Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-04-27
GAINING TIME.

| to ask yOu to marry MIN.
What glorious day. l remarked. IS
he took my hand with portentous soleln-
nifty.
Upon my word he answered, II
| haven't noticed the weather.
Even if you haven't. you might have
said Yes" l exclaimed.
Septimus leaned forward with the ut
most ,eagerness. That is precisely what
The most excellent reason for not say
ing itr'
Il don't see that
How blind you must be this after
noon,'' | said. Aren't you aware that
the charm of conversation is the unex-
pected?''
Il didn't say l expected you to say
Yes he explained. AS he sat down.
'only that | wished it,
For my part [ returned. Il always
make it a rule to expect what | wish"
But if YOU want something
| ''Oh, WELL of course, it's no use yearn-
ing for the moonv'
L can stand anything but suspense"
said Septimus, and he drew his chair
close to my sofa.
Now" l suggested, suppose there is
something you would like very much in
deed?
There isl he answered. with a great
! deal of energy.
And you asked-asked a person to
give it to you-'
Just what l am going to do" said
! Septimus with fine air of determine
| ton, although | did not intend that he
should do anything of the kind-today,
at least
at is quite possible the-the person
might feel inclined to charity"
Il hope 20 goodness she ISL he cried.
And yet" | continued. ''it might
! rr-1ll ,,rrl,+ 10
draw q check at the moment you under
stand"
LET us keep money out of it. what
ever you do said Septimus; and, poor
fellow, it is certainly his weak point
| Nowadays" | insisted, 1T is impos-
sihe to keep money out of anything.
| You always have to count the cost
L shouldn't care If you hadn't six
pence" he cried, and, as if carried away
| by the generosity OF his sentiment, Sep
timus rose and stood beside me.
How horrid of YOU | said.
christine" he whispered, bending over
the sofa But l realized that the moment
was becoming critical.
I'VE were talkings about money | sug-
! gested.
I want to talk about something entire
ly different he answered. Love has
nothing to do
Indeed | retorted!: ''the one is of no
use without the other
Its absurd for a dear little girl like
you to pretend to be mercenary"
''Of course, I'm not mercenary,'' l said,
'.but l am immensely practical"
L wish you were little more roman
TIC" cried Septimus, and he captured my
hand.
Are you going?" l asked.
Not until
Until | have finished my parable" |
interrupted. Il was trying to make you
understand that IA person might not
! find it convenient to draw a check at the
time; but if only little judicious patience
| were displayed"
'Well?'' cried Septimus, eagerly.
1T might save a certain amount of un-
pleasantness, because it's always horrid
to say No.
Il don't want q check he persisted.
AN acceptance would do
But isn't an acceptance q promise?"
at needn't be honored just at once, YOU
| know"
Have you ever>signed one?" I asked,
and Septimus looked quite embarrassed,
although he tried to laugh.
81 never will again. he answered.
But, Christine
[ exclaimed. Il think I must send you
away but Septimns dropped my hand
and. walking to the door, planted his back
hrmly against it. had not believed he
| could lock so determined. lyon will
| feel rather awkward if auntie should
open the door suddenly" | limited.
| L believe I'm rather out of favor he
muttered, still maintaining his position.
| wen, said, you are by way of
| deserving it now and then Besides.
auntle is inclined to prefer men who
haven't quite such a crowd of elder
Il hope to goodness cried Septimus.
| niece doesn't with I,
Ot course" [ admitted IF you
hadn't SO many brothers you might be
older; but then / like a man clever
enough to take q hint"
Il like you-just as you are.'' he in
sisted, and once more he walked to the
sofa. "A thousand times better than any
woman | have ever seem
You make an immense mistake" I
answered
Christine
| Because l am rot a woman. and /
| shall not be for nearlgs ten mo- tbs How
NICE" [ cried, ito be able 90 act Just as
one likes, without getting the consent of
horrid guardians
If you would only put an end to this
awful suspense. muttered Septimus: and
| am afraid | laughed at his solemn face.
don't see that suspense is very aw-
| full. | insisted
Because you don't experience it, he
| answered
oh, yes, 1 do 1 said, little in
judiciously.
.A-about your future?" he demanded.
1t seems rather doubtful sometimes"
| | cried.
Yet it depends entirely on Yourself
'Oh. dear, nor
Upon whom, them asked Septimus
You understand" / explained, .'it
really depends to a great extent whether
-whether someone possesses patience
and perseverance and a few other unin-
| teresting virtues
Chris. dear he answered, Il could
wait half a lifetime if I only knew
But then there wouldn't be the least
credit III waiting"
If | only knew it would be all right
| in the end.'
Now | am going to send you away" ]
| insisted. before auntie arrives
And if tins wonderful display of pa
tlence and perseverance cones OFF,
'1ou remember the copy book says
they-they are alwacs rewarded / an
swered; but. really. Septimus took curl
olJS means To DrOya his lota