Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1912-02-01
A REALISTIC
PROPOSAL
BY EDWARD L. SlCKLES
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

by contrast l had been asked by
Daisy TO take a cup OF tea with her at
B o'clock. She served the tea In thin
Dresden cups. her pink fingers vying
with the china in delicacy. She also
gave me a very thin slice Of buttered
bread on a little plate. Then she
handed me q napkin. With the bread
plate In one hand and the teacup In
the other. how was ! to spread the
napkin on my knees? | tried TO hold
the dishes in one hand that might
open the napkin with the other and
spilled most Of the tea into the saucer.
It's Just like a woman to hand man
several things at once. didn't want
either the bread and butter or the tea.
Besides expected every minute to
break one Of lfty dollar ten set.
This part Of II Was over al last A
maid came IN and removed the agony,
and we settled down to n tete-a tete.
Daisy was young. barely eighteen.
was twenty nine / should have talk
ed about some subject with a bit Of
meat in IT, but Daisy bad just emerg
ed from childhood and WAS making The
transit into young ladyhood SO |
must follow her lead under penalty OF
being considered old as Methuselah
She hadn't entertained many grown
men and her dashes at the job were
spasmodic IN my case she brought
out book with lot OF silly printed
questions. TO which persons were sup
posed TO write stupid answers.
Not that | minded this youthful non
sense. was getting on to that age
where wouldn't have minded going
back few pegs Daisy opened the
book, handed me a pencil with a point
on 1t any one would know had been
shaped by a woman-that Is. blrur as
q nail head--aud asked me 20 write an
answer TO the lirst question, What is
your fayorite color" looked ar
Daisy's lips and was about TO write
"vermilion" when our eyes met and l
put In blue" instead
How singuar!" she exclaimed mild
~. That's my favorite color too"
My eyes are as black as a stack OF
black cats.
The next question was, Are you
fond Of poetry" to which ! wrote, II
love II dearly" This was keeping in
line very well. and Daisy was much
impressed with my taste and the deli
cacy with which | expressed II. but
when ! came to reply to the question,
what poem 90 you most admireT |
l,1H 4 u
poem except Little Brooches" and IL
would never do to put that in Finally
Paradise Lost occurred to me. and
wrote II In the book
What kind of paradisew Daisy
asked. cooking her head on one side
and looking at me like canary bird.
"A lovely girl
is that really the paradise meant
In the poemT'
Evidently John Millions great work
was not familiar to her
Il couldn't answer for that" | re-
piled ITS the paradise | mean"
She looked down on the book for
the next question, 'What trait would
you most value in one you loyed?"
wrote. ignoring the true meaning, Il
should like her to be blond"
II didn't think you preferred bonds"
said Daisy consciously ~ thought
You preferred brunettes."
why should you think that"
''Oh. have noticed your attentions
60 brunette"
A wave OF self condemnation swept
over me at STOPPING to this ''vealy'' dia-
Iogue, but l can't say that was bored.
The next question was, what is your
favorite proverb?" To which | wrote
fn answer, Faint heart never won
fair lady"
There couldn't have been a proverb
more Inappropriate Daisy was so un-
sophisticated, SO tender that she might
easily be won by circus mar or a
supernumerary in theater l groaned
when | thought what l was sinking to.
But proceeded.
"What age would you prefer the
woman you would marry to beY was
the next question, and, knowing that
Daisy's next birthday would come in
month, wrote seventeen and eleven
months"
by this time Daisy's color had height
ened "a bit and her shapely bosom was
rising aud falling a tride more rapid
~ than usual ! turned the leaves TO
the part where were the questions Tor
women and pointing 10 a column begin
ming with the question, what is your
favuritc nOwerg" asked her to do a