Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1909-04-01
AReal Hero
He Had Never Received Any
Encouragement.

| 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-
1T wasn't so hard to propose as l
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 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
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,
| know would have died rather than
lead me on
Yet our conversation somehow
often got around to matrimony. Jen-
ME seemed to think it the right thing
| for a man to marry.
True happiness is only for those
4
"'Now's my time l 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, l felt
it would be only case of making my
self ridiculous if | should ask her.
OF course l 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 family! l
blurted out. Let me to "a brother
why did l speak that final word?
didn't mean TO, but she couldn't
know that.
Certainly, if 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 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
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 | wished | could have kicked
Z myself down the steps.
But it's all over now. Actually,
4 don't even know how l did it. Jennie
i says it turned out all right because
4 was so brave. l think so myself. III
2 trepid' is the word Jennie used. That's
fine word; still, I'm afraid Jennie
4 values me above my merits.
Z q vowed weeks ago that anothe,
& year should not end without my know
& ing whether Jennie would marry mt
4 or not.
= THAT brought a brilliant idea int
3 my head. ! would buy her a ring fo
b Christmas and just offer it to her il
q a general way. If she put it on he
s. third finger would speak If sh'
a didn't-well, then | should laugh
8 hollow mirthless laugh and broken
q heartedly wish her a merry Christmas
so | went TO the jewellers. Evel
81 there, however, my courage nearl,
q failed me. Some women were standin:
I near the ring counter. didn't dar,
,l1 o-ly 70.
d 81 walked along to the scarf pin
. and bought some, though didn't wan
D them Still those women hung arount
3 the rings. 1t was very provoking
3 bought more scarf pins. | began t,
s feel as if | were going to start a pawn
& shop.
4 Suddenly some one slapped me OF
y the back, and the brother of Jennie
& girl chum said: Hello, Dick, Did 70,
q come to buy the engagement ring
y My congratulations!
"1-I- was all | could stamme
B out, | was so surprised.
There's no use denying it, he in
sisted, Jennie told my sister herself
4 When is it to be?
Il
Z ly | became as bold as lion TIL,
\ first of the year ! said I'm buyin,
the ring now.
81 fiatter myself that | can rise t,
. an emergency.
81 felt that those women at the rims
counter were listening, though / dit
not look at them. However, / did no
care any longer.
Engagement rings, | said to the
8 clerk, in a loud tone. You may al
: well show me plain gold rings, too
i Do you--do you want me to tr,
Y them on Dick?' asked the deares
. voice in the world. I've been here
: ever so long looking at some prett,
. ones-if they are not too expensive.
d Jennie and her girl chum, How
3 fortunate!
= Nothing is too good for you, Jen
6 ME, ! said at once I'm awfully gla,