The Great Falls leader. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1888-1890, 1888-09-15

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as to act it all out. How he should stand
at such moment, with bent head, wait.
ing for her reply. He would 70 on thus
and thus until. having in his imaoinat;on
heard all she said, a. he paused ct differ.
ent times. he would eventually throw one
arm around her trim waist as he made tho
one great plunge. In his enthusiasm he
threw his left arm around . convenient
post and beamed fondly on last months
calendar. This aroused him to . sense C.;
bis surroundings and he was silent for a
few moments.
low tapping at the door Of his work.
shop aroused him. He listened somewhat
impatiently to the soft tones Of his sis.
ter's we'll modulated voice.
Don't let me disturb you, John" she
was saying. Il merely wanted to tell
you we have decided that the children's
party will be given on our own lawn"
"Weu, said John, rather sharply, cit
must come off next week or may change
my mind altogether. That's straight. -
VERY well; that will suit US per-
Roswick followed his sisters retreating
footsteps down the long hall almost inn.
mediately.
The next evening he was Unexpectedly
called to the upper end of the city, and it
was not until the following night that he
once more found himself tete.a-tete with
Agatha. Outwardly he was quite self
possessed, but alasi the trepidation of
his heartl It thumped away at such a
rate that his power Of speech seemed in
danger Of forsaking him at any moment
Agatha, tantalizingly collected, sat
waving huge feather fan with lazy
grace, smiling softly in her companions
restless eyes. you were saying" she
began, interrogatively, that you were a
great admirer of Ruskin2''
"Yes-that is, his Stones of Venice, >
you know. Such works interest me
greatly; By the way" and the very
cons1mmation Of his plan caused his
tongue to halt; "by the way, want-I
mean 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 Assistant
on the subject" This was long speech
for John, and he was trifle flushed a.
he paused.
ut is very kind in you to ask my
opinion" Agatha said, sweetly, "but I
prefer to let you read it for yourself. l
will send the journal to you tomorrow. /"
Although Agatha was secretly proud
OF the fact that her dabbllng in such top
les had attracted some attention, she did
not care to discuss these problems at this
time. It was, therefore, with touch of
cool formality that she added: II was not
aware that you were interested in archi-
lecture, Mr. Roswick."
"Oh, but ami" he exclaimed, enthusi-
astically. II have just let the contracts
for row of flats in Acton square"
Indeed? What charming location"
"Im glad you like it,"
This was spoken before he realized it.
Now was his chance. The cognizance of
the critical moment at once paralyzed his
power of speech. Agatha, with eyes
modestly downcast, was toying aimlessly
with the various articles on the small
table at her left hand, and seemed to
offer as much encouragement as any man
could ask.
"Miss West" he began, nervously.
Agatha did not look up. He could 20 10
further. His speech absolutely failed
him. It was with an inarticulate gasp
that he heard what seemed to be his own
voice; but oh, so much more clear and
confident.
''Miss West-Agatha," said the voice,
pardon me if seem too bold, but have
something of the utmost Importance to
say to you"
"You must know-it can be no secret
to you-that have long esteemed you as
more than friend"
"Why, Mr.. Roswick!" It was very
gentle exclamation, ingeniously indica-
tive of mild surprise
John Roswick was, by this time, dumb
with astonishment. Fortunately Agatha's
eyes we're averted. He again tried to
speak, when the voice was heard once
more.
II wanted to tell you this long ago." it
said, "and beg you to accept Of my love-
For do love you better than anything
on earth. You are not angry with me3"
''No," very softly.
Johns expression was something won
derful. His lips moved, but no sound
came forth. Again the voice:
'Dear Agatha" it continued (who could
resist such an appeal?. "be my wife! Make
me forever happy
There was an interruption. Miss West
now raised her head for the first time,
flushing all rosy red, like the early sum-
rapturously. Nothing more.
Then she threw her arms around his
neck most gracefully-she had studied
Delsarte-and whispered in his ear: Il
think-I know love you, John"
Roswick, to his credit be it said, i'm
proved the opportunity and kissed her
then and there upon her very charming
mouth.
From the center of the table came a
faint. whirring sound. Roswick's puzzled
brow cleared as thought flashed across
his mind. He turned pale when, with
sudden airt of the newspaper, he saw the
photograph he had sent Agatha the day
before, and realized that his suspicious
were confirmed. It was the one he had
been experimenting upon IN his workshop
two nights previously, and again the
mechanism had been inadvertently set
going.
Agatha West, resting in his embrace,
was almost too happy for speech. She
sighed gently. "And do you really want
me to marry your" very tremulously.
"Well," said the voice, rather sharply,
ut must come of next week or ! may
change my mind altogether. That's
straight
"Oh, John" exclaimed the young
woman. "How impetuous you are! But
I"-shyly taking the lapels Of his coat in
either hand-"1 think I can get ready by
that time."-W. G. Fulton in Chicago
Herald.
tsooree Macdonald is anc looS: e. :.
poet prophet Of the old type translated
;ntn modern lifa