Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1902-02-19
A PROPOSAL

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 filed the
| two glasses.
There's pate sandwiches she said,
punching each little pile with the tip o.;
her fingers as she spoke, "and sardine
sandwiches and lettuce and mayon-
naise sandwiches, and don't say and
the sand which is on the floor becauso
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! won't
let you do that when we're married,
young woman. l can't afford it,"
when we're"-she shouted, adding
furiously, "Well, do like thatr'
Eyes, l thought you would" he re-
piled calmly.
"You thought-yOu thoughtw she
gasped. getting to her feet and gazing
at him wide eyed and GREATNESS. you
were-you are-we are
81 am, thou art, he is" he interrupt
ed, beginning to laugh, (which means
that 4 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 your" she cried,
breathing hard through her nose. "You
might have asked me something about
it."
ooh, didn't need to ask" he an
swered. You see, I'm pretty sure al
ready"
pretty surer' she retorted "Oh, this
is fine. oh, isn't this splendid? just
hate and loathe and detest and abhor
and abominate your
''Yes, yes, know" he answered, put
ting up his hand. "Does Thursday
night suit?"
"No, it doesn't suitw she flashed bacl,
at him. 1T will be when say and
choose meant mean
He shouted with laughter, and her
face blaZed.
81 mean it won't ever be! Oh, could
Il could kill your
81 think it will be on Thursday" he
said refectively. TN call for you here
In carriage at 800. 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 long breath or two, gazing
at him helplessly and shaking her head.
"Well, of all the cool'-
"You see that will give us time
enough for supper. and then we can
take the $685.
"What are you talking aboutT she
inquired deliberately. He went on un.
needing:
81 got the tickets this afternoon"
'Ticketsw she faltered.
"Um-humw he answered, absently
feeling in his inside pocket. "Here they
are. See? This is the railroad ticket"
"Oh-oh, how hate your
''That will give us two days in New
York. l wired for stateroom day be-
fore yesterday. It's the st. Paul. II
sails on the 23d. Do you like the boat?"
"Oh, go right on-go right onw she
cried, waving her hands at him. "Don't
mind me-"
"Well. that's as far ahead as I've
planned now. l don't think we should
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 Dave" she exclaimed. Her
brother came out into the kitchen in
evening dress.
Hello, hellow he said. Beer and
skittles-domestic enough. Can 1 be-
long? Beers fiat, of course, but I'll
have skittle If you don't mind" And
he began to eat 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, 81 must be
going" adding as he turned to her,
1--WE deal to do in the next few
days" She made little gasp and got
up and went with him into the front
hall. leaving the brother to grumble
over the fiatness of the beer. She help.
ed him on with his overcoat. There
was 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
Gomez"
She didn't answer at ence. In the