The Cairo bulletin., 1909-04-19
'AReal Hero
He Had Never Received Any
ncottra cement
Encouragement.

| lANttg bl0NNs Nllti ali, VI DtNti
saould have had the courage to pro-
pose To Jennie.
How delightful it is to have the
agony over! When think of my pro-
erastination-
1T wasn't so hard to propose as
had imagined it 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 foGnd 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!
| Eat Row | am glad she isn't that kind
\ man ought to do the asking. Jennie.
/ know would have died rather than
lead me on.
Yet our conversation somehow
often got around TO matrimony. len
ME seemed 10 think it the right thing
Tor man to marry.
True happiness is only for those
who are married Jennie would say
'Nows my time | would think
Then my jaws would become set. as if
they were paralyzed. Being certain
that a perfect girl like Jennie never
would accept me for husband, | felt
it would be only case on making my
self ridiculous if should ask her.
OF course should hate to see you
marry, she said one evening. You
are such dear friend to us all that
it would be almost like losing one of
the family
Let me be one of the familyn !
blnrted out. Let ME to- IA brother.
Why did speak that final word?
| didn't mean 10, but she couldn't
know that
Certainly. if you like she an,
swcred rather frosti-T, l thought
Doubtless she felt that was presump-
tuous ] shriveled with despair.
However, l nerved myself for one
final effort, as 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 mght-if
| cared for him, was all she said.
Her words mystified me greatly.
was at a loss what to say next. The
conversation dropped | couldn't think
Of a 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.
It's getting late | said at last.
I'd better be going
How I wished could have kicked
myself down the steps.
but it's all over now. Actually. |
don't even know how | did 1t. Jennie
says il turned out all right because !
was so brave. ! think so myself In
trepid is the word Jennie used. That's
a 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 whether Jennie would marry me
or not.
That brought brilliant idea into
my head. | would buy her ring for
Christmas and just offer it to her In
a general way. If she put it on her
third finger | would speak, II she
didn't-well, then | should laugh a |
hollow. mlrtnless laugh and broken |
heartedly wish her a merry Christmas. |
so | went to the jewelers.. 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.
II walked along to the scarf pins |
and bought some. though I didn't want |
them. Still those women hung around |
the rings. 1t was very provoking. | |
bought more scarf pins. ! began to
feel as If l 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!
OIL was all l could stammer
ont. I was so surprised.
There's no use denying it, he IN
sisted. Jennie told my sister herself.
When is it 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 fatter myse,: 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 a loud tone. You may as
well show ne 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
Nothing is too good for you, Jen.
ME. I said at once. I'm awfully glad
I'm brave and quick TO seize an oppor-