Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 82, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1909 — NAN'S PROPOSAL. [ARTICLE]

NAN'S PROPOSAL.

The first time I proposed to Nan Preston she made a face almost as ugly as a water-spouting gargoyle leering from some old cathedral. She sat straddlewise upon the whitewashed orchard fence, gobbling forbidden June .apples, while I looked up from the grass-grown path. “Please say yes, Nan,” I pleaded, “and I will let you sail my toy boat.” “Huh!” said Nan. “I’m going to marry a prince. I always said I would, and 1 will!” “Don’t Nan—don’t say that!” I entreated, stung to the heart. Nan’s blue eyes softened. Don’t take it that way, Billy,” she soothed. “Think how long before the prince comes.” She slapped her pink-trimmed sailor upon her yellow curls and took my hand. “Let’s go sail the ‘Saucy Ellen’ upon the fish pond, Billy—you and I —what fun!” And of. course I went. I should say that I proposed to Nan as much as twice a year after that. But she hung on to that idea of the prince with maddening stubbornness. When Nan was 18 she “came out” She was a trifle nervous and very kind, not dragging in her Prince of Fancy at my first hot declaration of love; but only smiling and! shaking her dainty head. “Is it the prince,” I accused, in sharp disappointment. “You’ll wait for him till doomsday.” “I will indeed, promised Nan, very firmly; and I strolled out beneath the dim lanterns and flirted recklessly. But at last Nan’s Prince-o’-Dreams came. He was a little dapper Russian, with a name as long as time and ending in “Popoloffsky.” I sulked for a spell; and Nan and the prince drove and walked almost hourly Finally there came the night of the Preston’s lawn fete .in honor of His Highness of Popoloffsky, and it was generally understood that the announcement would be made. I caught glimpses of Nan, flitting here and there beneath the lanterns; and the freshness of her and the sweetness of her brought all the recollections of the years back upon me. It was hard to give her up. At 10 o’clock I made ready to depart, and sought for Nan. 1 could not find her until at last the silvery ripple of her laugh came me, and I saw her hidden away in a leafy noon with Paul of Little Russia. I had to tell her goodby, and I made for her the greenish bower. My approach was not observed and, as I entered the little arbor, the prince was saying: “M'y heart —my title —my hand — everything Is yours. Will you not say the one word —yes?” Nan’s cheeks were very red. I could not see her eyes. She opened her mouth—to speak I know not what. I could not stand the spectacle and I broke in like a frantic child^ “Nan —oh, Nan —I cannot live without you. For the twenty-fourth time I ask it—marry me —won’t you please, Nan?” The prince shrinked; but Nan drew back with a little startled cry and began to weep softly. “Yes,” said Nan; and put her filmy handkerchief to her blue eyes. I put my arms about her, and Prince Paul strode out of the bower of romance, to sail next day for his fatherland. And only yesterday, when I asked Nan why she never married a prince, she told me that her “Yes” tnat night was for Paul Popoloffsky. put I don’t believe it —do you?