St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-07-19

know-I have thought that the most
sensible thing can do-of course there
isn't much time for such an important
move What am trying to get OUT
For heavens sake, get it out!
''The matter am driving at is that
I'd like to take your daughter with
me as my wife"
Well, 1 declare! He wants to take
some one down into that barbarous
country simply for company to help
him through with his spare time. He
won't take me!
There was brief silence, at the
end of which heard father ask, .sHave
you spoken to my daughter?"
81 have not In any event / would
have asked your permission to do so,
and this very unusual haste renders it
essential"
$50 far as I am concerned" said
father, 81 have no objection. / VIII
call Sadie, and If you think you can in
duce her to consent to such a hasty
marriage you are quite welcome TO
try. But If you will be guided by an
older man, married man, you will not
word your proposition to her as you
have to me. / would advise you to
tell her that this move is the result of
love, not an expedient. 1t doesn't mat
ter that expediency is your principal
reason. We must give women little
taffy, you know"
Oh, these men!
But matter of far greater impor7
lance arrested my attention-at least
it seemed more important at the time.
Father went to the door and called
me. OF course there was no answer.
He went out into the hall and called
again. Then 1 heard him go upstairs.
where's Sadie?" ''She's below"
mo, she isn't "She surely isn't up
here ''Find her"
Imagine my feelings, standing bolt
upright in the narrow space between
the doors and the portiere, the man
who had proposed for me SO near that
was afraid he would hear me
breathe, angry with him at his out
rageous proposition to take me away
to amuse him, sure to be discovered in
this unfortunate, disgraceful position
and, worse than all, in sweeping cos
tune. 1 surely thought 1 should suf-
focate.
Well, I must do something. They
all knew that I was in the house and
would hunt till they found me.
could better endure to face my lover.
My lover-just think of it! Better
call him my buyer-I a pet dog for
his amusement! Better that should
come out of hiding and face him than
be caught eavesdropping. l tried
three times to make move before
succeeded The third time, my heart
beating like a kettledrum, my face
red as a beet, l bolted for the door
leading into the hall, called to father,
"Never mind; I'm here in the parlor,"
every one without the room that was
shut up with my proposer and was to
be let alone. Then 1 turned and faced
him.
And he faced me. 1 don't know
which was the more ludicrous, the
cape on his face or the modification
mingled with wounded pride on mine.
1t seemed that we two rather than
take up love and marriage were about
to spring at each other like two wild
animals.
The proper thing for me to have done
under the circumstances was to wait
for him to speak. But consider the sit
uation If it was not enough to rattle
any girl, had she even the heart of
fish, then I am no judge of situations.
Instead of appearing sensible of the
compliment he had paid me in asking
me to be his wife, instead of explain
ing that l had been an enforced caves
dropper, instead Of saying a lot Of
things I should have said, / did what
1 should not, pouring upon him a tor
rent of abuse for proposing to make
a convenience of me.
He stood listening to me deferential-
ly, attentively and, must add, admir-
ingly. When I came to a pause he
spoke:
give seen you in a number of cos
tunes, but never saw you look so
pretty as in this one"
Then for the first time it occurred
to me that / was doing the wrong
thing, and 1 became conscious of my
costume.
1 suppose it was the sudden change
OF expression on my face. At any rate,
my proposer smiled. Then the absurd
ity of it all occurred to me, and re-
pressed a smile. I was in no mood
for trif1ing.
''Let me explain" he said. TN talk
ing to your father 1 was talking as
man to man, not as man to woman. l
assure you 1 have no such talk for
you" He came up to me and, taking
me by the hand, led me to seat and
sat down beside me. What he said is
not to be repeated. but it certainly was
not what he said to father. 1t put an
entirely different complexion On the
matter and not only Modified me, but
thrilled me.
He didn't speak 1ong-there was no
time. AS soon as he had my answer
he took up the practical part of the
matter, explaining to me how much
loneliness it would save him if 1 would