Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1905-05-05

uSa lille EOunO OF nOuSeh0l0 duties.
At II o'clock Mr.. Winterfood came to
tune the piano. He had wrestled with
the drawing room piano, once a quar-
ter, for fifteen years, and the little
old man, with his red pocket handker-
chief and black bag, was a particular
fuvorite Of Margaret's. Her mother
having learnt on the telephone that the
glittering Monty would arrive soon AZ
ter II. was anxious to send the old
fellow away, but Margaret wouldn't
hear Of it.
Suppose somebody calls" said the
older lady, not daring to tell the truth.
Nobody is at all likely to CALL" said
the girl lightly.
So Mr. WinterfioOd proceeded to hia
Irritating task, tapping note after note
In a 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. TT 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"
she said
'Monty?" said her daughter with a
frown. What brings him hereY"
Then she remembered with a start
her rnolrIasa vr7oy.as - A.. t.,..
table. and her heart sank.
III you are a wise girl you will seize
the chance" said her mother; then
she added piously, but don't wish to
persuade you. think you said you
intended to accept the one who asked
you first"
The girl sighed, and swept rather
angrlly 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 a funny time to call" said
the young lady rather rudely, but Rhe
was not in a gracious humor. II
thought you were busy in the city at
this time in the morning"
$50 am as rule" he said with a
somewhat vapid smile. but 1 had a
telephone message-''
''Of course, it's awfully nice of Won
to look In" she said hastily. "You
didn't come to the concert last night?'
mo" he stammered. 1.-THE fact is
understood that you-you were going
with some one else"
The young lady frowned. It was
rather a sore point. Jack had prom
ised to take her and he had not turned
up, so that she had been obliged to 90
with her parents. Monty had uncon-
sciously scored one, and her mind re-
verted to the furs
II wanted to ask you something" he
began.
I'm Just going shopping" she said
with sudden energy. "You can come
too if you like, and then you can ask
me as we so along" With true fem
il,ine 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, IL" he began
desperately.
''What about umbrellasY' she asked
severely. ''Is it likely to ramp
II don't think So" he said. "The
question was going"
"Of course, yes, you were going to
ask me a question" she said sweetly.
"Now, isn't it funny7 Whenever peo-
pie ask me questions, always give
the wrong answer"
Her. eyes were sparkling with ex-
element She had obstinatsly made up
her mind that If he sUccsAded in pro-
posing. and forceI Der "a give an an