Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-11
DAILY SHORT STORY
A 2O.Horse Power Proposal.
GCopyright. 1875. by T. c. MeClure-I

Oh TIE nOOE o. lAt NEA elAltAsA- - CAAN
corner. where the thickness Of the
leaves admitted but scattering patches
of moonlight, a young woman was
perched on the veranda rail. Before
he half reclining in a steamer chair.
was Il sOmber faced yO- X man.
The long windows of the dining room
| were wide open, and the couple in
their shaded corner could hear the Ia
bored music of the volunteer orchestra,
the shufiiing of feet and the deep voice
of Judge Davis calling off the figures
in the Virginia reel.
IF l had suspected your intention
1 should have stayed in and danced,
she said petulantly.
The young man made no response.
You said you wanted 10 smoke" she
went on
I'm smoking" he asserted, and to
verify the statement lie blew Il cloud
of smoke from the cigarette. Don't
be angry. Lou" he entreated. Up
10 now I've been behaving beautiful
ly"
"Oh. indeed she remarked. per
haps you've forgotten you've proposed
three times before this week"
He leaned forward in the chair His
face was very grave. He was Il good
looking young man, clean shaver and
very resOlute of manner. Just now rs
he faced her his square jaw was shut
in determined fashion. and the lines
about his mouth showed he was very
much in earnest.
This Is the 4th Of the MONTH" he
said slowly. Il shall offer myself 10
you every remaining day"
Phillip" she said. IF l give you a
chance to propose between now and
the 1st of the month I'll accept you"
Great Scott,' he cried. You don't
mean you won't even see me. LOu?"
Your deductions are very intelli-
gent" she laughed.
He was standing before her now.
He drew himself up, and his shoulders
went back.
VERY WELL" he said. Il shall buy
the ring tomorrow
Il don't believe there's any need of
haste" she said. And then with n hur-
ried good night" she slipped into the
house and left him there alone in the
moonlight. nj once strangely dOwncast
and strangely hopeful
He was still standing there when
Judge Davis stepped through one of
the omen windows on TO the veranda.
Judge" said Morton suddenly. with
your consent I'm going to marry Lou
ise''
The devil you are" said the judge.
Then he soberly took Morton by the
hand. Phil. l hope you are. Has Lou
consented at last:'
Morton laughed. II don't believe she
considers the chase as nearly finished
as l do" he confessed.
The next day the game began in ear
nest. Morton was not disappointed
when three calls at the Davis villa
brought only the information that Miss
Davis was out" He walked for hours
in the grove behind the house. but she
did not venture there, nor did she
come to the poStofFice for the evening
mail. Then for Il weeks time lie tried
vainly to reach her by strategy. but
numerous brides TO the Davis servants
and Sundry CudcavorS on MCrton'S part
to conceal himself under the veranda,
in the summer hOuse-any place where
he might hope to see hcr-werc all
fruitlcss Of the desired result. Two
weeks went past. and. although the
ring nestled in his coat pocket, he had
found no chance to speak n word to
Louise. He began to be bit uneasy.
Late one afternoon at the beginning
of the third week Morton sat discon-
solately on the top rider OF the fence
that skirted the old turnpike. He had
been sitting there since noon vainly
trying to formulate some scheme which
would bring him triumphantly into the
presence of Louise Davis long enough
for him TO utter the words on the end
OF his tongue.
Down the road came n cloud of dust.
and presently Louise herself, quite
alone. wheeled past in an automobile.
The next afternoon at the same time
Morton from the raspberry shrubs be-
side the road saw her again speed by.
\ third and a fourth afternoon he
waited patiently among the prickly
raspberry bushes. and when that
fourth afternoon she went past his
hiding place Morton rushed to the tele-
graph Office and sent the following:
Travers-Send down the twenty horse
power auto. MORTON.
Three evenings later. just at sunset.
Louise Davis sped an automobile along
the cool. pine shaded stretches of The
turnpike. Presently n mighty cough
ing and humping behind her caused
her to turn her head. There, rapidly
oyerhauling her. was huge red tour
ing car. and in the touring car. q grim
smile on his face, sat Philip Morton.
She turned her eyes ahead and gave
her automobile full speed. but it was
no match for the heavy touring car.
which overlook her with ease. She
looked back angrily, and by the mo-
ton of his lips she could see Morton
was shouting. Then he took from the
seat beside him a huge meGaphOne,
and through this he shouted n proposal
which could have been heard in the
80. r-nar-