Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1910-06-09
re Knew His Facts.

re Knew His Facts.
"John," she said, "a will be a sister to
you, but"
$50 it's throwdown, eh ?" asked the
Young man with the rosebud in his but
tonhole.
eyes," she admitted, frowning. "lt
you want to talk about it that way, | sup
pose it is"
"All right" he said, "don't get warm.
Wait Bit
He rose to his feet and consulted a slip
of paper which he took from his pocket.
Immediately thereafter he threw his
shoulders back, shot his cuffs and made
a comprehensive gesture.
MADAM" said he, "are you aware
that according to the last government
census there was, in the State OF New
York an excess of 65, 900 females? Do
you know that if every single man was
married tomorrow there would be $4,000
females left over? Were you aware OF
this ?"
She tapped her little foot upon the car
pet, but answered him not.
"And, madam !" he cried, wiggling his
index finger at her, "what guarantee have
you that you would not be one OF the
65,000?"
She shifted the air, but that was all.
"Madam!" he continued, care you
aware that when a woman has reached
the age of Is her chances OF matrlmony
grow less and less each year until they
disappear altogether? Did you know
this ?"
He pointed his finger at her again.
"And you, madam he cried, "What
ground have you for supposing that your
chances are better than those OF the girl
next door, or the girl across the stree? ?"
"Twenty-five, eh?" she asked.
eyes, 25p' he said, eyeing her stern-
ly.
"Twenty- eh?" she shifted.
With an impatient movement he re-
turned to his oratorical manner.
"Do you know" said he, "that on ac-
count of the unprecedented rise in rents,
food and clothing, the number OF mar
riages is falling off daily? That every
day woman's chance OF matrimony
grows distinctly less, to say nothing OF
the decrease in her chances with the in
crease in her age? Have you been ad-
viSed of this fact ?"
He pointed his inexorable finger at her
and cried:
"And you, madam What right have
you TO suppose that you are an excep-
ton to the rule ?"
She tried TO pass it off with laugh, but
nevertheless she bated her eyes in a
thoughtful manner.
"Do you regard an honorable proposal
ofmarriage as an everyday occurrence "
he declaimed. "Do you know that there
are thousands OF old maids in this broad
land today, lonely and in despair, each OF
whom would give ten years OF her life TO
recall her light refusal OF the first and
only proposal she had ever received ?"
He folded his hands behind him and
leaned forward impreSSvely.
"And you!' he solemnly exclaimed.
"Could you make oath that you will ever
receive another proposal of marriage p
He straightened himself with an abrupt
motion and shot his cuffs again.
"Do you know" he demanded, THAT
there are more than 100000 old maids
in these United States and that the NUM-
ber is increasing every day? All, think
of theml Think of them with pity -
He leaned forward again impreSsively,
almost tenderly.
"What girl knows" he whispered,
"but that she will be one OF these mil
lions Do you ?"
Was il tear that gliStened in her
eyes?
"Do you know" he continued with a
gentle mournfulneSs, 'that the number OF
old ladies homes is increasing geomet-
rical progression. That every day, every
hour, lonely spinSterS are obliged to seek
the refuge offered by these faSt-growing
institutions ?"
He sat down beside her.
"Mary," he whispered, ''are youaware
that the average adult males income is
less than nine dollars a week-that am
getting $40? Don't cry, little girl! It's
all right. l-l'll have you"
And when mother, wondering at the
silence, looked in few minutes later, he
was measuring her for the ring in a lordly
sort of way.