Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1904-10-12

SO Mr.. Winterfood proceeded to his
irritating task, tapping note after note
in vain attempt to adjust an instru-
ment on which certain healthy young
lady delighted to play comic opera with
the loud pedal down.
Margaret sat by his side.A 1T gets
worse and worse said the old man,
sadly. "Some of the notes in the bass
are almost dumb"
AT that moment Mrs. Bush entered
the room with an expansive smile Of
triumph on her face. monty has call
ed, and wants to see you particularly, z
she said
"Monty?' said her daughter with a
frown. What brings him here?"
Then she remembered with a start
her reckless words at the breakfast
table, and her heart sank.
IF you are wise girl you will seize
the chance" said her mother; then
she added piously, ''but don't wish to
persuade you. l think you said you
intended to accept the one who asked
you first" \ $50 r
The girl sighed, and swept rather
I angrily out Of the room. 1t was really
too bad to have ones words taken: UP
like that. She didn't want to accept
any one just now. Whoever heard of
a man proposing before lunch?
She found the glittering youth in the
library. His attire was as nearly per-
feet as the most expensive tailor could
make it. but it was easy to see he
was nervous.
what funny time to CALL" said
the young lady rather rudely, but she
was not in gracious humor. 81
thought you were busy in the city at
this time in the morning."
$50 am as rule" he said with
somewhat vapid smile. but l had a
telephone message-"
"Of course, it's awfully nice of you
to look in" she said hastily "You
didn't come to the concert last night ~
mo-" he stammered. 1.-THE fact is
I understood that you-you were going
with seine one else"
The young lady frowned 1t was
rather a sore point. Jack had prom
Used to take her and he had not turned
up, SO that she had been obliged to go
with her parents. Monty had uncon-
Scieusly scored one, and her mind re-
vcrted to the furs.
= 81 wanted to ask you something" he
began.
I'm just going shopping" she said
with sudden energy. "Yeu can come
too if you like, and then you can ask
me as we go along" With true fem
iline procrastination she was trying to
postpone the evil moment, for she had
an insane feeling that she would have
to keep her word, and accept him if
lie succeeded in asking her the ques-
ton.
II want to know, f. he began
desperately.
what about umbrellas?' she asked
severely. SIS it likely to rain?"
II don't think So" he said. 1.-THE
question l was~going-"
"Of course, yes, you were going to
ask me a question:" she said sweetly.
"Now, isn't it funny? Whenever peo-
pie ask me questions, 1 always give
the wrong answer"
Her eyes were sparkling with ex-
element. She had obstinately made up
her mind that If he succeeded in pro-
posing, and forced her to give an an
swer, it should be yes She had also
decided that she didn't want to say
yes but didn't quite know why she
objected. So she was fencing for her
life, and wondered why Jack didn't
happen to look in, or a chimney catch
fire, or indeed anything happen to save
her from her own obstinate folly.
Without giving him chance to say
a word, she chartered on. And all the
time she was chattering she was think
ing and trying to reconcile herself to
the inevitable. But the more she look
cd at him, the less alluring became
the prospect Of a carriage and furs.
She noticed that his forehead was both
narrow and low, and though she had
not much brain herself, as she reflect
ed, she liked it in other people. Be
sides that, his watch chain troubled
her. Why did he wear such very
heavy one?
but can't stand here listening to
| you," she said at last, when she found
her breath was giving out You are
such a chatterbox, Monty. I'll go and
pop On my hat, and We'll go OUT
But I haven't asked you my ques-
tom" he gasped, and In sheer des-