Smyrna times., 1918-01-02
Unique
Proposal
By F. A. MITCHELL


be. Indeed it is questionable if wOm-
en- ever lose their romance.
do you see that rock out there?"
she asked.
Yes, what of it?"
1T Is called lovers rock. There is
a tradition that if a man proposes to
girl out there she can't refuse him."
You mean when the tide is coming
in and she is cut off 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."
Il didn't know girls were moved to |
love on a barren place like a whales |
back. l thought the way to win them |
was amid music and flowers"
Eyes, but 1 can understand how be-
ing under a spell might compel girl
to yield on a barren rock like that,
when moonlight, music and flowers
would fail"
81 think l would be most easily in
duced to propose to a girl after a
good dinner"
Il fear that in your brain where the
bump of romance should be there is
q fiat place"
Rather a hollow. However suppose
we go 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 If will be compelled to
propose to you If we go out together
to the rock"
'That isn't it at all. 1t isn't that the
man is impelled to propose to the girl.
It's that If he does, she is impelled
by some strange influence to accept
him."
"Well, let's try 1t 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
floating platform leading out into the
water. She got into the boat without
saying a word and he pulled over
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 few steps, for the
tide which was rising left uncovered
no great space. They sat down side
by side.
ST feel 1t coming" he said present
ly.
"What's cOmingT
"The SPELL"
Nonsense"
do you feel itT''
"Feel whatT'
1 "a desire to have me propose to
you.''
"Didn't tell you that II the man"
"Yes. yes, but is a man going to
propose to a girl in cold blOOd2 Is
4 there no love current between them
NV opinion is that If there is any
I thing in this rock forcing the man tC
| propose, the girl has as much to dC
/ with it as he"
] 'Not at all. The tradition is sim
ply"
/ "That woman is obliged to accept
| proposal. But"
"WellT
l "Great heavens! There goes ou
boat"
The rising tide had unlOOsened tn
painter and was carrying the boa
awav. There would be no use in tr!
ing to regain 1t by swimming, for
was even now further from the roc
than was the shore, and it was recet
ing rapidly. Looking about them the
saw that the rock was nearly covere
- with water.
- "While we have been talking"
said, "the tide has cut us on FRO
shore"
"What shall we dO?" cried the 81
much frightened.
eve haven't tested the prOpos
hit matter YETI"
"Don't talk nonsense! Our lives a
at stake"
"I don't believe you have any
y nance in you after ALL"
"Come, come; how are we to
b aShOreV
They were far from their hotel
any house. Indeed there was no 0
near to render them assistance. 1
sides the twilight was fading. He to
her hand and said:
"I think am going to"
O "Heavens! Don't faint"
o "Propose."
"Are you crazyT"
"No, am under the influence OF
SPELL"
70 She had by this time lost her
control. and although she could
swim, marched out into the wat
hoping that she could wade ashore:
was nowhere over her head, but
deep at once place as to reach
shoulders. She feared to proceed
"Helpl" she called to him.