Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-12-06

IhatI etter
., HUDSON G EAsToN

had bsen for some tilns dsvotsd to
Dleanor. I had recsivsd such sucour-
agemsnt ~ to lead me 10 believe that
II I proposed to her I would b accept
Cd But my mind was not de6nitely
made up. A man u mot likely 10 come
10 . conclusion in the matter Of mar
riags unless some great advantage u
to be gained or he 10 madly In love.
The first may not always decide him,
but the latter win. In my case there
was NO especial advantage b b gain
Cd, and I had drifted 20 gently Into
love that was unaware that I had
got there.
called one evening and found Flea
nor SHINING at some cut howeeA Who
had any business to be sending her
howerst The corners Of my mouth
went down, my nostrils dilatsd, color
came into my cheek and Z spark into
my eye. was about 10 say some
thing disagreeabls when remembered
that there was no contract between
Eleanor and me whatever. She might
receive flowers from OLD Nick II she
liked.
30 I recovered myself sunaciently to
make It appear that was Indifferent.
When she saw that I would not ask
from whom the gift came she told me
that Hathaway had sent them. Hath
away was q newcomer In the place,
was good looking. dressed well, and all
tho girls sat up and took notice Of
him. damned him with faint praise,
made my call very short ana went to
my room uneasy. It occurred to me
that sometimes these affairs between
the sexes come about very suddenly.
When fellow sends 4 girl flowers 1t
may be sign that he is getting ready
to propose.
Sunday afternoon I had been accus-
tomed to spend with Eleanor. I deter
mined that the next Sunday afternoon
I would endeavor to nnd out how far
the affair between her and Hathaway
had gone. Usually when I called the
maid ushered me into the drawing
room. This Sunday was shown Into
the library. There was a writing desk
there, and letter addressed and
stamped lay on it l glanced at the
superscript1on and saw that it was for
Hathaway and the writing was Flea.
nors.
Z Evidently the affair had gone much
faster and much further than might
have been expected. wondered II the
letter were not an acceptance Of pro-
posal. It 10 mid that q raw recruit
win become panic stricken at the first
sound of q gun. A lover Is naturally
q coward, and l was no exception to
the rule. trembled. l paced back
and forth In q great dread, now and
again looking at the letter, which lay
on the desk mocking me. could
scarcely refrain from taking It up and
throwing 1t in the fire that blazed mer-
rily on the hearth.
Presently Eleanor came in. She
seemed q bit annoyed at seeing her
letter on the desk ana said:
1T was 80 cold this morning that in
stead of writing in my room wrote
here, where it is warm"
Leaving her letter where 1t lay. she
took a seat before the fire and began
to chat about the weather. sat down
on q sofa trifie further than she from
the blaze. for my cheeks were warm
enough already. tried to say some
thing, but that COMPOUNDED letter to
Hathaway stared me in the face and
tongue tied me. II said anything 1t
was disconnected and Irrelevant Flea.
nor did not share in my embarrass-
ment. She was evidently enjoying the
genial warmth, not appearing to care
whether I talked, talked disconnected
~ or did not talk at all.
Twas badly ratified. wanted to get
In 4 proposal before that letter was
posted. Had retained my equanimity
l would have felt assured that II Flea.
nor had received q proposal from Hath
away and had replied to It favorably
anything could say would not be like
" to alter her decision. II she had
replied in the negative there was moth
ing to do In the premises. But was
In no condition Of mind to make pro-
posaL Proposals, except where they
are . mere matter Of form or at q ven
ture, come from the heart The lady
IL sympathetic. COOS. and the man feels
something welltng up In his bosom
that comes out In 4 declaration. But
was disgruntlsd and Eleanor didn't
COO. csuldn't propose. After spend
ing half an hour In this fashion ! arose
to 60.
.'Wouid you mind posting letter for
mel" asked Eleanor In an Indifferent
tone.
This vas too much.
YES" said. 81 would mind posting
q letter which have reason to believe
ID reply to an offer. This man Hath
away's attentions to you have been per
fectly plain. l. who have been long
devoted 70 you. hare been suddenly
thrust agide"-
But enough. The ice was broken.
Eleanor Soothed me. I went On throw.
Ing on q lot Of senseless tall-lovs
talk, such ~ lovers have spoken from