The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1917-02-22
A Proposal
By F. A. Mitchell

There was something about the cow
puncher that attracted Bridget and
something about Bridget that attract
ed the cowpuncher. He was a hand
some chap with an aristocratic man
ner about him that bespoke better
origin than is usually attached to one
of his calling Bridget was not beau
tiful, but she was graceful as ga
zelle, and when there was Il dance at
any Of the ranch houses in the neigh
borhood the others stopped dancing to
watch her Her social standing was
above that Of the COW puncher, for
she was governess for a ranchmans
children, occasionally waiting on the
table.
But if the man was inferior in occu-
patton to the girl his name was far
more splendid. 1t was Thistledale
Fairweather. Her companions called
him This Rainbow. Where he got such !,
name no one knew. He could have
told, but he would not. Bridgcts name
was O'COnnOr, a fine name, too, but
Quaker-like beside that of her admirer.
One night these two were sitting be-
fore the great open fireplace in what
was used for the schoolroom at the |
ranch. Thistledale held her hand and
said. Bridget. dear, love you, but
cannot ask you to be my wife"
Il love you" she replied" but
could not accept you for my husband
why 500" !
Give me your reasons and | will
give you mine"
'WelI. then, am the grandson Of a
British nobleman. My father is his
oldest son. In his youth my governor
was wild. My mother was Il singer in
music hall. She was so beautiful
that the London swells Of the day
were wild about her. My father court
ed and married her. He was disowned -
by his father. the Earl of Ballngton.
My father became broken down with
dope and is now in a retreat in Eng
land. He will die without other issue
than my own unworthy self. Should
/ survive him and my grandfather,
who is eighty years old, | shall be
Earl Of Ballington. Now you see why
cannot marry a cOmmoner-a govern
ess and at times a waitress
Il grant that your social position is
very high-in prospective" replied
Bridget, "but when l tell you of my
own descent l think you will admit
that it would be uniting for me to
marry you. My father IS Duke of
4 Mulligawney, one OF the oldest titles
ln -Irelang He married 9945- mother A
:sfrom among the ballet girls at the
opera. When his father died and he
succeeded to the title he divorced my
mother and sent her adrift without a
penny He is now married to a noble
lady. But she has borne him no chill
.dren. and at his death ! shall be a
duchess, his title being Unbeatable by
a woman You know very well that an
earl is inferior to duke, and for this
reason shall not marry you even If
You ask me.
There is another point OF vantage
In my case said the cow puncher.
INV grandfather has recently written
me that if will return to England \
and marry my cousin, Lady Gladys
Fairweather, he will acknowledge me
and prepare me to inherit the title.
which | am sure of in case ! live to
claim it.
And my father" put in Bridget.
~some time ago sent a special messen-
ger to me to say that he wishes the
title at his death to go to my cousin,
Ralph Mulcahey, lieutenant In the
royal navy. But my claim will be in
the way. so he wants me to so to Ire
land and marry Ralph"
Are you soing?"
II haven't decided. like this coun
try pretty well, and I'm thinking my re-
lations will turn up their noses at me.
Same here It's the preparation to
be an earl don't like. Cowpunching
isn't good sendoff for being noble
man. I'd rather-stay here.
There was silence between the pair
Tor some time. Since they were Sit
ting in the great cane bottom rocking
chair. had Bridget's heart been on the :
other side it would have been beating,
against his. and his arm was about !
her waist
Bridget" he said presently. sup
pose we decline the prospective titles
and be contented rs we are with each
-" -
other?"
Il couldn't think of it, she said.
cit would break my fathers heart
MY grandfather would suffer. too,
but what care for that:'
.'Your mother was music nan {
singer" /
Yours was dancer 1
but after her divorce mine married
a general
mine married an admiral"
The tete-a-tete was interrupted at
this point by the ranchman's coming
When he entered the couple were sit