The Arizona sentinel., 1888-09-08

was not until a week later that his
 mental barometer had risen to its
 normal altitude. The Tuesday even ing following his last doubly en- phasized fiasco, Roswick, secure in the privacy of his own inner workshop. dropped his tools for the moment and gave himself up to profound medita- tion.
 '1 am fool, and I know it." he ex- claimed, aloud, giving the workbench a vigorous thump, as he set down a curious-looking machine, upon which he had been at work. ''Whats more, Agatha knows it!n he continued. He called her Agatha glibly enough when unembarrassed by her presence. h. deed, this habit of thinking aloud had become, through circumstances, a fixed one, and, as on several previous occasions, he recounted the events of their last meeting.
 'I can't stand this any longer!" he exclaimed, suddenly. "I'll see her to- morrow night and have it all settled in some way. This foolishness must be stopped. The idea! Afraid of a womanl And know-at least, I'm quite sure she-she likes me. Let me see," he continued, musingly, ''how can l in- troduce the subject? 1 know!" he ejaculated, with sudden inspiration, I'll ask her if she thinks there is any danger of sewer gas in my new row of fatsr' And then Roswick's mind skipped gayly from one point to an- other as he formulated in his own way the conversation leading up to the all- important question. He even went so far as to act it all out. How he should stand at such a moment, with bent head, waiting for her reply. He would go on thus and thus until, having in his lively imagination heard all she said, as he paused at different times, he would eventually throw one arm around her trim waist as he made the one great plunge. In his enthusiasm he threw his left arm around a conven- tent post and beamed fondly on a last months calendar. This aroused him to a sense of his surroundings and he was silent for few moments.
 A low tapping at the door of his workshop aroused him. He listened somewhat impatiently to the soft tones of his sisters well modulated voice.
 Don't let me disturb you, John, she was saying. ''I merely wanted to tell you we'have decided that the chil- dren's party will be given on our own lawn"
 "Well," said John, rather sharply, ''it must come off next week or I may change my mind altogether That's straight 5
 "Very well; that will suit us per fectly."
 Roswick followed his sisters re- treating footsteps down the long hall almost immediately.
 The next evening he was unexpect- edly called to the upper end of the city, and it was not until the following night that he once more found himself with Agatha. Outwardly he was quite self-possessed, but alas! the trepidation of his heart. It thumped away at such rate that his power of speech seemed in danger of him at any moment.
 Agatha, tantalizingly collected, sat waving huge feather fan with lazy grace, smiling softly in her compan- ions restless eyes. You were say ing," she began. interrogatively, 'that you were a great admirer of Ruskin?"
 "Yes-thati is, his Stones of Venice, you know. Such works interest me greatly. By the way" and the very thought that he was about to begin the of his plan caused his tongue to halt, ''by the way, want-I mean 1 would like to know more fully your theory in regard to sewer gas how to combat it, you know. I missed your last paper in the Architects AS- SiStGnt on the subject" This was long speech for John, and he was a trifle flushed as he paused.
 ''It is very kind in you to ask my opinion" Agatha said, sweetly, "but I prefer to let you read it for yourself. will send the journal to you to-mor- row."
 Although Agatha was secretly proud of the fact that her dabbling in such topics had attracted some attention, she did not care to discuss these prob Iems at this time. It was, therefore, with touch of cool formality that she added: "I was not aware that you were interested in architecture, Mir. Roswick."
 "Oh, but I am" he exclaimed, en- 5husiastically. 'I have just let the contracts for row of flats in Acton Square,"
 'IndeedP What a charming loca- ,ionr'
 'Tm glad you like it."
 This was spoken before he realized t. Now was his chance. The cog lizance of the critical moment at once oaralyzed his power of speech. Agatha, with eyes modestly downcast, vas toying aimlessly with the various lrticles on the small table at her hand, md seemed to offer as much encour- lgement as any man could ask.
 Miss West'-he began, nervously. Agatha did not look up. He could go no further. His speech absolutely tailed him. It was with an inarticu- late gasp that he heard what seemed to be ms own voice; but oh, so much moro clear and oOre1.,