Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-01-18
THE BASHFUL LOVER
BY Il. IRVING KING

SesecesE
90. is2t. BY Mcclure Newspaper syndeatel
NATALIE BUXTON had been "out''
~ three Seasons. and was not yet
married. Everybody was surprised at
this. for she was charming Of manner.
beautiful of face and form. Intelligent.
cultured-in every way desiruble.
Natalie was rather surprised herself.
She had had many suitors, to be sure
plenty Of chances to marry but the one
man she wished to have propose TO her
had not done so. The realization came
more slowly, but no less surely, to
Stephen Sanger. But II WIS not
Stephens wealth that made Natalie
want to marry him; nor was It Nata-
les poverty which prevented stephen
from speaking.
The obstacle lay in Stephens ex.
treme difidenee, coupled with his con
yiction that he was not fitted to be the
husband Of such a superb and intel
lectual creature as Natalie. For many
months now she had been expecting
him to speak, and several times he had
been on the point Of doing so.
There was that time, for Instance,
when they were sitting out a dance in
the Grosyenors' conservatory. when he
had got as far as Natalie, don't you
think ought to get married7"
And she had replied. why. yes.
Stephen. think you had" to which
encouragement he had stammered out,
We'll, rm-rm- oh. here comes Ar
thur Galnesl Natalie. / am thinking
about"-and, at the approach of Gaines
had hurried away.
One evening, as Natalie sat meditat-
ing upon this and other times when
she had come so rear to having the
desired opportunity 10 say Yes" Ste
phen was announced. She went down
to receive him with the firm deter
minatiOn that, If she ever again got
him on the firing line, he should NOT
escape. And Stephen had come that
night all primed for a proposal In
form. He had taken counsel Of his
friend. Harry Calder. who i'll compre-
bended the psychology Of Natalie, and
who had said Lead up to 1t by pic
turing all the pleasures Of life that
wealth can procure and then lay them
at her feet. That's the cheese"
Stephen doubted, but promised to
try the experiment.
In a bunglIng and confused manner
Stephen that night did try it. After
he had run down Natalie. calmly ig-
rorlng his evident meaning, said:
Really. now. what am l to under
stand? Are you the accredited agent
Of some new foundation, some benevo-
lent society instituted for the purpose
Of aifording relief to persons with
champagne thirsts and small incomes.
Such an Institution has long been
needed and | rejoice to know that at
last one has been founded"
"Oh. l knew I'd make mess Of IT,"
groaned Stephen
make a mess of what7" exclaimed
Natalie. opening her eyes wide with
wonder "You have put the case very
clearly. And are there any conditions
attached to this most dazzling OfferT
"Eh-er a husband" replied Stephen.
blushing to his ears.
"a husband!" cried Natalie. AN
other luxury. and one l was beginning
to think should never enjoy. l have
been out three seasons now, you know.
And who is the fortunate man the So
llety has picked out to oil this posi-
'lon3"
''oh, hang it." cried Stephen, there
isn't any society and you know It,"
He was nagged and Irritated out Of
part, at least, of his dlflidence.
"No societyT said Natalie. Were
you not just now telling me all about
It and Its noble woskg'
NO | wasn't replied stephen look
ing as nearly surly as 1t was possible
for him to look.
81 must have entirely misunderstood
you then" sighed Natalie, "If you
were not telling me about a society
founded to take care Of Just such
cases as mine then what In the world
we're you trying to tell about? No
society land If there is no society
then, of course. there is no husband.
That was another rosy agment of your
imagination l suppose. thought 1t
sounded too good to be true."
"Oh. the husband part Is all right"
said Stenhen Frightening.
'Is 1t, reallyT' cried Natalie JOY
ously. HAS he been picked out? Have
you seen him7 What does he look
lIke1"
ale looks like me" answered
Stephen sheepishly.
Like your said Natalie. Turn
your face a little more to the light,
Stephen, want TO see just how you
do look. don't think have ever
noticed before"
''Yes, you have, too" cried Stephen,
exasperated beyond all bounds, land
you are Just jOshing me-and-and I
don't think it's kind of you-when you
know very well what 1 have been try
ing to say
..How should know what you want
to say If you can't Say 1t yourself2"
asked Natalie sharply.
Stephen jumped up from his chair
81 want to say that l want you to be
my wlfe-that's what l want TO say"
he cried.
He started for the door, but Natalie
intercepted him and, throwing her
arms about his neck, said, "You dear,
dilatory, foolish old thing. have been
waiting for you to say that for year.
Do you really want me?"
"You bet 1 do" replied Stephen
and kissed her for the first time.