Evening journal., 1910-04-15
.SheProposed
By F. A. Mitchell ~r
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.


to spell her name, and after it has
been spelled it could only be pro
nounced by one asleep and at the
elimination Of a prodigious snore.
/ will therefore call her Anne.
II Anne's name was not attractive,
Anne herself was very attractive.
She had been born and lived till she
was fifteen in Wales and possessed
the rose and ivory complexion common
among the girls Of the British isles.
She was plump as a partridge and had
n pair Of white shoulders and an ex-
quisitey rounded neck. Then her
lips-well, they are best described
as kissable. In other words. Anne
was a pretty Welsh girl who had
come to America with her father to
live on a farm of his own in Minnesota.
Anne had lost her mother before
leaving Wales. and her father had
married again. Not all stepmothers
make life miserable, but Annes step
mother did. At any rate, Anne all
ways felt that the home she had
known had passed away with hsr
mother; that there was now different
home with a new crop OF children of
which she was not part and in
which she had no place. 1t seemed
to her that II she were out of it there
would be an advantage to it and to
her
Anne had a friend whom she had
met IN Minnesota. The friends own
true name was Martha. She, too. was
the daughter Of farmer and lived
short distance down the road. One
evening Anne after scrap with
her stepmother went out and stood
at the gate to nurse her wrath alone.
While she was standing there along
came her bosom friend. Anne poured
long catalogue Of troubles into
Martha's ear. Martha listened till a
pause came aud then said:
"rhis is no place for you, Anne.
You should be married and have a
home of your own"
81 know it," said Anne. "but whom
nm 1 to marry? All the young men as
soon as they are grown so TO Mime
apolis or ST. Paul or Chicago or st
Louis. They all seem eager TO ge
away from the farm as soon as pos
sible can't follow them to thu
city, and IL could It would do M
good. am country born and bred
and entirely untitled for the city"
Nevertheless you must marry"
"I Will I'll stop waiting for a pro
posal. I'll ask the first man I see tC
marry me-"
At that moment n man appeared
some distance down the road. He was
carrying bundle done up in a ban
danna handkerchief at the end OF ;
pole. the pole resting on his shoulder
Here comes your opportunity" saiC
Martha.
Anne gave a gasp. 'T wish I ha'
the courage to do it," she said.
Il dare you"
"You dare me?"
eyes: you said just now you woul,
ask the first man that came along I
marry you, and here comes a youn
fellow of suitable age. Ask him"
"But suppose he should hold me to i
mlbul JUMP Ahoh lhr II ihb pau AH'
the FIRE"
Marriage is a lottery even II 70
have known the one you marry Ion
while and consider him perfection"
Hes good looking" whispered Ann
stealing a glance at the man.
"Quickp snapped Martha. "You wi
be too late"
Suddenly it occurred to Anne to &
as she had threatened. speaking in
language he would not understanl
She had not forgotten the language I
her childhood. She called out
Welsh:
"A oes cisiau gwraig arnoch chwl'
do you want a wifeO
"oes" CYesl came the reply quick I
fash.
The young man turned TO see a pre-
ty girl looking at him in consternatio
her face all afame. He started towal
her. but Anne ran into the house ar
slammed the door in his face.
II she had thus rudely treated an
young man of her acquaintance dout
less he would have gone off in his
dudgeon. But she had called on Cup
to help her, and the little god once
: terested it is no easy matter to all'
that interest. Indeed, he is impude
q and persistent The young man we
to the closed door and tried TO open
:, Anne was holding It from the insid
Cupid proved the stronger, and q
a door was forced. When Cupid ents
~ ed, Anne had buried her face in q
te pillow OF a hall settle. The you
man stood by and said:
II perceive that you are Welsh.
IS am Just come from Wales and a
looking for a place 20 settle in n
ce great country. WIN you tell me wh
,o county in Wales you are fromg'
!. "A smothered sound came from I
- tween Anne's face and the pillo
IS "Carmarthen."
x "carmarthen! why. that's my cor
T. " too"
an Well that was a beginning. Ann
RS. father had known the young ma
ok father i'm the old country, and he "
IN asked to stay where he was till he
ss found a place TO settle Around
waist was money belt in which thu
were enough gold pieces TO buy SIN
se farm. BY the time he had selected
We farm he had accepted Anne's propC
nd tion. and her father gave them enou
e additional to stock II.
p, So 1t was that Welsh girl got
~ husband for the asking.