Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1906-10-11
SHEPHERDSTOWN. W.. VA, THURSDAY OCTOBER IL. 1906.
his side, words failed him.

"Will you-will you"-he began.
"Will what, Ellery2" said Ara.
bella, very sweetly and patiently.
"Will you-have an ice-cream sods
at the drug store on the way back2"
Certainly" answered Arabella, a
shade of disappointment in her voice
She liked the broad-shouldered,
honest-eyed young fellow more than
she admitted to any one save herself,
thought she never had had 30 bash
full sutton.
And yet she knew Ellery was nc
coward. His townsfolk had told her
of the courageous things he had done;
how he had stopped runaway horse
at the risk of his own life, and how,
one bitter winter day, he had crawl
ed to the edge of an ice hole in the
river to rescue the eldest Hardy child
who cluug there, half frozen.
As for Ellery, he felt that time was
passing and he was no nearer the
goal. "It's terrible" he mourned,
"to think I've gone this far and can't
go farther" Matters were getting
desperate.
"Better hurry up, Elleryl" his
friends urged him. There's a fellow
in her wn town wants her just as
much as you do.
Advice came thick and fast.
"Why don't you write it9" drawl-
ed one waggish acquaintance, land
then she'll be sure to get it"
"Modern invention has done a
good many things" chuckled old
Jonas Fort, "it's given us telegraphs
and motor boats and automobiles, but
there's one thing it hasn't done. 1t
hasn't made it easier to pop the ques.
ton. That's just as hard today as it
was hundred years agol"
Ellery groaned Then his face
frightened.
Modern Inventions he mutteren to
himself. Modern inventionsl By
Jimmy, I've solved the probleml I'll
win her yeti
A few days later a small crate ar
rived for him. Looks as if it might
be a typewriter. said the station
agent, but as Ellery was not given to
literary pursuits, this guess seemed
rather improbable.
Late that night Ellery tiptoed
through the Hardy's orchard, holding
tight to a mysterious funnel-shaped
contrivauce, on which he had banked
all his hopes. The sleeping Arabella
was wakened by voice beneath her
window. Slipping on kimono, she
leaned out to listen.
"EIlery," she whispered, lis that
your"
From the shadows beneath came
his answering tones, swift and un-
wavering.
"Arabella, love you'll love you
more than anyone in the world. I'm
not worthy of you, 1 know, but I'll
do everything l can to make you hap
py. Will you marry me, Arabellaf'
."Yes, Ellery, said Arabells prompt.
ly. "But what's the matter with
your voice2 Mercyp' she CALCULATED,
as there came a sudden whirr and
click, "you aren't choking, are your"
"If am, it's with happiness" said
her rapturous sutton, coming quickly
into view.
"That sounds more natural, said
Arabella. There was whispered
colloquy, and later, in happy daze,
his photograph Rugged securely un-
der his arm, he stumbled along the
orchard path. "She'll never know
it was done by machine" he muir.
INJURED, "and since she loves me, it's
ali right anyhow, though l suppose
that when l get home I'd better de.
stroy the record or twill give me
clean away"
At the edge Of, the road familiar
figure doomed in the darkness. "That
you, Ellery2" said Jonas Fort. Its
too black to see foot in front Of me.
And they pretend to light this place
by electricity. l tell you modern in
ventions
Modern inventions" said the
happy Ellery, "are the greatest things
| in the world"