Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1910-02-04
HER PROPOSAL,
BY MARION GOLDBERG.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press Asso-
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ItE5T.l oy MAXIMUM oO6O66n0s .Ia..
lCopyright, 1910. by American Press Asso-
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Marion Hathaway. though she wax
not interested in the rights Of women,
was deeply interested in. the rights Of
a woman. and that woman was her
self. Miss Hathaway was twenty-six
years old and unmarried when it sud
denly occurred to her that there was
one right belonging to her that she
had been denied, not by any law, but
by the most imperious Of all rulers,
custom.
"A man." she said. may say with
tmpunity. I'm looking for WIFE hui
let woman say the same thing about
a husband and she would be consi&
cred immodest in the extreme. Indeed
her statement would be held up to ridf
Guile and would defeat her purpose to
marry. Furthermore. man may ask
dozen women one after another to
marry him. while woman is forbid
den to ask even. one man. Now, I'm
not going to submit to such injustice
any longer. l wish husband, home
and children. know the man
should like to marry. l decline to
angle for him. Pm going to assume
with regard to him the same privilege
he has assumed toward me. I shall
propose marriage"
Mr.. Archibald Howe was the man to
whom Miss Hathaway decided to pro-
pose. He was thirty-two years old.
doing a good business and Of good
standing both socially and as citizen.
Miss Hathaw way had an income of
81 ZOO year. In business point OF
view the elements for partnership
existed. The question in the lady's
mind was this: First. had the man
ever thought of her as one he WOULD
like to marry: second. If not, could she
lead him to so think of her? He was
permitted to discover her feelings for
him. Why should she not be permitted
to learn his for her?
All this reasoning was we'll enough,
but to put it into practice was another
matter. Miss Hathaway WINGED at the
first fine. A brave way to act In the
case was to send for Mr.. Howe ana
make her proposal by word. Her feel
ings constrained her to do it by letter.
but, after writing and tearing up some
twenty epistles, she concluded that she
must either take the bull by the
horns"-that is, make her proposal in
person or not at all. SummOn1ng all
her resolution. she wrote him to GALA
on her.
When Mr. Howe's card was handed
her the next evening she caught sight
of her face in a mirror. Dismay was
written on every feature. She was
strong character, though with tend
ency to enter upon innovations that
only the concurrent opinion of large
communities can effect. At any rate
she was determined and. having once
put her hand to the plow. would not
turn back. But it required ten min
utes before her heart beat would sub
side to a normal rate, at the end OF
! which time she descended the stair
case and entered the drawing room.
Her heart had recommended it's kettle
drum performance and her knees
threatened to let her down on the floor.
That woman's nature had something
to do with the custom Of proposals for
the first time rushed upon her with
great force. Mr.. Howe rose. she me-
chanically extended her hand, he re-
sumed his seat, and she sank on one
end Of sofa.
"What can do for you?' asked the
! visitor.
| Miss Hathaway's reply was shiver.
IA matter Of charity?" asked the
gentleman after a pause to help her
out.
| "Well-yes-in q way"
"For whom or what do you ask aid?"
myself"
MI. Howe looked surprised.
II have sent for you. Mr.. Howe" she
continued, with every show of resolu-
ton. "in order that may do some
thing-something very disagreeable.
and l wish you to help me-"
"Something disagreeable!'
every"
'Is it something we can do togetb.
err
"No: one or the other must do It."
II shall be very happy to do 1t fot
you If l can"
"That's impossible"
Mr.. Howe thought bit before say.
ing:
0If one or the other must do it, and
can't do it, don't see but that you
must do it yourself"
Miss Hathaway didn't look as II she
could.
'Tell me-" added the caller, "what 4
IL and I'll see what can do for you
He rose from his seat and sat doWI
beside her. e
"No; have resolved to do it myself
and will"
proceed
Miss Hathaway gathered her facui
ties for beginning.
did you ever think of me-that Is
in the friendship that has existed be-
tween us-haS It ever occurred fr