Evening journal., 1909-01-06
AN UP-TO-DATE
PROPOSAL

lOusinaLl
There was q ring at the bell that
called me to my chief took up my
pencil and book and weiF to his Office
He didn't notice Inc, busying himself
with some papers before him. took
my usual seat. sharpened a pencil and
waited. l glanced at his face. and it
occurred to me that he had something
on his mind. Presently lie threw down
the papers and said abruptly:
"Are you readyw
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 a pen,
then book. and dropping both. Then,
turning squarely TO me. he said:
'No; there's a lot more to come. 1t
isn't business, but I've been a business
man so long that | can't do anything
except in a business way. SO I.shall
make muddle of it,"
Cant l do it for yOu?"
"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 well. Proceed"
"I'm going abroad. / want a stenog-
nh rrHffh
that can write nothing but my name.
I want you. You can't go without be-
ing married VIII you marry meT'
Excuse me. Mr.. Burton. I'm not
capable of infusing any sentiment into
that bald statement. One might as
well try to turn a growl into a lul-
laby."
"Then why not dispense with the
sentlmentT"
"The statement is yours, not mine
II you prefer to dispense with the sen
timent / am agreeable"
''Well. what is your answer?"
"No."
"Your reason:"
Il decline to give a reason"
HIN. l like that How do you sup
/ pose / am to reduce you to my will
without knowing what l have to over
Gomez"
you seem to be able TO get your
way with people in business"
"But I told you in the beginning this
is not a matter of business"
What kind of a matter do you cal
it-something like an auxiliary yacht
that is moved part by steam and part
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 to
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 fatter me. I'll not give any Of
them the opportunity to jump"
IF marry it will be for love-"
what is love but a sentimental con-
dition?"
IF that is true. why do you marry =?
There are plenty Of men stenogra-
ohers. Take a man abroad with you"
Hint That. no doubt. would be the
most sensible way out Of it. The trou-
lie is that I've got used to debating to
on. You take all the roughness out of
ny letters. replacing it with policy,
nd when they so to their destination
hey produce the best possible effect
N other words, you have become a
part OF me-"
"Only an intellectual part"
''You keep me from doing many fool
ish things"
IF l succeed in keeping you from
marrying simply to take a 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.
CAS- to the folly Of the proceeding.
am the best judge. I didn't mean by
saying you keep me from doing fool
ish thin~r ?. vou can run me ba+'o