Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-10-22
A FIRST PROPOSAL
The Way She Was Comforted
After 1t Was Over.
BY KEITH GORDON.

the languid abstraction born OF the
first warm weather and friendship
of several years standing. Though
their eyes drank In the beauty OF the
scene about them-the great stretches
of greensward. the trees and bushes
that were bursting into the tender
green of the season as into sort OF
silent song-neither of them was think
Ing Of 1t.
Miss Farrar, indeed, was living over
other days inevitably brought back by
the warm breeze and the smell OF
growing things = other springtimes
when life meant only the beautiful
possibility Of love. And Mowbray was
thinking of her and wondering II by
any chance 1t would be worth while to
tell her, for in spite of her unquestion-
able attractiveness he could not help
feeling that he would find 1t hard to
look into those calm. clear eyes and
talk of love. Yet he was neither cow
ardly nor inexperienced. He simply
had natural shrinking from being
regarded with suppressed amusement
by the woman he loved. And In her
apparent immunity from such emo
lions that was what he feared. She
would in all probability only laugh her
light, frank laugh and say. Nonsense.
Clark; don't be sillyw
He sent speculative glance toward
her as she walked beside him looking
of into the distance with the preoccu-
pied air of woman whose whole mind
was given to some engrossing and per-
sistent thought.
'Let us sit for awhile" she proposed
as they reached the top of knoll
where, under solitary tree, bench In
vited relaxation. Suiting the action to
the word. she seated herself comforta-
bly, with her elbows placed detiantly
on the back of the bench. an attitude
peculiar to her aggressive moods and
one which Mowbray had learned to
recognize as premonitory of an inten-
ton to talk things out to finish. He
wondered what it would be this time,
for he had long since dropped into his
role of mentor.
He waited patiently with eyes that
roved carelessly over the mansions on
the far side of Fifth avenue. which In
turn sent back well bred stare. know
ing that her feelings would soon reach
the point of overflow. At last she
broke the silence.
do 1 look to you like person Sc
lected by fate to be distinguished
among women = disagreeably distin-
guished. meanr' she demanded. turn
ing toward him with directness which
challenged a truthful answer. He re-
garded her In a manner intended to
convey that he was making an expert
examination.
'No." he admitted. II can't say that
you do-that ISL He stopped rather
vaguely.
"Oh. now don't try to soften the
TRUTH" she interrupted quickly. I'm
after facts. and am not going to lay
anything you may say up against you"
II haven't the least idea what 1t is
about. but l am glad that there is go
ing to be no animosity," Mowbray OBJ
served politely. Then he settled him.
self to listen. 1t was one of his vir-
tues that he never missed his cue.
Her next words came out rather abb
ruptly.
"T'm not especially plain. do you
think"
Her tone was deprecating, but she
turned her face toward him in a man
ner as impersonal as If she were call
ing his attention to the landscape.
Then she continued impartially:
"That is. suppose would be classed
as fair to middling.'"
He nodded assent. with a CLEAN of
mischief in his eye.
ITO tell you the truth"-her tone had
dropped into the personal. confidential
key-'T'm not at all conceited about
my looks. but I've always fiattered my
self that / am rather interesting"
The statement ended with rising
infection which made 1t a question,
and 1t was evident that she was await
ing his decision with some anxiety.
Rather interesting. think we may
say" he agreed suavely.
"And I'm sure I'm affectionate and
fairly good tempered and-and"
Mowbray encouraged her by a nod.
land domestic"
81 shall have to take your word for
that"
WSiis ] gill AOnCShASs hhOW . 49,
So want you to explain to me"-her
voice was growing tumultuous-"but
first promise on your honor that you'll
never tell-how 1t is that I've reached
the age of thirty-three without ever
having had proposal"
Mowbray threw himself back and
roared. while her arms came down OF
the bench and she dropped her face
upon her hands and sat looking at him
with the puzzled air Of pupil at the
feet Of a master.
when you've done laughing" she
began with dignity.
Pardon. dear. thousand pardons!'
He had never called her that before,
and there was something in his voice
which bespoke new hope and conf.
dence. but she was too engrossed In
her pursuit of self knowledge to mo-
tice.
II forgot to say that I'm sensible.
Men always like that. you know. Any
way. they pretend to-
She finished In a way that suggested
that she had her doubt Of their SINGER
ity. With mighty effort her compan-
ion swallowed his mirth and prepared
to face the situation with her.
els 1t because you haven't wanted