Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-09
The Daily Short Story:
A PROPOSAL.

1ney nau come IN from the theaIer,
and gone into the kitchen for a bite
The Chinaman had set out the beer and
| sandwiches on the top of the ice chest
in the laundry. She lighted every gas
burner in sight, fetched the tray into
the Kitchen and got down the plates,
while he opened the beer and filled the
two glasses.
There's pate sandwiches" she said,
punching each little pile with the tip of
her fingers as she spoke, land sardine
sandwiches and lettuce and mayon-
naise sandwiches, and don't say and
the sand which is on the floor because
you say it every time, and it's become
an old joke that was funny once, but
isn't funny any more at all. Here;
| don't talk so much, but drink your beer.
Here's success to you"
They drank to each other, she sitting
on the deal table, clicking her heels to-
gether. he with his chair tilted back
against the sink, grinning at her over
| the top of his glass.
Huh" he exclaimed all OF sudden
| as he set down his glass and glanced
about him-"fOur burners going full
head in the kitchen at this hour! 1 won't
let you do that when we're married,
young woman. 1 can't afford it,"
when we're"-she shouted, adding
furiously, 'Well. do like THAR
Eyes, L thought you would" he re-
piled calmly.
"You thought-you thoughtr' she
gasped, getting to her feet and gazing
at him wide eyed and breathless. You
were-yOu are-we are
81 am, thou art, he is" he interrupt
| ed, beginning to laugh, (which means
that L am quite determined to marry
you, and thou art to be my welded
wife, and 'he is'-that is to say, your
| father is to give us his consent and his
blessing. I've been thinking it all over,
| and I've made up my mind that it will
be for next Thursday at twenty min
utes after g."
"Oh, you have, have you?" she cried,
breathing hard through her nose. You
might have asked me something about
| it."
ooh. 1 didn't need to ask" he an
| swered. "You see, I'm pretty sure al
! ready"
Pretty surer' she retorted. ooh, this
is fineI oh. isn't this splendid? just
hate and loathe and detest and abhor
/ and abominate your
Yes, yes. 1 know" he answered. put
ting up his hand. Does Thursday
night suit:''
! mo, it doesn't suitr' she flashed back
at him. ut will be when 1 say and
choose-I meant mean
| He shouted with laughter, and her
face blazed.
/ Il mean it won't ever be- Oh, 1 could
4 Il could kill your
81 think it will be on Thursday" he
said reflectively. ''Tll call for you here
in carriage at 500, and in the mean
time I'll see your father and fix things"
! She sank into a chair and let her
| hands drop into her lap, palms upward,
and drew n long breath or two, gazing
at him helplessly and shaking her head.
"Well, of all the coOF'-
''You see that will give us time
enough for supper, and then we can
! take the $685.
what are you talking about?" she
! inquired deliberately. He went OH I'M
| needing:
II got the tickets this afternoon"
"Ticketsr' she faltered.
"Um-hum" he answered, absently
feeling in his inside pocket. Here they
"Oh-oh, how hate you!"
THAT will give us two days in New
York wired for a stateroom day be-
fore yesterday. It's the st. Paul. 1t
sails ON the 23d. Do you like the toat?"
"Oh, go right On-go right on she
cried, waving her hands at him. Don't
mind me-"
"well. that's as far ahead as I've
fhfnI- SI
want to stay over on the other side
more than four months. Then, you
know, there's the expense"
She was about to answer when they
both heard the front door close.
That's Daver' she exclaimed. Her
brother came out into the kitchen in
evening dress.
Hello, ,hellor' he said. Beer and |
skittles-domestic enough. Can 1 be-
long? Beers fat, of course, but I'll |
have skittle If you don't mind" And |
he began to eat a sandwich, telling |
them the while where he had been and |
what he had been doing.
He and the brother fell attacking |
She sat silent. very thoughtful, looking |
at him from time to time.
WELL" said he at last, ST must he |
going" adding as he turned to her,
give a deal to do in the next few l
days" She made little gasp and got |
up and went with him into the front
hall, leaving the brother to grumble
over the fairness of the beer. She help
ed him on with his overcoat. There
was a silence. He stood with his hand
on the knob of the door. Good night"
she said. adding. as she always did,
"When am to see you again?"
'Well," he answered, suddenly grave,
very much in earnest, when are you to
see me again? It's up to you. little girl.
What's your answer? Now, when shall
/ comeT'
She didn't answer at once. In the
stiffness they heard the humming of the