Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-05-06
HE ASKED HER FIRST

her little round Of household 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
OFT man, with his red pocket handker-
"hlen and black bag. was a particular
favortte of Margarets Her mother.
having learnt on the telephone that the
glitterlng Monty would arrive soon af-
ter H. 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 his
Irritating task, tapping note after note
IN vain attempt to adjust an instru-
~ment on which a certain healthy Young
lady delighted to play comic opera with
the loud pedal down
Margaret sat by his side. ut 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 here?"
Then she remembered with a start
her reckless words at the breakfast
table, and her heart sank.
IF you are a 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"
The girl signed, and swept rather
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 a funny time to call" said
the young lady rather rudely, but she
was not in a gracious humnr. Il
thought you were busy in the city at
this time in the morning"
$50 l am as a rule" he said with
somewhat vabid smile But ! had a
telephone MESA ge-"
"Of course it's awfully nice of you
to look in she said hastily. you
didn't come to the concert last night?"
NO" he stammered. The fact is
I 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 go
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
Will sudden energy. GU can come
too If you like, and then you can ask
NE as we go along" With true fem
ildne 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.
81 want to know, if" he began
desperately.
what about umbrellas?" she asked
sew erely. as it likely to rain?"
II don't think So" he said. 1.-THE
question | was going"
"Of course, yes, you were going to
ask me question" she said sweetly.
NOW, isn't it funny? Whenever peo-
pie ask me questions, always give
the wrong answer"
Her eyes were sparkling with ex-
element. She had obstiuately made up
her mind that If he succeeded in pro-
posing. and forcei Der Ia give an an