The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-02-04
HER PROPOSAL.
BY MARION GOLDBERG.


was deeply interested in the rights of
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
impunity. I'm looking for wife but
let woman say the same thing about
husband and she would be consid-
cred immodest in the extreme. Indeed.
her statement would be held up to ridi-
Guile and would defeat her purpose to
marry. Furthermore. man may ask
a 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 wish husband, home
and children. | know the man
should like TO marry. decline to
angle for him. I'm going to assume
with regard to him the same privilege
he has assumed toward me. | shall
propose marriage"
Mr.. Archibald Howe was the man to
whom Miss Hathaway decided TO pro-
pose. He was thirty-two years old.
doing good business and of good
standing both socially and as citizen.
Ia, h.a1 m
$1,000 a year. In business point of
view the elements for n 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. IL 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 well 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 and
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. Summoning all
her resolution. she wrote him to call
on her.
When Mr.. Howe's card was handed
her the next evening she caught sight
of her face in 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 pillow, would not
turn back But it required ten min
utes before her heart beat would sub
side to normal rate, at the end of
which time she descended the stair
case and entered the drawing room.
Her heart had recommended its kettle
drum performance and her knees
threatened 10 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-
chemically extended her hand, he re-
sumed his seat, and she sank on one
end of a sofa.
"What can do for you?" asked the
visitor
Miss Hathaway's reply was a SILVER.
"A matter of charity?" asked the
gentleman after a pause to help her
out
"Wel-yes-in way"
"FOr whom or what do you ask aidT
"Myself."
Mr.. Howe looked surprised.
81 have sent for you. Mr.. Howe" she
continued. with every show of resolu-
ton. sin order that | may do some
thing-Something very disagreeable.
and | wish you TO help me-"
Something disagreeable"'
very"
as it something we can do togeth
err"
"No: one or the other must do it."
81 shall be very happy to do it for
you if | can"
That's impossible"
Mr. Howe thought a bit before say
ing:
IF 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 if she
could.
Tell me-" added the caller, what 1t
is and III see what | can do for you"
He rose from his seat and sat down
beside her.
mo: have resolved to do it myself.
and / will"
Proceed
Miss Hathaway gathered her facul-
ties for a beginning.
Did you ever think of me-that is.
in the friendship that has existed be
tween us-has 1t ever occurred to
you
She stopped.
Mr. Howe was looking at her in
tently. Her bosom was heaving; her
eyes were like those of hunted fawn.
t. occur-ad to him that ha would like