Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1911-09-14

wife. such a proposition as thai
should be disposed OF at once. and
repeat I am sorry that the man hest
tated. for whatever reason can't Inn.
agine, so that the affair might have
been conclusively settled"
II am not at all sure, mother" an,
swered Miss Haldane. that 1t would
have been conclusively settled in the
way at least you seem to think the
only way possible. If he had asked me
to be his WIFE,"
Eleanor. you could not possibly
love this mani"
Il could do SO; but certainly do
not love him now. / certainly respect
and admire him. think he Is the lead.
ing citizen of New York today. II he
wins this election and goes on as he
should. there is no reason why he
should not be president of the United
States. believe IT would be easier
to be elected to that Office than to be-
come mayor. And while I do not feel
toward him as I should toward the
man I will some day marry, yet there
are many other things in the pros
| pect that allure"
"But you are Haldane. you are
| Stuyvesant, you are"
II know, mother. all that my an
cestors were. AS for myself, / am just
an American girl, who likes Ameri-
can men and American institutions.
and who is glad to see people do
things" IS
u presume" said Haldane, who had
said little but had thought deeply.
that such proposition. II definitely
made, would be made to me-"
We'll then. of course" said his wife,
you will give but one answer"
And what would you suggest that
should be-" asked Haldane.
ITO show him the door,"
II hardly think" returned her hus-
band. that l should be guilty Of that
discourtesy."
There is no use," interposed her
/ daughter, ito discuss the matter any
further; for he hasn't asked me, I
haven't accepted him. / don't know
whether he ever will ask me or not,
anu Until hO uoSS why tiOuuic ouout
it?"
We'll, what does he mean then by
telling you that he loves you? Lowest"
sneered the older woman disdain-
fully.
YES" said her father, ut seems to
me rather remarkable course for a
man to address a woman in that way.
and yet not complete his proposition"
He said that something was i'm
pending which made him feel that II
was proper to tell me this now"
Something impendingf"
Some sort of disclosure, Inferred"
answered the girl, that might affect
him or possibly me-"
Haldane started.
WELL" he said. II do not quite
! agree with your mother. There is no
insult in the honest affection of any
honest man. But If he approaches Yea
upon the subject, wish that you
would refer him to me-"
"Father!"
"Beekman!" exclaimed the older
woman. greatly surprised. "You do IT
mean"
Nov, I don't mean anything, en-.
cept just what I say" answered Hal
dane decisively. 1T Is proper that
such a proposition should be made to
me; and in short very greatly desire
| to be allowed to discuss the matter, II
it goes any further. with Mr.. Gormly
personally"
Haldane spoke sternly, and his wife
at once subsidized. as she invariably
did when he assumed that mood.
Eleanor. however. was not SO easily
silenced.
be consulted, father" she said firmly;
but so far as the disposition of my
hand goes, that Is a matter that con-
| Germs my heart, and II is one which,
although Ishould be very glad of your
counsel and your approval. ! shall
have to decide myself"
quite so. quite So" said Haldane.
IT have no other idea"
| At this moment, which threatened
| to grow more tense. Livingston Hal
dane entered the room. He was great
ly perturbed and alarmed.
Father" he said abruptly, II want
| to see you alone for moment or two
| pleased"
What has happened?" began Hal
dane, rising
why, Mr.. Gormly- But would
rather see you alone"
| HAS he made a proposition to you
for your sisters hand?" questioned
Mrs. Haldane.
| What" exclaimed her son.
Eleanor" explained his mother.
-has Just stated that Mr.. Gormly took
advantage of your kindness to him the
other night, after that disgraceful cpl
sode in the city hall. to make love to
her In the tonneau Of the car"
You don't say!" exclaimed the
young man. apparently neither shock
ed nor surprised. We'll. he's a good
one. What did you say to him. sis?"
TT is very unpleasant to me to have
| these matters discussed In this way"
answered Eleanor, her face blushing.
"As I have explained to father and
mother, Mr.. Gormly did me the honor
to say that he cared great deal foi
me. He did not ask me to be his wife.
although he expressed his intention of
doing so. He said that certain things
had made him anticipate his purpose
and state his feelings toward me now
without waiting. as he had expected
| to do. until the end Of the election"
| what things?' asked young Hal
dane. Things that concerned him.