Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-09-13

THE AID OF A STUFFED BEAR

By JAS. B. HAWLEY.

For the sixteenth time l had asked
Marjory to marry me. And for the
seventeenth time-twice she didn't
even notice my remark-she had given
me her sweetest smile-and refused.
Well, l cajoled, l threatened, /
promised-promised everything under
the u from a trip to Europe to an
acquiescence to any number of wom-
ems clubs-and still a sweet but en-
phatic NO.
Whish! Snap! I caught the lead
er just under the forelegs and off we
few down the road rocking from side
to side and Marjorie clinging desper-
ately to my sleeve to keep from fall.
ing out.
With a final exhibition of skill
and | was a good whip in those days
| drew the honses to a stop just in
front of the colonel's gate, and swing
ing down from my high. seat / waited
for Marjorie to descend. For about
six seconds she just looked at me and
then deliberately climbed down the
other side of the seat.
AS she swept majestically up the
narrow path that led to the house she
told me in no uncertain terms her
opinion of such exhibition of temper
from supposed (~accent on the Sup
posed") gentlemen when their slight.
est wish was refused.
Slightest wish! Darn! I drove off
In dignity and disgust.
After I had eaten dinner and
thought the matter over, I was just
fool enough to be ashamed. So I har-
messed my little mare and drove over
to the Curtis to apologize. My ex.
cuses were somewhat alphabetically
received; but evidently there were no
Ill feelings, for after the colonel and
Mrs. Curtis had entered the house I
was allowed to sit on the rattan couch
beside Marjorie, and l honestly be-
lieve l must have held her hand.
Whether 1t was the hand or the
moonlight, the Lord knows what, l
couldn't for the life of me keep off the
forbidden subject, and so for the sew
enteenth time I made a-that is I pro-
posed.
Well, there was no more of the
sweet smile business. She gave me
another of those whitening looks and
then in the vernacular Of my slangy
brother, II got mine"
| sat there as quiet as a mouse and
meekly took all that came. But when
her flow of language ceased the beast
ly unfairness of it all came over me,
and I started.
I accused her of unfairness and I ac-
cused her of having led me on and all
the other crimes on the calendar that
l could think of.
For two weeks there was no social
intercourse between Marjorie and
Jack Van Dorsen. I only saw her once
during that time for I carefully avoid
ed any proximity to the Curtis estate,
and I'm sure she didn't hang around
my house. 1t was at the end of the
first week and she was driving with
Harry Euston. AS they went by she
gave me a regular society bow, and I
caught a glimpse of triumph in her
escorts eye.
Gosh, but was mad. I went home
and fired things around for an hour.
Harry Euston! Bah! To be practi-
cally cut before that insufferable little
ass.
Another week came and went and
still no advances from the other side.
Late n afternoon an errand called
me to P; and as my horses had
been driven hard all day, I took the
train for the two miles, with the de.
termination of walking home.
l completed my errand, had dinner
in P, and about eight o'clock
started on my homeward journey.
For the first mile or so the walk was
beautiful, but as / reached the corner
that turned into the road that led
past the Curtis house the bank of
clouds that had come up from the
west swept across the face of the
moon and from almost daylight I was
plunged into almost the darkest night
I have ever experienced.
I almost collided with Mrs. Curtis
when ! reached their gate, and as
soon as she recognized me she ex.
planned that she had been locked out
and asked me if l would mind wait.
inc m tho Dprob until aitbou NEo.sa..a
or her father arrived, and then tell
them that she would be down at Mrs,
Johnston's.
For a moment I hesitated and then
the temptation to see Marjorie became
too strong for me, and l succumbed.
Almost before l knew it the old lady
was going down the road, and I was
left on the porch making up wonderful
speeches to say when Marjorie ar.
rived.
But when she finally came all nv
grand words seemed to have left and
I was just about able to give her her
mothers message.
She thanked me, and, although l
couldn't see her l could hear her
fumbling with the lock. At last she
exclaimed in disgust: Dear me! l
took the wrong key" and she contin.
ued, might l ask you to escort me
to my mother, Mr.. Van Dorsen?"
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