuous / shriveled with despair.
However, | nerved myself for one
| final effort, as doomed man risks his
all on a last desperate struggle.
'Can-may a brother hold your
hand?' l asked her. l was perspiring
at every pore from sheer agony.
"'Some one else's brother might-if
| cared for him. was all she said.
Her words mystified me greatly. |
was at loss what to say next. The
conversation dropped. l couldn't think
of single idea. If she only had
given me the slightest hint of encour-
agement how | should have jumped at
| it.! But Jennie is not that kind.
"Tt's getting late,' | said at last
I'D better be going
How | wished | could have kicked
| myself down the steps.
but it's all over now! Actually, l
don't even know how | did it. Jennie
says it turned out all right because |
was so brave. l think so myself. In
trepid' is the word Jennie used. That's
fine word; still. I'm afraid Jennie
values me above my merits.
Il vowed weeks ago that another
year should not end without my know
| Ing WutluSI WOuiu hC
| or not.
THAT brought a brilliant idea into
my head. / would buy her ring for
Christmas and just offer 1t to her In
a general way. II she put it on her
third finger / would speak. II she
didn't-well, then | should laugh a
hollow, mirthless laugh and broken
heartedly wish her merry Christmas
so went to the, jewellers. Even
there, however, my courage nearly
failed me. Some women were standing
near the ring counter. | didn't dare
look at them or ask for rings.
81 walked along to the scarf pins
and bought some, though l didn't want
them. Still those women hung around
the rings. IL was very provoking.
bought more scarf pins. | began to
feel as II were going to start pawn
shop.
Suddenly some one slapped me on
the back and the brother of Jennie's
girl chum said: Hello Dick! Did you
come to buy the engagement ring?
My congratulations
"T-I-' was all / could stammer
out. was so surprised
There's no use denying it, he In
sisted, Jennie told my sister herself
When is IL to be?'