Part 2: The Transformation
Chapter 19
"Asking for Marriage Advice"
As the days and nights passed, Tarzan and Jane had begun to take full notice of one another. Tarzan was beginning to understand Jane's way of life as much as she was beginning to understand his way of life. They had come from different worlds and that was the one fascinating remark about them. Nevertheless, with each passing day, Jane was beginning to act more and more like a jungle woman each and every day. The gorillas had started to accept Jane and Archimedes for who they were and with the recent arrival of Renard Dumont, it seemed that civilization and jungle life was beginning to combine into one.
One day, Tarzan was beginning to wonder if he should ask Jane to be his mate, but he was not sure how to ask her. So, one day, while Jane was going to do some of her laundry, he asked Archimedes about a possible way to convince her to be his mate.
"Professor," asked Tarzan as Archimedes was doing some more scientific research. "May I ask you a question?"
"Why of course, Tarzan," said Archimedes, stopping what he was doing. "You can always ask me for anything. Now, what can I do for you?"
Tarzan took in a heavy sigh and looked at Archimedes with a sense of confusion.
"Professor," he replied. "I want Jane to be my mate."
Archimedes gasped in shock as he listened to what Tarzan had to say. Back in England, women were often times put into arrainged marriages to maintain their families' status or the status of their groom's family. Jane was chosen to marry Bobby because he needed a woman to keep in his life and that his family's status was dropping.
"Well, Tarzan," replied Archimedes. "You see, back in England, Jane was chosen to marry a man named Bobby Canler, who just happened to be our next door neighbor. His family was dropping in status because he was unmarried and it was not a very popular decision, let me tell you that."
"Jane doesn't like other man?" asked Tarzan.
"No, she doesn't," sighed Archimedes. "But, you may not realize it, Tarzan. But, she loves you and I sense that you love her. Ever since we all first met each other, I feel that Jane loves you because you love her for who she is."
Tarzan realized that maybe Archimedes was right. He and Jane were starting to get close to one another and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, but he wanted to learn the proper way of getting Jane to be his wife.
"If she loves me," said Tarzan. "How can I confess my love for her?"
Archimedes then realized something of great value that could maybe help Tarzan in his predicament.
"Actually Tarzan," said Archimedes. "I have something that may try to convince Jane to be your mate. Come with me to the tree house and I will explain everything."
So, they headed back to the tree house and Archimedes went into his drawers and pulled out a small box and opened it up to reveal a diamond ring inside that once belonged to his wife and Jane's mother, Mary.
"What is that?" asked Tarzan. "I have never seen anything like this before."
"This wedding ring belonged to Jane's mother and my wife," explained Archimedes. "Jane was told a long time ago that if she ever found a man in her life that loves her, then she was to be given this ring as a sign of engagement. Men use these rings to convince their mates to marry them and I believe that you can succeed in asking my daughter's hand in marriage if only you use this."
"Can we mate upon her wearing this ring?" asked Tarzan.
"Not quite, Tarzan," continued Archimedes. "You see after you give her this ring, we have what we call a wedding ceremony where the bride wears a white gown and the men wears a mourning suit and that they go to this place called a church where a person called the priest marries them."
Tarzan did not fully understand the value of this wedding that he was hearing about. All he wanted to do was convince Jane to be his mate for life and nothing more. Of course, giving Jane's background, they had to go about it the proper way. However, he was more than willing to take whatever advice that Archimedes was giving him if he was going to get Jane to marry him.
"What can I do to ask her?" asked Tarzan.
"Well," said Archimedes. "One way you could ask her is after dark when everyone is asleep, spend some time alone and that if you get her interested in whatever that you are doing, then seize the moment and get down on your knee and say to her 'Jane, will you marry me?' and if she says yes, then you are engaged, but if she says no, then the deal does not go through and that you will spend the rest of your life alone until the next woman comes along, however, given the fact that Jane loves you dearly and that you love her back, I am sure that will be no troubles between you two."
Now, Tarzan was beginning to get more and more excited with what Archimedes was saying. He was going to do it tonight and then his life and hers would be complete. But, of course, Jane was due to be married to Bobby Canler and that he did not love her. Of course, this would play right into Tarzan's hands as Jane loved him and he loved her.
Suddenly, he heard a loud scream in the distance and had to put his thoughts behind him as he grabbed his spear and ran out to where the sounds were coming from.
"Jane," gasped Archimedes and followed Tarzan as far as his legs could support him, upon knowing that his only child was in danger and that if anything were to happen to her, then there would be no marriage proposal at all. Jane was in the midst doing her laundry when a hulking leopard was staring at her dead in the face.
"Now, you are mine," thought the beast and Jane looked on in horror as she knew that her life was going to end right here, but Tarzan was already on his way and that Jane was about to prove her capability of being in the jungle right before her father and the man that she always wanted to marry…
