The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1918-06-06
Unique
Proposal
1cOpyrisht. 1911. Western Newspaper union.l
By r. A.


be. Indeed II is questionable IL wom-
en- ever lose their romance.
do you see that rock out thereT"
she asked.
"Yes, what OF itf"
eft is called lovers rock. There Is
q tradition that II a man proposes to
a girl out there she can't refuse him."
"You mean when the tide is coming
in and she is cut of from shore she
can't swim and the fellow won't save
her unless she will agree to marry
him."
How you talk! 1t isn't that at all.
There's some spell that Is thrown over
the girl which draws her to the man."
IT didn't know girls were moved TO
love on a barren place like a whales
back. / thought the way to win them
was amid music and flowers"
"Yes, but l can understand how be-
ing under a spell might compel a girl
TO yield on a barren rock like that.
when moonlight, music and flowers
would fail"
"I think / would be most easily in
duced to propose to a girl after a
good dinner"
81 fear that In your brain where the
bump of should be there Is
a fiat place"
Rather a hollow. However suppose
we 20 out on the lovers rock. and see
what will happen"
There was no reply TO this. She
sat gazing out to sea. evidently des-
pairing of being able to touch a chord
of romance In him, or rather regretting
that such a chord did not exist.
Come" he added rising. I'm curl
Gus to know II l will be compelled TO
opo to you II we go out together
to the rock"
THAT isn't II at all. 1t isn't that the
mar is impelled to propose to the girl.
It's that II he does, she Is impelled
by some strange influence to accept
him."
well, let's try II anyway"
He put out his hand and helped her
to rise from her seat on the sand, and
led her to a rowboat moored TO a
floating platform leading out into the
She got into the boat without
saying a word and he pulled over a
hundred yards Of shallow water to the
rock. There he coiled the painter
around a stone and they went to that
side Of the rock facing the ocean. They
had only to take a few steps, for the
tide which was rising left uncovered
no great space. They sat down side
by side.
81 feel 1t coming" he said present
ly.
whats comingf"
"The SPELL"
Nonsense"
"Do you feel lit"
"Feel WHAT"
"A desire to have me propose to
you"
Didn't I tell you that II the man"
"Yes, yes, but is a man going to
propose to a girl In cold bloodf Is
there no love current between themf
My opinion Is that IL there Is any
thing in this rock forcing the man TO
propose. the girl has as much to do
with II as he"
mot at all. The tradition is Sim
ply"
THAT a woman is obliged to accept a
proposal. But"
"WellT'
"Great heavensi There goes our
boat"
: The rising tide had unloosened the
painter and was carrying the boat
away. There would be no use In try
ing to regain II by swimming. for 1t
was even now further from the rock
than was the shore. and II was reced-
ing rapidly. Looking about them they
saw that the rock was nearly covered
with water.
while we have been talking" he
said, 'the tide has cut us on from
shore"
"what shall we dol" cried the girl
much frightened.
I'VE haven't tested the proposal
matter yeti"
"Don't talk ~nonsensel Our lives are
at stake"
II don't believe you have any ro-
nance In you after all"
"Come. come; how are we to get
ashoref"
They were far from their hotel or
any house. Indeed there was no one
near to render them assistance. Be-
sides the twilight was fading. He took
her hand and said:
81 think l am going to-
"Heavensi Don't faint"
Propose"
"Are you craxyf"
"No. / am under the influence Of the
SPELL"
She had by this time lost her self
control. and although she could not
swim. marched out into the water.
hoping that she could wade ashore. II
was nowhere over her head. but so
deep at nee place al to reach her
shoulders. She feared to proceed.