Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-05-11
DAILY SHORT STORY
HER CRITICISM.

Il thought Al was great pTOIcStcu
Darrow. Now. that scene where the
girl makes the man propose is awfully
| clever
NO nice girl" said Miss Converse
oracularly, would ever lead man to
! propose"
This is your third season, isn't it,"
asked barrow
1T is not polite to remind me that l
am growing to be a wallfiower," child
ed the girl.
You are not" declared Darrow
promptly IF | wanted In be slangy,
could say that you We're a daisy"
There are times" said Miss Con-
verse. when even slang is excusable."
Then consider ii said" he answer
ed, with a bow. But to get on. You
have been out three seasons. and you
say woman never leads a man to pro-
pose"
Il said no nice woman" corrected
Miss Converse.
How about Barton and Nellie
Rice" he urged.
She didn't defended Miss Con-
verse. "She told me all about it. He
said he wished he had a wife to make
him as comfortable as Mrs. Rice made
Nell's father
And then what?" exulted barrow.
she merely said he never would get
married until he had courage to ask for
what he wanted" completed Miss Con
verse
Considering that he'd been dragging
about after her ever since she came
home from school. l guess she could
imagine whom he would ask for.
couldn't sheT' crowed barrow.
Il don't call that urging" protested
Miss Converse
proclaimed Darrow. She frightened
him into proposing"
Il don't see how you make that out"
IF he didn't ask her then. he was
afraid she would think he was a COW
ard"
ANY man who has not the courage TO
propose does not deserve to be mar
ried.' she asserted.
That's not fair"' he cried. Il know
lots of good fellows who simply can't
think what to say
Fine fellows they must be-" she
laughed. Fancy a man, a big. strong
man. being afraid OF a weak woman"
Say" he began confidently, do you
know that when a man loves Il girl she
looks bigger than the side OF a house
sometimes"
Il hope nobody loves me. then" she
said sharply. "A man cannot love a
woman when he applies such a smile
to her"
clared sagely.
ANY man can propose, and propose
nicely, if he really wants a girl" she
insisted.
Il couldn't" he said discouragedly.
Not even with the aid OF Ready
Letter Writer and Guide to Court
ship"
Nonsense" she dissented. I'm sure
you could make a pretty speech. Try
it,"
Il can't think of a thing" he com
planned after moments silence.
Won't you give a fellow a START"
"How is thls?" she asked. my dear
Miss Smith -
Converse " he corrected
Il said Smith," she insisted
1t don't sound natural with Smith"
he complained. Make it My dear Miss
Converse What's next?"
You only wanted a start" she in
sisted
That's only the address," he plead
ed. Give a fellow a bigger boost than
that"
Surely you cannot fail to have no
ticed.' Now go ahead"
From the beginning?" he asked.
Certainly. go ahead" she said impa-
tiently
MY dear Miss Converse he began
rapidly. " surely you cannot have failed
10 have noticed that | love you and
want YOU for my wife HOw's that?"
Too abrupt" she complained.
Let's hear you do better" he teered.
Surely You cannot have failed TO
notice that you have inspired in me a
feeling beside which all other senti-
ments fade into nothingness
Gee, | wish 1 could do it that
way" INTERCEPTED barrow admiringiy.
For a long time but one hope has
filled my mind-the hope that one day
l might be so fortunate as to inspire
a similar feeling within your breast.
feel that | cannot wait longer for the
answer To a question which will either
All the whole world with a perfect
radiance or plunge me into the deepest
despair. I love you. VIII you not say
that / may hope some day to lead to
the altar the sweetest little woman In
all the worIdT Now
She turned toward him triumphantly
TO meet his admiring gaze.
Say" he said wOnderingly. I've |
been trying to tell you something like |
that for about three years. VIII you. |