Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1901-07-13

Aarry some other. gsrt, will sbe2''
Perhaps not. But isn't SC rather 3
Haah fhreat2" Could not help say
ing.
''It may be. don't care. E she
loves me, she won't drive me 10 it;
and IL she doesn't dove me, then 1t
won't matter. Nothing will matter
he answered, in gloomy desperation.
You'll send 5t of at once, won't you?
And I'll call again for the reply"
I dispatched the message. 1 await
ed the reply in positive suspense. I
felt so awfuuy sorry for the poor
4ovelorn boy. The reply came. 1
quite wished that has Miss Maud
handy, so that 1 could have boxed her
ears soundly for being so cruel and
insolent TO him.
mo, I won't. Propose to the first
grill you meet, and welcome.
MAUD"
He came. I gave him the heartless
reply. He tore 1T open. He scanned
It,
':By heaven he exclaimed in saw
age determination. ''I'n take her ait
her wordI I wilt will"
He turned and hurried away. He
had gone as far as the door, when he
same back. There was now "a curious
look-a look of puzzled embarrass-
met os his handsome face.
81 say he began confusedly, bend
dng over the counter toward me, and
speaking in low, rapid tones, you
know what I told her I'd do if she re-
fused me? And-and I mean to do it.
But-weN, you see-in fact mean TO
say-that 6s-you were the first girl
1,e,
if am 10 be as-as good as my word
-I-'hem-I've got toto propose to
you"
He blushed furiously as he stam-
mered out these words, and averted
his gaze in the utmost embarrassment.
could not help smiling. The hum
or of the situation tickled me i'm
| mensely. saw how 1T was. He did
not want TO propose ITO me, but he felt
| TN honor bound TO carry out his
| threat, more especially as 1 myself
was acquainted with dts exact terms
| and had been a witness OF his fixed re-
| solve TO execute ut. However, could
easily eNtricate him from that Little
| dilemma.
! every well,'' I said laughing. GIN
| order to satisfy your sense OF honor.
| you may propose to me. You
| need not be afraid that shall take
advantage of you. Ask me to marry
you will refuse. You have done
| what you threatened, and there's an
end TO it
But he did not jump tat hits simple
| method of eNading the consequences OF
his rash undertaking so readily as
had expected.
"The fact u.s." he said quickly, "I-1
! Thought that if I was engaged to-an
! another girl Maud might be sorry
| when she found that she had lost me
! and-and-wen, you see, it might bring
| her around and all might come right
Rather rough on the other girl
| though L replied, smiling, ''bo throw
| her over and go back to Maud"
| aI'd like to talk this over with
] you. You have taken such a kind inter
est IN the-the affair. WHENEVER
[ do you leave off work."
"Not until O'clock L replied.
"Let us go dnto the park" he said
eve can talk there quietly"
We went into the park and sat down
] 1T WAS "a beautiful summer evening
but only a. few people were about. We
went into the park and sat down
had our seat to ourselves.
''Ycu-you remember what Wa:
saying no you this afternoon?" he be
gan with an awkard. nervous air.
''Bult We are strangers protested
ssand, although of course I feel fat
tered by your expression of confidence
stiIl-well, 1 really do not see that
can put myself in such false Posi-
tion.'
He sat silent for "a minute or tw'
after Efrat looking straight in front o
him. Then suddenly he blurted out:
"eI say, don't don't-be angry with ;
( fellow. but If there was ito be no-n'
humbug about it-tf it was to be "a
| neal engagement? ''
! What do you mean?" I demanded
"I-I-oh, hang st! I can't keep u
&Iris-this shamming any longer.
must tell you the truth. Those-thos
kilograms to Maud were all bur
/ combe."
I Call whaE?" / CALCULATED.
'AIl buncombe,'' he repeated. 9Th
fact is-oh, hang 1t, hardly knO'
| how TO explain! II fell in love wit
/ YOU the first thine L saw you. So
hit upon "a dodge for getting you
] take an interest in me and be tsorr
for me, and serve as an-an introdu'
tion-u My brother helped me, and
and-I say, are you awful angry wis
a feiloH2''
Was SO paTalyzed with astonisl
ment that I actually let him ga1he
me I'D in his arms, and when he sliI
| ped a ring on my finger was to
much taken aback to resist; and tn
engagement was held good till on
wedding.-Trulth.