Mexico weekly ledger., 1921-02-17
The PROPOSAL
BY LYDIA S. w

Beth, DEAR in a very dream,
voice. what do they do In this tow
when II rainsT"
| looked up. Whenever Jane hai
any news to break she begins by say
ing absolutely seIseless things. Nov
what had she done? Jane is Away
doing something. / resumed my sew
ing.
Il wish 1 had a million dollars
or an angora kitten, or something"
Silence.
"Beth, do you suppose that man out
there knows that his neck has lost its
colIar2'
|, gave up. She couldn't say any.
thing much sillier and / might as well
listen then as any time. ] put away
Charles sock that I was darning, fold.
ed my hands in resignation, and wait.
ed. I did not have to wait long.
"BHl Wentworth's crazy over me,
isn't he2 Funny how all the men fall
for me. Jane Is irresistible"
and she gurgles. I'm like your bull,
homely, but interesting. Oh, don't
bother to assure me that I'm not
really bad-looking-rather chic, you
know. What were we talking about?
oh, I remember, little Bill"
Little Bill He'd make three of
her.
"Jane," / broke In, why do you al
ways laugh at Bill? He's marvellous,
and every other girl in town is fish
ing for him but you"
"We-ell-he does send me wonder
full chocolate almonds and fresh vio-
let's"
I was about to sigh again, but the
telephones ringing interrupted me.
My guest ran off to answer.
BIZ Wentworth Yes, sir, he would
make an ideal husband for Jane.
When Jane danced into the DON a
minute later l asked who called up.
Observation-Disclosures Bill"
"What did he wantf''
ooh, nothing. l thought l might
see him over to the clubhouse tonight,
that's all."* l..
Jane tripped off to the club before
my husband and I were ready, but 1t
wasn't long before we followed her.
All the younger set was there ahead
Of us, and l saw Dorothy Walker and
Bill away off in a corner of the piazza.
oh, dear!-Dorothy, the vamp.
I worried through two horribly long
dances before | saw Jane. I pulled
her by force away from young Hen
ferson. and whispered fiat Bill was
looking for her down by the pines.
she didn't give me much encourage
mrnt. hut / hunted up Bill and tol;l
him fiat Jane rad been asking for
him and had started for the pines.
Bill gave me a queer stare and my
heart sank. Perhaps | was only MAX
ing a bad matter worse. ! didn't tell
Charles-lny husband. you know-be-
cause he wouldn't understand. He'd
laugh and call me a little silly. In
a few minutes ! suggested a walk
oyer the links. Almost instantly we
saw a figure stride toward US. 1t was
Bill / stiffened. Would he see us?
O-o-hi He missed us, thank good
ness, and hurried on to the next seat,
listened with all my ears. Not a
sound. Hadn't Jane a shrek!
Next a gasp and a deep masculine
rumble.
"No--yes--oh--no, oh dear, oh
dear" feminine words.
"Dont'-again the feeble little femi-
nine voice.
Bills voice interrupted it was very,
very earnest, and low-so low that we
couldn't distinguish a word.
"Oh Bill, please-you're hurting
mew
"No-no-Bill-I can't"
"Jane-dearp
"No-I can't can't"
She was refusing! The little fool!
Just wait until
go away-please, Bill"
And he did.
.t. o. '..-.
l woke up the next morning scowl-
ing. Oh, yes-Jane, the little wretch
He was the catch of the season, at
least every one said so. I slipped into
my kimono and tip-toed into James
room. But there was no need to tip
toe. Jane was up, and dressed
and as early as nine o'clock on a Sat
urday morning. I stared. She
beamed.
"Good morning, you sweet bride.
Aren't You up yetT
/ frowned. Was she glorying in
the fact that she had broken a heart?
"Beth, what's the matter with your
why did you send him away2 It
was cruel, Jane"
To my horror the child threw back
her head and laughed and laughed.
"My dear, l had to take my whole
skirt off. Bill couldn't lift me down /
was in such a position"
My eyes opened wider and wider.
II don't quite"
Jane gurgled and explained what /
mistook for a passionate proposal.
The little idiot had climbed into a
tree goodness knows Why and on
seeing Bill had, In her excitement,
slipped, caught her skirt In an old
stump Of a branch and hung dangling.
What ! had heard was poor Bin try
ing to rescue his lady fayre." / must
have shown my disappointment.
Don't be shocked, Beth. When I'm
a young matron'-(she gurgled again,
but ! am a matron now)-T won't
climb any more trees. Er-Beth-er
what have we for breakfast? Wait,
listen, BETH had something to tell
you Yesterday, but Bill and her