The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-09-16
|AReal Hero
He Had Never Received Any
Encouragement.
Encouragement.

L Ill tHShStd' L LII 6tiu6 W UC Illdl
ried! No more bachelor quarters or
stag dinners for me!
TITS almost too good to be true. I'm
pretty brave, after all, or never
should have had the courage to pro-
pose to Jennie.
How delightful 1t is to have the
agony over! When think Of my pro-
crastination--
1T wasn't SO hard to propose as
had imagined 1t would be. I'm glad
to discover that I'm brave.
MANY a time had thought the mo-
ment propitous for proposing to her,
but always found my tongue frozen
to the roof Of my mouth, even though
it had been glib enough until one of
those unspeakable silences came and
the very air seemed charged with a
proposal Of marriage.
How | 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.
lea Ou1 SoANSl odlloil SoI1lSuoV
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.
SHOWS my time l would think.
Then my jaws would become set, as If
they We're paraiyzed. Being certain
that a perfect girl like Jennie never
would accept me for husband, | felt
1t would be only case OF making my
self ridiculous IL l should ask her.
"'Of course should hate to see you
marry she said one evening. You
are such a 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 "a brother
why did I speak that flnal word?
| didn't mean to. but she couldn't
know that.
Certainly, II you like she an.
swered, rather frostily. | thought
Doubtless she felt that was presump
tQOuS. l Will uCSpAll.
However, | nerved myself for one
final effort, AZ a doomed man risks his
all on a last desperate struggle.
"'Can-may a brother hold your
hand?' asked her. | was perspiring
at every pore from sheer agony.
"'Some one else's brother might-if
cared for him. was all she said.
Her words mystifed me greatly. |
was at a loss what to say next. The
conversation dropped, | couldn't think
of single idea, If she only had
given me the slightest hint Of encour-
assment how | should have jumped at
it! But Jennie Is not that kind.
cts 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,
don't even know how | did it. Jennie
says it turned out all right because |
was SO brave. | think so myself, In
trepld' Is the word Jennie used. That S
fine word; still, I'm afraid Jennie
values me above my merits.
II vowed weeks ago that another
year should fiot end without my know
ing whether Jennie would marry me
or not.
That brought a brilliant idea into
my head. | would buy her ring for
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.
~ walked along to the scarf pins
and bought some, though didn't want
them. Still those women hung around
the rings. 1t was very provoking. |
bought more scarf pins. | began to
feel as II were going to start pawn
shop.
Suddenly some one slapped me on
N,
girl clnlm said: Hello, Dick. Did you
come to buy the engagement ring
Ny congratulations
"I-I--' was all I could stammer
out. | was so surprised.
There's no use denying it, he In
sisted, Jennie told my sister herself
When Is 1t to be-?
I'm not | began. Then sudden
ly ! became as bold as lion. The
| first of the year, | said. I'm buying
| the ring now,
Il fiatter myself that | can rise to
an emergency,
Il felt that those women at the ring
counter were listening, though | did
| not look at them. However, | did not
care any longer
Engagement rings | said to the
clerk, In loud tone. You may as
we'll show me plain gold rings, too
do you-do you want me to try
them on, Dick? asked the dearest
| voice In the world. I've been here
ever so long looking at some pretty
ones-if they are not too expensive
Jennie and her girl chum! How
| fortunate!
Nothing is too good for you. ,Jen
| n,e | said at once. I'm aWfully glad