The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-06-19
A WOMAN'S WAY
OF PROPOSING
Clever Handling of a Rather
Stupid Lover.

youngest daughter, having five broth
ers and three older sisters. had no hope
of ever inheriting the throne Those
who are born at the wrong end Of a
royal family are not In an enviable po-
sitiOn. The princess must needs keep
up all the customs Of regal estate with
out ever coming to a regal Inheritance.
Her brother, the heir apparent, was be-
trothed to a girl he had never seen.
but as an offset If he lived long enough
he would be king. The princess was
expected to marry one Of royal blood
without hope of becoming queen.
The matter did not especially trouble
her till she took it into her head to fall
In love with her tutor. His father was
a count and the son would succeed to
the title and estaQs, but he was no
match for kings daughter. No soon
er did the princess discover that she
wanted the handsome and intellectual
young man than the injustice Of her
position occurred to her. She went to
her father, the king, whose pet she
was, threw her arms around his neck
and begged to be allowed to marry the
tutor. The king, who could refuse her
| nothing, at last consented and told her
she might send her sutton to him.
But he is not my suitor," said the
princess.
Certainly not" replied the king. at
Is you who have proposed to him."
"But have not proposed to him."
"Well, then, If you intend to marry
him you had best do So"
The objections having been removed
the princess bethought herself of the
proposal. However will do itY' she
said to herself. 1--WE read stories Of
men who have shrunk from proposing
to the girls they loved, and l never
had any patience with them. I must
be brave"
To make matters worse, both be-
cause of maidenly modesty and that
she had not supposed she would be
permitted to marry the man Of her
choice, she had never given him the
slightest intimation that she loved
him. She must assure him Of this and
follow it up with a proposition. II
shall intimate to him." she said, (which
way the wind blows, and If he fails to
see 1t I can't help It."
Having vainly tried for a month to
make up her mind to the task she at
last resolved to do SO after her daily
lesson on a certain morning. So, the
exercises being finished, when the tu-
49, 70, -, cnfI 20
"Please don't hurry today. I have
something to say to you"
He resumed his seat and looked at
her inquiringly. There was not much
encouragement in his reception of the
announcement
"You told me yesterday" she said,
that it was the turning Of the earth
on its axis that caused the trade winds
to blow in one diagonal direction in
the northern hemisphere and in an Op-
posite direction in the southern hemi-
sphere. We are in the northern hemi-
believe that's right Now, If we were
in the southern hemisphere they would
blow west, wouldn't they?"
"Qulte right"
"Well, what I would like to know is
If everything in the southern hemi-
sphere is transposed7 Do the men
and women down there stand in a re-
versed relationship"
Astonished at the irrelevance Of the
question. he looked at her in silence
for time, then said, II am not aware
Of any such transposition."
She looked at the ceiling. then at the
floor, then out of the window.
II didn't know" she finally contin-
ued, "but that you. being very smart
man, would catch my meaning"
Still more COMPOUNDED, he scrutinized
her face for clew. Begging your
royal highness' pardon" he said. II
fail to see any connection whatever
between your question and anything
that pertains to single organic. inor-
ganic or spiritual condition"
Il suppose" she said disheart-
ened tone, 'that I shall have to ask
you leading question. You are al
ways asking me leading questions, you
know"
"Pray do So"
Eat the pole"- she paused.
"Well, at the poles?'
(Which way does the wind blown.
The young man knit his brow. pulled
his mustache, crossed and recrossed
his legs, then said:
Theoretically there should be dead
calm at the poles"
The girl turned away impatiently.
II see," said her tutor, you did not
intend to ask the question scientifi-
cally."
mo; did not"
II dare say am very stupid. i've.
not been used to associate much with
the members Of your sex. Your Ian
guage is too subtle for me-"
Perhaps" said the princess, rising,
1.-THE day may come when you will un-
derstand what have said to you"
There was something In the look Of
reproach she gave him that let ray
OF light in upon his brain. And, after