The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-01-30
An Americans
Proposition Fer a French
Grl
By RYLAND BELL

.
to the wild west to become Il un( h
The consequence was that Jimmie
grew up with all the freedom of COW
puncher. That doesn't mean that he
was coarse, but that he was uncOu,
ventiona His father and mother he
Ing refined he was himself refined. but
he naturally partook OF the spirit of
the people among whom he lived
When Jimmie was twenty-five he
had lost father and mother and was
in possession of one of the most eX
tensive and best stocked ranches In
New Mexico. Having never seen any
| thing OF the world. he concluded to
make n trip to Europe, He liked Paris
| pretty well and, having mind to so
! journ there awhile. joined n club and
got himself introduced into society
At Il function given at the American
embassy Jimmie met Clochette DesatX
and fell desperately in love with her
| The young lady seemed well pleased
with him, and Jimmie was ready for
proposal But he had by this time
learned that marriages in Europe are
not made as they are in America ana
certainly not as they We're made
among ranch people. Mile. DesaiX be,
longed to a very old family. and her
father was stickler for etiquette,
/ Jimmie knew this and feeling his
want of ability to tackle the problem
of proposal without being coached,
| impaired his desires to NJ. CoushoiX.
member of his club who was con
sldered well up in such matters aud
asked for advice,
He was told that on no account must
he speak to the object Of his desires
until the matter had been settled with
her father. NJ Desaix should be APP
preached with great ceremony. and
Jimmie must give him to understand
that he would consider It n great honor
20 be permitted 20 ally himself with
so ancient and honorable Il family.
i There was no necessity for him to
dwell on his love for the young lady,
for love would according to French
customs. have nothing to do with the
matter. If he received encouragement
! from NJ. DesaiX 1t would then be In
order for him to enter upon an expo
sltion of his affairs. mentioning the
amount he proposed to settle on his
wife just previous to the marriage
/ He would have right TO know what
dowry the bride would receive from
her father. but delicacy would suggest
that he wait for NJ Desaix to speak
of that.
Jimmie thought he understood how
the racket was worked" as he ex-
pressed 1t, and started or to find NJ.
Desalx. The latter had just finished
dinner, and man after dinner Is
usually approachable. Jimmie was In
vited into smoking room, and his
host, who had noticed his attentions
at functions to his daughter and sus-
pected. or, rather, felt sure of the OBJ
| ject of his coming. skirmished by ref
erences to the weather, But Jimmie
| was not much of hand at prelimina-
ries and entered upon his subject in
accordance with the coaching he had
received
"Monsieur," he said, IL have since
my sojourn in Paris heard much OF the
long and honorable record of your fam
ily, and 1t has fired me with an ambi'
ton to enroll my name on its escutch
con"
! Jimmie paused for breath. He ap'
peared to NJ Desalx very like schools
boy making his first speech and suf
ferIng from stage fright. a decanter
stood on n side table, and the host. eX
tending hand to it, said
Monsieur, you do me great honor
Let us drink to the shades of my an
cestors.",
Jimmie jumped at the proposition
and when fortified proceeded
Monsieur, have met on several oc-
casions your estimabIe daughter, Aule
Clochette am aware that in France
Cupid has no more place in matrimo-
NAL affairs than a grizzly has in q
gopher hole. but cannot refrain from
saying that consider Mile Clochette
a deuced fine girl
Jimmie paused, and NJ. Desaix saw
by his expression that he was trying
to decide between the encomiums upon
Mile Clochette that were crowding
upon him and skiIlfuly led him back
to the business in hand.
"Do understand, monsieur, that you
propose for the hand of my daugh-
terT
you bet"
"Then perhaps you will begin by Civ
ing me some account Of your family
descent, after which, If your state
ment in this respect is satisfactory to
me, we may take up the matter of set
Elements. What is your family coat
of armsW
Never heard Of any such. Father
used to say he was going to adopt a
pair OF steers horns quartered with n
lariat, COW punch
Never mind that ! have under
stood that in America there are no
family trees. AS to settlements
"There am more AT home" Jimmie
broke In, and he gave an account OF
his affairs that made NJ Desaix's
heart beat joyously, thon.h outward
" he continued to he unmoyed Jim
mie offered to settle half his fortune
M, hta wifi, Whan Al naautv man.