Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-09-12
FILIPINO THE coin.
So LION brought the automobile

77 LION brought the automobile
AA to a stop at the crest of hill.
Below was a vista of green
fields and winding white roads Be-
yond, the ragged line of hills stood
out sharply against the sky.
Isn't it splendid, DAMP said Alicia,
with appreciatiye enthusiasm. Il didn't
really know there were such bits OF
landscape about here"
Alton settled back comfortably on
the cushions. With studied delibera-
ton he lighted a cigar and pulled
away several moments before he turn
ed to the girl.
81 thought I'd stop in the pleasant
est spot l know Of" he explained.
We'll probably stay here for some
time"
''IndeedY' she said.
eve shall stay here until you de-
eide" he affirmed.
Decide what?" said she.
Decide to answer the question l
asked you a short time since; the one,
in fact, I have asked you repeatedly
during the last year"
Alicia frowned.
you develop determination rather
suddenly" she observed.
Exactly" he returned, stolidly.
well" she said, you may as well
go on. I'm not ready to answer you
yet"
Alicia he said. graveIy, 'ft's not
fair to treat me in this way. You
should give me an answer, one way or
the other"
"And either answer would be quite
welcome after this patient wait Of
yours" she Knocked.
did I say So" he asked, quick
ly.
ut is evident I'm not worth waiting
for" she said, looking pensively across
the valley.
you are worth waiting for for
ever" he declared, stoutly, but it
isn't fair TO keep me in suspense like
this. You know as we'll now as you
ever will"
There are pros and cons to be
weighed thoroughly before 1 decide"
she said. "A man always thinks a wo-
man can decide offhand matter Of the
gravest import
Atoms eyes twinkled.
Heaven forbid" he muttered.
Alicia flashed him an angry glance.
1--WE may as well be going" she
said with some constraint Its grow
ing late"
Il haven't my answer yet" Alton
reminded her.
IF you intend to wait for that, I'll
walk home" she said.
Alton sat erect and knocked the
ashes from his cigar. He drew a pen
ny from his pocket and laid it on his
knee with exaggerated care.
I've proposition to make" he said,
slowly. 1T seems that you have no
intention of definitely settling this mat
ter Therefore, suppose we let Fate de-
eide it with the turn of this coin. If
it comes head you'll marry me in
June; if tails I'll leave the field to
other suitors Is it agreed"
The girl turned her eyes and gazed
at him silently. There was unuttera-
BILE scorn in that look.
WED better go back" she said,
icily.
Alton turned the automobile and
they sped homeward over the hard
white roads. Alicia sat silently beside
him. Her head was turned away, but
he could see the angry color in her
cheek.
Instead of being crushed, as it was
meant he should have been, he seemed
vastly amused. For some time he
made no attempt to resume CONVEX
sation.
Alicia" he said at length, shave I
Numbered again? Are you angry?"
al didn't think you were capable of
such a thing" she said wrathfuIy.
You have said my answer meant ev-
erything in the world to you; but how
much do you care if you are willing to
leave it to the turn of n COMP
Everything" he said imperturba-
bly,.
You can't, or you'd never have sug-
gested such a hazard" she declared.
Il was desperate" he said with be-
coming meekness.
Perhaps we'd best say nothing more
about it," she said.
and, with all this haven't my an
swer," he complained
Alicia's face was calmly disdainful
Dan" she said, 1T seems to me YOU
might guess. after what has happened,
what my answer will be. If you were
willing to leave it all to chance"
"Chance?" he cried.
Certainly" she cried, "the chance
of a coins turn"
Alton threw back his head and
laughed heartily. Alicia watched him
In amazement. Then his face became
grave.
Pardon, Alicia" he apologized. but
those remarks about chance are anus
ing. Did you imagine for a minute
that 1 would trust to the turn of an
ordinary penny?"
He drew the penny again from his
pocket and laid it in her hand.
"It wasn't coined at mint" he ex-
planned. kindly examine it carefully
and tell me what you find"
Alicia bent over the penny.
"Why lists heads on both sides.
Dam" she said.
That's the chance 1 took" he said.
"Shall we leave it to the coin now?"
Alicia was looking across the fields.
cliff you like. Dan," she said
New York Daily News.
Lese Maj este.