ffair"]

"Well," after a pause, "this was a very peculiar affair. Of course I was
all broken up over losing her--couldn't eat nor sleep--I was a perfect
wreck. This old friend of mine happened along, and he says, 'You'll have
to brace up, old man. Come on out to my house in the country and rest up
a bit.' So I went, and met his daughter.

"Five days after I met her, I asked him for her hand. I explained it to
him just as I would to my own father, and he understood all right. He's
a fine fellow. He said I could have her. Of course I'd asked her first.

"Yes--I'm getting to that. I took her out for a walk one afternoon, and
when we came to the river, we sat down to talk. It was a perfect day. I
began by saying how sad it was to see a beautiful flower and to know
that it was out of one's reach, or to see anything beautiful and know
that one never could possess it. I led up to the subject by gentle
degrees, and then I said: 'You must have seen that I love you, and you
know without my telling you, that I want you to be my wife. I don't say
I want you to marry me, because I want you to do more than that--I want
you to be my wife.' (Fine distinction that!)

"Well, she was very much surprised, of course, but she accepted me all
right. Yes, I told her about the other woman, but in such a way that she
understood it perfectly. Lots of other fellows wanted her and I snatched
the prize from right under their very noses. I don't suppose I'll ever
propose any more now. I'd never propose to you, even if I were free to
do so, because I know you'd refuse me. You'd refuse me, wouldn't you?
Somebody else might just as well have me, if you don't want me."

[Sidenote: In Spite of Varied Resources]

Yet in spite of the varied resources at woman's command, we sometimes
hear of one who yearns for the privilege of seeking man in marriage. The
woman who longs for the right to propose is evidently not bright enough
to bring a man to the point.

Still worse than this, there are cases on record where women, not
reigning queens, have actually proposed to men. The men who are thus
sought in the bonds of matrimony are not slow to tell of it, confining
themselves usually to their own particular circle of men friends. But
the news sometimes filters through man's capacity to keep a secret, and
the knowledge is diffused among interested spinsters.

[Sidenote: Hints]

What men term "hints" are not out of place, for the proposal market
would be les