The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-08-18
The GIRL And The QUESTION
By Henry Wilton Thomas.

" "dIu, tle Willie Slldl gel ilhh NSo'>
Its coughing and choking to settle down
to the steady purring of a contented
cat. There was no chauffeur-1ust
Fred Glenvalon and Hyacinth. all alone
in the big touring car. Wooded hills,
fields and farm houses tioated by
serenely. TO the man at the wheel 1t
seemed the logical moment.
You must know he began, that ]
am very fond"-
Something that was happening ahead
gave him pause. A horse itched to a
farm cart was making a desperate
effort to do a back tliptlap.- but the har-
ness hampered him. Suddenly he re-
sumed all fours. and, after the name
of such ~antiquated devices as horses,
made a business like dash for the seat
Of alarm. Glenvalon tried to give him
right of way. but the horse preferred
trouble. The wheels of the cart and
those of the automobile met at such
close range that the latter vehicle was
laid up for repairs straightway.
For G~lenValon and Hyacinth it meant
a short cut on foot across fields TO the
Larches. What he regretted was that
the mishap had not chosen to occur
just q little later; we minutes would
have been enough. In that time he
could have finished his vowal and re-
ceived Hyacinth's answer. He had the
delicacy not to return to the subject
now, with the girl in such d nervous
state after the smash up.
But Il day or two afterwards, when
they were having Il bareheaded ride to-
gether, he found what seemed to be
another logical moment. They had en-"
tered the cleaning of a wood. The
horses. left to their fancy, had dropped
into a walk. The silence was toned
only by the light beats of hoofs on the
turf and the shrill whistle Of an unseen
quail.
You must know he began, that I
am very fond of you. In plain truth
"Oh. my saddles slipping!' she cried
out, and the next instant GlenValon'
~dismountcd, was Juggling away at the
girth. Under his breath. but none he
less eXpressiVely, he rated the groom
who had saddled the horse. Again the
spell was broken and the ride ended
Without any incident offering he
shadow of IN excuse for a tender
aVOwal.
Patiently he watched and waited for
a week. One afternoon they were in
his sail boat, romping over the sunlit
bay to a beach where the Atlantic
played. 1t was Il beat to windWard in
a one-reef breeze. and the second of the
long tacks vas mark ed by a long 81
lence between them. With head
thrown back, Hyacinth was gazing
dreamily into the speckless blue. 1T is
the moment of moments" G%lenvalon
told himself. Then he began:
You must know that l am very fond
of you in truth. Hyacinth. t.
oh, it's breaking! It's breaking"
she cried, springing up. This time it
was the peak Hayward. 1t parted, and
down slipped the gaff and sail hanging
by the toppinlift. all in wrinkles.
Damn it," Glenvalon'S comment. Il
beg your PARDON he said with the
next breath. IF youn hold the tiller
I'll see what I can do. Keep her up to
the wind all you can"
He Skinned up the mast, one end of
the parted halyard in his teeth, caught
the other length of 1t or the way. rove
it through the block. made fast the
ends with the right knot, then to the
deck again and hoisted the sail in re-
m~arkably short order. On the run home
he thought once that another logical
moment had come. but it was not the
genuine thing, for it did not move him
to speak.
Two days passed. G]lenvalon walked
briskly on to the lawn of the Larchcs
in the morning. There was uch a
grim look in his face that Hyacinth's
sister and brother. playing tennis. Won
dered h was the matter with him.
Nothing allied him except that he had
sworn while walking we" from his
place that today he would finish his
proposal though an earthquake had the
rudeness TO interrupt.
"Hy has one to town. sai1 the little
sister.
ITO town. exclaimed Glenvalon, in
a r that was as good as saying,
"What the devil has she done that for? q
Yes. Shopping. We're in a dread
full state mere for things, says
and she and Hy made off by the $780,
There was another train at noon and
Glenvalon was a passenger. This sort
of thing is becoming a bore" he in
formed himself. entering a cab at the
railway terminus in town. TN speak
to her wherever l find her and fnfsf
the speech" But he did not stand by
that resolve. for he met her in the
elevate of the Gilded Hotel, after
Inner. with her mother and others, al
cuddled together.
He seemed to be astonished to fin
them in New York. "Oh. how do vol
do?" he exclaimed. as the white ant
gold room shot Skyward.
Hyacinth's mother shook her heat
YEARLY. '~Speaking for one, l Ion
nov how we do she said. "MidsuIn'
mer shopping is. for example, not
midsummer dream. So glad you ar,
here. For me. repose tonight and our
age tomorrow, for the battle is not We
over"
"Twelve!' muttered the elevate
pilot, and she Went to her apartments
Glenvalon and Hyacinth assembled t
the last station-the garden on tn
roof. three hundred feet above the III
softcned asphalt of Fifth avenue.
Il suppose the whole shop will toppl
if l try it here" he thought. Don
care If it. does. Now if ever" The,
desired neither ices nor music: at leas
he did not, and he led her away fror
the tables with their mellow light O
shaded lamps. the clack of tongues
They crossed a bridge that spanned
deco chasm between two wings of tn
building and discovered a spot I
which the strains of the orches1r
came with a muffled. far-away cadence
No one but the white-aproned waiter
bearing trays Of refreshments passe
that way.
isn't it perfectly enchantlng!" sh
exclaimed, looking down upon tn
sparkling panorama of the city, Will
her fluffy gown fluttered as 1t migt
have lone on a seaside veranda. Fo
not more than three seconds did he l.
her enjoy the picture. Then he began
"Hyacinth, you must know =
"Crash! Bang! Thump!"
1t was only a slipping waiter ana q
avalance of crystal and china. Witt
put looking round Glenvalon wondcre
Il the building was tumbling in. as i
mad feared. He kept on with his spGcc
and put the main question. Scarcel
mad he done so when something els
tell, though SO softly as not to hay
startled a sparrow. 1t was a sinlp
yes" from the lips of Hyarinth.