Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-04-27
How Does a Man
Propose?
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By JANE OSBORN
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(Copyright)


(copyright.)
GREGORY TEPPER possessed two
~ compleXes curiously mingled
one infcriority and the other superb
GRITTY. The inferlorlty complex. en-
gendcrCd when he was still In the ten
der years, was due to the fact that
older sisters and brothers had per-
sistehtly assured him that he was as
homely as mud, as graceful as COW
and aboIt as likely to be successful
ladies' man as one-legged pirate
with Il hump on his back. And the
superiority complex had been engen-
dered at about the same period, by
the repeated assurances on the part
of the same older sisters and broth
ers that rs successful novelist he
would probably make fairly good
blacksmith. lie came out of the form
alive period firmly convinced that
no girl would ever give him a sec
ond look, and just a. firmly convinced
that he was going to be one Of the
successful writers Of the age.
And so far he had done much to
prove the rlghtness of this second
conviction. His first novel-written
without the shred of q love motive,
and with hardly woman In its list
Of characters-had made q tremen-
dous hit. But his publishers had then
assured him that the love element
would have to figure In his next story.
Gregory led wandering sort of
tramp's existence when he was gath
ering the material for his novels. For
week or two you might have found
him working with unskilled hands
around some iron foundry-later you
might see him passing out programs
at a country circus.
But when the time came for the ac-
tual writing Gregory went out to Gas
ton to i've by himself In the run
down old farmhouse he had inherited
from his grandfather
He had progressed with gratifying
results on his second novel. But when
three-quarters through he was I'M
pleasantly aware Of the fnct that
there were still many gnps through
out the earlier chapters. Three-Quar-
tiers through the book 1t was time for
his hero to propose-but since there
were gaps where there should have
been preliminary love scenes and
descriptions of the heroine, this propo-
sal business offered almost unsurmount-
able difficulties. Besides Gregory
hadn't any Idea how a man proposed.
Gregory believed In getting all his
material at first hand. The only way
then to find out how man proposes
waste propose.
Gregory pondered over the sltua-
tion-and hen decided to propose. OF
course no woman would ever think of
accepting proposal from him,
thought Gregory-but at least he
could get first-hand information up
to the point of the girls response.
So Gregory decided to propose to
Gladys Brooks because all along In
thinking Of his heroine he had had
Gladys Brooks In mind. Besides he
could really put his heart and soul
int this business Of proposing to
his hero In being turned down by
Gladys. 1t would be terrific ordeal
but the kind of ordeal that Gregory
felt man ought to suffer for the
sake Of great achievement. OF course
Gladys Brooks would desplse him for
imagining for moment that she
would think of marrying him. She
II.
haps man ought to be willing to be
fool for his great work.
So Gregory walked up to the Brooks
estate, where Gladys spent a month
or so every summer. Gregory had met
Gladys n few times in town the win
ter before-at dinner parties he had
attended with certain chapters OF his
book in mind And Gladys had asked
him-perfunctorlly Of course, thought
Greg0ry-to come and see her. That
at least provided an excuse. And as
Gregory walked up the driveway to the
old mansion he wlllfully put himself
in the mood of his herO-desperately,
hopelcssly In love with his heroine
Gladys Brooks. Incidentally Gregory
had figured that II Gladys were home
he could go through the prellmlnaries
In half an hour, get down to the pro-
posal and get back In time to write
four or five hours more that night
Reflections didn't take long
~ can't keep II to myself any
longer" GregOry's hero was saying
through Gregorys lips. I'm dis
tracted about you-Glndys. Gladys,
dear-GIadys, can't you see" Only
once he had come very near to say
Ing Phllls instead OF Gladys because
PhiIls was his heroine's name.
Gregory felt his hands go cold
felt them tremble as he took Gladys
hand In his. Then some strange
power swept over him. He held
Gladys close In his arms, held her
close and kissed her and would not
let her go. More Of cruel torture than
Of rapture in this love business,
thought Gregory. Here indeed was
the supreme sacrifice to his art. He
kissed her eyes-and held her still
to him In one long last embrace. But
Gladys did not stir.
"GregOry, Gregory" was all she
said. Gregory, why have you made
me walt so lOngr
Then Gregory forgot his hero and
his heroine and his great wOrk-for-
got that he was an awkward fellow
whom no woman could ever love, for
got, too that he was great writer.
IA