The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-01-18
THE BASHFUL LOVER
BY Il. IRVING KING

GfCiJUOdJ naS o0A RAAoC0 ~
this. for she was charming of manner.
beautiful of face and form, intelligent,
cultured-in every way desirable.
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 1t was not
Stephens wealth that made Natalie
want to marry him; nor was 1t Nata-
lies poverty which prevented Stephen
from speaking.
The obstacle lay In Stephens ex-
IRENE diffidence, coupled with his con-
viction that he was not fitted to be the
husband of such 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 dance in
the Grosvenors' conservatory, when he
had got as far as Natalie, don't you
think ought to get married?"
And she had replied. "Why, yes.
Stephen, / think you had" to which
encouragement he had stammered out.
swell, Tm-I'm-oh, here comes Ar
thur Gaines Natalie, I 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 near to having the
desired opportunity to 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 proposal in
form. He had taken counsel of his
friend, Harry Calder, who Ill compre-
hended 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 bungling and confused manner
Stephen that night did try it. After
he had run down Natalie, calmly ig-
noring his evident meaning, said:
Really, now, what am to under
stand? Are you the accredited agent
of some new foundation, some benevo-
lent society instituted for the purpose
of affording 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, / knew I'd make mess Of 1t,
groaned Stephen.
Make a mess of what?" 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 offer?'
Ether husband" replied Stephen,
blushing to his ears.
"a husbandr cried Natalie. "An-
other luxury, and one / was beginning
to think I should never enjoy. / have
been out three seasons now, you know.
And who is the fortunate man the so
ciety has picked out to fill this posi-
tion?"
"Oh, hang it," cried Stephen, "there
isn't any society and you know il"
He was nagged and irritated out Of
part, at least, Of his difiidence.
mo societyr said Natalie. "Were
you not just now telling me all about
It and its noble work.
mo, I wasn't" replied Stephen look
ing as nearly surly as it was possible
for him to look.
81 must have entirely misunderstood
you them" sighed Natalie. eff you
were not telling me about society
founded to take care of just such
cases as mine then what in the world
were you trying to tell about? No
society and If there Is no society
then, of course, there is no husband.
That was another rosy figment of your
imagination suppose. I thought it
sounded too good to be true"
"Oh, the husband part is all right"
said Stephen Frightening.
as it, really?" cried Natalie joy
ously. HAS he been picked out? Have
you seen him7 What does he look
like?"
"He looks like me- answered
Stephen sheepishly.
Like your" said Natalie. Turn
your face little more to the light,
Stephen, I want to see just how you
do look. / don't think have ever
noticed before"
Eyes, you have, too.r cried Stephen,
exasperated beyond all bounds, "and
You are just joshing -and-and
don't think it's kind of you-when you
know very well what have been try
ing to say"
How should know what you want
to say If you can't say it yourself?"
asked Natalie sharply.
Stephen jumped up from his chair
~ want to say that want you to be
my wife-that's what 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 do" replied Stephen
cx,<t I,;cco,5 bay FOR f1,o fret time