The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-07-12
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Proxy Proposal
~ FREDERICK HARr.


sFRgpEAlcK HART.
Copyright 1921 by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate)
- LIzA1ETH SHIRLEY was cry.
Ing asSthp1gh her heart would
break not fifteen minutes after
man had laid his hand and heart
\ her feet
Her mothef, accustomed though
The val 70 her daughters moods,
fas at loss 10 understand this &C.
ession 81 grief.
There there, dear" she said
soothingIyr patting EliEabeth's
brown head. .tPlease don't cry-I
snow al about Il. He asked you
70 marry him didn't he, and you re,
Ilused3 Wal, II you don't love MIN
yon did quite right. Thieves moth.
blggito cry about In that, Fred Stan.
hope rs nice boy, but IL you don't
love him you did the right thing"
lift Isn't that" sobbed Eliza
beta didn't mind Fred's propos-
Ing but+but some one was listen.
ing. and he heard what Fred said
and he didn't hear what l said"
What This was enough to sur.
prise any mother.
n Yes, Youiknow the crowd went
On q picnic to Bass Rocks-and IT
was noonlight-and ] Just knew
eomething would happel-and Fred
made me 90 ont on the rocks with
ihim-and Jimmy-Jimmy-
All said her mother. Tell me
all about ~,
II And Elizabeth told. She and Fred
had wandered out on the rocks,
here the moon made a long path
ion the lake, and there Fred had
told her that he loved her and
wanted TO marry her, gAnd oh,
mother dear, Jimmy Davis was out
there tool He had strolled out
alone and when he saw us coming
he tried to.get away-but he heard
Fred propose, and then he left, He
-he didn't know | saw him. but !
ldid-and all the time Fred was
talking couldn't help thinking OF
Jimmy-apd then when / said Mo-
looked around and Jimmy was
gomez
We'll IEdon't see what's SO tragic
about that
sph. mother, Jimmy's going TO
Europe tomorrow for six months.
He sailssin the morning. And, moth.
Ter. Iloys him, But IL that horrid
Fred hadn't been $3.50 persistent
I'm sure Jimmg wouldthaye spoken,
|nud now rs stooslateir And Eliza.
eth sobbedg again.
There, there, daughter, don't
~ It will all come right" And
her mother tried to console her, But
Elizabeth was ~inconsolable. So her
mother wisely left her to have her
thinking hard.
She had known Of Elizabeth's al.
lection for Jimmy Davis for a long
time, and had that Jimmy re-.
burned the feeling; but he was a
quiet man and not an. .mpetuous
iwooerl He had waited till the last
moment Is speak-of this she was
sure-while Fred stanhope hat
Fred wSs, as she had said, a nice
boy: but Elizabeth did not love him,
sndsthere was no doubt but that she
hid love Jimmy.
And Mrs Shirley was bound to
dmit 10 herself that Of the two
snt INTO the living room. thinking
or Europe to inspect the for.
Sees2 OF the firm for which
He had told Elizabeth
prk might keep him away
but Mrs.. Shirley knew
tbts he longer And mean.
daughter would be un.
plight OF determination came
shlrley's eyes and a smile
the corners OF ker mouth.
suppose its ever been done
he said 70, herselk .But
ldiseasess need des srate
And after, all. ihIthis
EeyI don't suppose it's so
tisly bad-let's see, what
meNNt
The party had returned early
from the picnic, A glance at the
flock showed hatit was only 1880
Mrs. shirley went to the telephone
sHello-Park 246T, please. .
"HeIo-let me speak to Mr.. Da
Fis.
This you JIMMY Mrs. Shirley
speaking.
Yes, II lisa nice night-but thai
snft whatII wanted to say, Now
listen 70 me and don't interrupt