Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-04-03
An American
Proposition For a French
Gil
By RYLAND BELL

Jimmie Martindale's father went out
to the wild west TO become a ranch
man when Jimmie was six years old.
The consequence was hat Jimmie
grew up with all the freedom of a COW
puncher. That doesn't mean that he
was coarse, but that he was uncon-
venfional. His father and mother be-
ing refined he was himself refined. but
he naturally p~artook Of the spirit of
the people among whom be 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 a trip to Europe. He liked Paris
pretty we'll and, having a mind to So
journ there awhile. Joined a club and
got himself introduced into society.
At a function given at the American
embassy Jimmie met Clochette Desaix
and fell desperately In love with her.
The young lady seemed well pleased
with him. and Jimmie was ready for
a proposal. But he had by this time
learned that marriages In Europe are
not made as they are in America and
certainly not as they were made
among ranch people. Mile. Desaix be-
longed to a very old family. and her
father was a stickler for etiquette.
Jimmie knew this and. feeling his
want of ability to tackle the problem
of a proposal without being coached,
impaired his desires to NJ. Coushoix,
a member of his club who was con-
sidered well up in such matters, and
asked for advice.
He was told that IN no account must
he speak to the object of his desires
until the matter had been settled with
her father. M. Desaix should be ap-
preached with great ceremony, and
Jimmie must give him to understand
that he would consider 1t a great honor
to be permitted to ally himself with
so ancient and honorable a family.
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
sition of his affairs, mentioning the
amount he proposed to settle on his
wife Just previous to the marriage.
He would have a right to know what
dowry the bride would receive from
her father. but delicacy would suggest
that he wait for M. Desaix to speak
of that.
Jimmie thought he understood how
the racket was worked" as he ex-
pressed 1t. and started off to find M.
Desaix. The latter had just finished
dinner. and a man after dinner is
usually approachable. Jimmie was in
vited into a smoking room. and his
host. who had noticed bis 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 a hand at prelimina-
ries and entered upon his subject in
accordance with the coaching he had
received. ,
"Monsieur," he said. II have since
my sojourn In Paris heard much of the
long and honorable record of your fam
lily, and it has fred me with an ambi-
ton to enroll my name on Its escutchr
con-"
Jimmie paused for breath. He APP
peared to M. Desaix very like a school
boy making his first speech and suf-
fering from stage fright. A decanter
stood on a side table. and the host. ex-
tending a 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. l have met on several oc-
casions your estimable daughter, Mile.
Clochette. 1 am aware that in France
Cupid has no more place In matrimo-
NAL affairs than a grizzly has in a
gopher hole, but l cannot refrain from
saying that | consider Mile. Clochette
a deuced fine girl"
Jimmie paused, and M. Desaix saw
by his expression that he was trying
to decide between the encomiums upon
Mile. Clochette that were crOwding
upon him and skillfully led him back
to the business in hand.
do l understand, monsieur, that you
propose for the hand of my daugh-
terY'
"You bet"
"Then perhaps you win 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 armsT
"Never heard Of n such. Father
used to say he was going to adopt a
pair Of steers horns quartered with a
lariat, a COW punch
Never mind that l have under
stood that in America there are no