Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 288, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 December 1911 — HOW FOOLS PROPOSE. [ARTICLE]

HOW FOOLS PROPOSE.

xon Joq 11 as If you it&d tDv burucu | matter? ’ gfW . _ ; moment and* she allowed herself to smile to a stop in thia.ar uscrlytimpatfemly with her pen, ‘and : dor. t know how to go on." ~ “You don’t mean to say you are writing an article?’’ eaid Ronald Grey, laughing Incredulously. T had no idea you were an authoress.” “Nor is she one, Mr. Grey,” broke in Miss Winter sharply. “There is, not the slightest reason for my niecft to go in tor guch a thing. Though she only does it tor amusement, Diana knows is quite against my wishes.” “What is the ardcle about?" asked the young millionaire, quizxicaliy. “On what subject is Miss Diana Leyland expected to expatiate?” Di’s pretty lips parted with a ajnile. “1 have to write a column afid a half qu ‘How Men propose,’ ” she said demurely. “Not really?” .laughing outright. ‘ Weil I must congratulate the editor m ids. write t of—sb much experience!*’ Di pouted, - , ( ■ . “I have come toa standstill. I don’t know how-to go on.” z 4 “Do you -mean to tay that a description oi each and all of your own love ettalrs will not fill up a column- and a half?” “You see, there is -such a want of originality,” said Di thoughtfully. ‘T want Io write something out of the ordinary . I have to describe the diflercer.t. 'methods of the individual—-the-xich and the poor man, man and the fool. .Now, how can I tell,’’ laughing, “how a fool proposes*’ and her eyes threw him a challenging glance. - -i

“I should have thought,” he said, jocularly, “that all your victims were of that calibre.” ‘Wot at all,". answered Di, by nd means abashed. “They were some of rhe wisest men in the country. Now,” slowly, -‘if you were to propose to me—" ; “My dear Dl!“ broke in her aunt, horror struck. ’ “Just to show me how they do it,” went c»iC Di, taking no notice .of the interruption. . '' ; “Di! Di!” cried -her aunt. “My dear- Mr. Grey, please forgive, lier; her tongue does run away Witn her so.” Grey laugh ted shortly. “1 am quite convinced,” he said, “that I should provide excellent copy lor you—if I did such a thing. So, onihe whole” —with some assurance—“i Prefer to wait until your article is written and sent off."Miss Winter’s old eyes gleamed. Surely, surely, the great amStion’ her life would be fulfilled, and her piece would be Mrs. Ronald Grey beiQre long, if only Di would mot spoil her chances by that sharp tongue of here! ' . Di was biting the end of "her pen Perhaps in her heart she was just as ambitious as her aunt. Somehow 1 she felt that Rouhld Grey was and that she would marry hij&aa the end; but it wo:iud«d her amour propre and set her 'pride aflame when he talked in such A confident tone.

"There is Captain Arbuthnot’* said Donald, breaking in on her thoughts. “Why not lead him on, and see how he proposes? You could not find a bigger fool in Christendom.” “Captain Arbuthnot?” repeated Di. vaguely. "Why. he is the man who set next me at dinner last night, and could not say n uord.” Ronald smiled.again. Il« Lad been on bl's other side, and he'h'Rew time she had not given her left-baud neigubor much opportunity. “He is the butt of his regiment,” he said laxlly. "If you want u» find out ‘how fools propose,’ make him fall in love with you.” “it would be an excellent Idea.” said DI, eyes sparkling. She shut up her manuscript hastily. “I will wait to finish it." she said, “until Captain Arbuthnot proposes, and then I will give the experience for the benefit bf the world.’’ "Diana,” said her aunt quickly, "1 hope you will do no such thing. Pray leave the poor young man alone. Really, you have such peculiar ideas— I don't know what girls are coming to nowaday 1 !?* "It is not my peculiar Idea; It is Mr. Grey's.’’ retorted Di saucily. "And now I must go and find Captain Arbuthnot, and begin the siege at once. You see’’ —her face dimpling “1 have only a week before 1 send off my manuscript.” "Diana, I love you! Will you marry me?" The moment had come—the moment for which Mlse Leyland had boon scheming the last week. Captain Arbuthnot and she were alone in the drawing room. She was experiencing "how fools propose.” She clasped and unclasped her hands restlessly. "Why do you tove me?" she asked at last, after what seemed a long pause. “Why do I love you? Because you are so pure. Because of the pureness sbinlGg la your eyes. Because otoh. because I cannot help loving you, though heaven knows I am not worthy of you!” Perhaps It was only the gathering darkness which made Di’g fUce look so pale. True! Pure? What would fas say when she told him the reason that she had encouraged him the last hwAws! A