Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1911-11-16
HerProposal
BY MARION GOLDBERG

was oeePiy nlersSteu In the rights or
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 imperfous Of ali rulers.
custom.
"A man." she said, may say with
tmpunity, I'm looking for a wife but
let a woman say the same thing about
husband and she would be consid-
cred tmmodest In the extreme Indeed.
her statement would be held up to ridi-
cule and would defeat her purpose to
marry. Furthermore, q man may ask
dozen women one after another to
marry him, while q woman Is forbid
! den to ask even one man. Now, Pm
not going to submit to such injustice
any longer. I wish a husband, home
, and children. / know the man l
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. L 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 a citizen
Miss Hathaway had an income Of
$1,000 a year. In a business point of
view the elements for q partnership
existed. The question In the ladys
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 herr he was
permitted to discover her feelings for
him. Why should she not be permitted
to learn his for herr
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 1t 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 a mirror. Dismay was
written on every feature. She was
strong character, though with Il 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 1t 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 its 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 rusheA 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 I do for your asked the
visitor.
Miss Hathaway's reply was q shiver
"a matter of charity?" asked the
gentleman after a pause to help her
out
''Well-yes-in d way"
For whom or what do you ask aid?'
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
thtng-something very disagreeable.
and / wish you to help me-"
Something disagreeableT
Very"
as it something we can do togeth-
err"
mo; one or the other must do it."
81 shall be very happy to do 1t for
you If can"
THAT'S impossible"
Mr.. Howe thought bit before say
ing:
'Tf one or the other must do It, and
1 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 It
is and I'll see what can do for YOU"
He rose from his seat and sat down
beside her.
NO; have resolved to do it myself.
and / will"
Proceed"
Miss Hathaway. gathered her facul-
ties for beginning.
did you ever think of me-that Is,
i'll 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 q hunted fawn.
1t occurred to. him that he would like
to put his arms about her, take her
head on his shoulder and comfort her.
~ have freely. resolved" she went
on. with a gasp, always to remain