The Bolivar County Democrat. (Rosedale, Miss.) 1887-1969, 1923-03-31
HIS PROPOSAL
BY II. IRVING KING


pervened in the conversation between
himself and Allison Cover. He ac-
eompanied the remark with sigh.
They were on u hotel piazza; the
moon was or the mountains and moon
light on the river. 'You must have
seen, Allie" went on the young man,
''rhe-er-state of my heart. Fl
must know my fate tomorrow. / am
sure you-"
"Oh, Harry" cried Allison, please
don't say any more tonight-please
don't. l viii give you an answer to-
morrow morning." She had risen
from her chair and stood ready for
flight.
Harry with a gasp sat up straight
In his chair. But Allie," he cried,
"you don't understand what l am
trying to-"
"Oh, yes, I understand, "broke In the
agitated Allie. Goodnight, dear
and she was gone.
He spent most of the dark hours
that night revolving over and over
again the situation in which he found
himself and seeing no way out. AS
for Allison, she went straight to her
room after leaving Harry and turning
on the light, sat down to think. Ii
Harry was in a daze so was Allie.
She had always looked upon marriage
as a most respectable and almost UNI
versal custom to which, some day, she
might possibly be called upon to con-
form. There was Harry Drayton SUD
denly changed from lifelong friend
and confidant into lover and would
be husband. If she really had to take
a husband she could not just then
think of anybody she preferred in
that capacity to Harry.
There came a tap at her door. 1t
was Annie Blair, who always stopped
for a chat with her dear friend Allie
on her way to bed. Allie sometimes
wished that Annie, who was great
talker, would occasionally omit this
nightly visit, but tonight she hailed
her as q yisitant angel. For Allie re-
earfled Annie as so worldly wise and
experienced-which she was not-that
counsel from her could not but be OF
value. Therefore, when Annie l~used
for breath after her first budget OF
hotel gossip Allie said: annie, what
do YOU think of marriages."
"What a question" cried Annie. Il
think its something greatly to be de-
sired, of course-provided you get the
right man. And since you have
broached this most interesting subject,
/ will confide in you that l expect to
be married myself before long-in fact
1 know Pm going to be. But you
must not tell a living soul until l tell
you to-"
"Oh, Annie. cried Alison. chow did
you feel when he proposed?"
"Oh, he hasn't proposed yet,' re-
turned Annie calmly, 'but he's going
to tomorrow"
"How-how do you know?" gasped
Allie.
"How do know?" retorted Annie ;
"how do those figures in the barometer
know when to come in and go out in
advance of the weather? | am as sure
Harry Drayton is going to propose to
me tomorrow as am that | am going
to accept him. Hasn't he told you ne
was in love with me? You and he are
such chums and confidants that l
suppose he had told you before this
But. dear me, how late it's getting!
Goodnight. dear" And she was gone.
Now Allison Cover was.-a simple
soul but not without sense and re-
source when driven into corner.
Next morning Harry Drayton received
the following note signed allie
"Dear Harry-I ought not to have
been so perturbed last night when you
confided in me your intention OF pro-
posing to Annie Blair; for of course
Iahave long seen how you felt toward
her. You may have thought 1t strange
in me to run away as dld, Dut the
fact Is marriage is such serious mat
fer that no advice should be given
without due consideration concerning
it-no hasty approval or disapproval.
wanted time to think, and nave
thought. And after due consideration
7 have come to the conclusion that
Annie is a dear, good girl and just the
one TO make you good wife. SO
give YOU both my blessing in the ca
nacity of an old maid sister and hope
both of you will continue to make
me your confidant."
Harry Drayton swallowed this let
Ter "hook. line and sinlSer," as the say
inc is. True. he could not remember
having mentioned Annie Blair's name
in his attempted confidence-but then
of course, Allie must have seen. HIS
attentions to Annie had been rather
pronounced. He told Annie about IL
after he had proposed, and Annie said'
"Oh. indeed yes, of course with
rather queer look on her face But
neither by word nor sign did she ever
intimate to Allie that she suspected
the truth. Perhaps she didn't. or
course you want to know If Allison
Cover was ever married. She was,
and she knew that the young man
she eventually married was going to
nronose to her two months before he
did so-iust as Annie had told her
she would.