The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-06-06
1r xvaS had1v "st11ck "

attention rather than by words OF praise.
In about three months the professor
had wound himself in net as complete
" as the silkworm in its cocoon. AS
he grew more persistent In his atten-
tons the girl became more coquettlsh.
She would be very kind one day and
distant aud hard to please the next, thus
tormenting the very life out OF him.
At last, unable to bear the strain, he
determined to risk all by test question.
A favorable opportunity presented itself
one night when everybody had retired
and the twain were alone in the parlor.
What took place there had better be
told in the words of the young lady,
who related the affair afterward to the
Iandlady's daughter, not knowing that
was listening and taking it all in.
"Well, she said, Ito begin from the
beginning, your mother left the parlor
as the clock struck 8, taking care to
close the door after her. This embold-
ened him to draw his chair closer to
mine. Do you think one can be happier
when married than single?' he asked. l
replied that didn't know, not having
had the experience of married woman.
"'Well, don't you think SO or be-
lieve so?'
"'Why, that depends on circum-
stances, Mr.. Monson,' l answered.
knew what was coming all the time,
but didn't want to show it.
"'But if there is love in the mar
riage, don't you think that there will
be happiness?'
At this point be seized my hand and
squeezed it until it fairly turned blue
and said excitedly:
Then marry me, Miss Lillian. No
man can love woman more than love
you. Say but yes, and my very life is
at your disposal to do as you please with
it. Your happiness will be my first con-
sideration. Here, on my knees, l ask
you to grant my suit.
Il turned my face around to look at
him, and, oh! what do you think? You
can never guess. l laugh every time
think of it. One of those nasty cater
pillars had crept out of his pocket dur
ing the excitement and was making its
way over his shoulder toward his collar.
nearly died with laughter at the COM
ical situation. Upon this he got very
mad and excited beyond control, but he
remained on his knees the while. Said
| he:
"You are laughing at a very serious
matter. You trifle with me. Is this the
way to treat the proffered love of an
honest MANI
"'I am sorry, Mr. Monson. I was
not laughing at you, but at something
else.
Il had barely finished saying that
when that worm stood on the poor
mans collar, and bracing its hind feet
on it made grab for his hair with its
front feet The nasty thing was so COM
! ical in all it's movements that / laughed
right out, making no attempt to con-
| troll my fnerriment. He arose from his
! knees. His face was scarlet with rage.
But as he turned the doorknob l COM
manded my risibilities enough to say
to him:
Mr.. MonsOn, am very, very sorry
for what has happened. respect and
esteem you as friend, but l can never
be your wife. But if you don't want
another girl to laugh at you the next
time you go accounting you leave worms
and bugs behind.
by this time the caterpillar had
reached his bald spot and from that ele-
waited perch was looking on the scene
with placid enjoyment. He caught my
eyes as they were bent toward the in
truder, and just then, his excitement
having subsidized little and no doubt
feeling the nasty thing on top of his
head, he caught it in his hand, crush
ing the poor worm at the same time.
He then made dart for the stairs, 60
ing over three steps at time. That is
all there was to this little romance of
mine"
The next week the professor resigned
his position in the school and left the
town forever. Yam Phon Lee in St.
Louis Republic.