Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-12-20

stockinged feet. and, with 90 howl Of
dismay and pain, the latter picked
them up. 1t was all too true. In the
right boot were the dark stains that
told how well the heat Of the oven had
spread the pitch. The shoes wers
ruined.
Mrs. Dudley was all concern, but n
began to look as though all the fates
were against Carman. There was not
another pair OF shoes about the place
that approached his size. 1t was out
OF the question to send the girl 10
town. The chauffeur had driven the
head of the house to the city and had
not yet returned.
"It's all over" said Carman grimly.
an go to town in the morning in the
auto. Until then 1t will have to be
bath slippers for me, and l cannot
very well propose in bath slippers.
ut Is scarcely the costume Of ro-
NANCE" said Mrs. Dudley.
at is fate" he said resignedly.
Ruth Emory will never me mine"
Perhaps II Is not as bad as that.
You might write, you know" comfort
ed Mrs. Dudley. but Carman refused
to be comforted. He knew how vain
ly he had tried to frame a letter that
would sound unlike business commu-
nicaton. 1t was only the prospect OF
her leaving that had moved him to
speaking. Now the chance was lost.
thanks to d. ID. ID.
That evening Carman sat on the
porch looking across the water to
where the lights betrayed the Bless
ington's place. Mrs. Dudley had prom
ised to call on a sick friend, and Car
man would not hear Of her remaining
at home. 1t WAS nearly 10 when a fig
ure stole across the grass, and Car
man rose from his chair.
"Look out for the pitfall," he warn
ed. Don't get in the brook"
~ won't" came the CHEEKY reply, and
Carman started. II was not Mrs. Dud-
ley, but Ruth Emory who presently
emerged from the gloom OF the trees
to offer her slim. cool hand.
IT thought that Helen was here" she
said. 81 padded over to say goodby to
her"
"She will be home presently" he
said eagerly. won't you waltz
Somehow, now that she was here, he
had lost his courage again.
Ruth sat down and demanded an eI-
planation OF his warning. and he ex-
planned the device OF d. ID. ID.
"And you have been cooped up here
all day" she cried. what a shame!
It was a perfect
"Not for me. mOurnfully.
! THAT little lim' spoiled 1t for
me-"
"I amt limb OF Satan" denied a
sleepy voice from the low French win
dow. 81 am good boy. only ! am bad
sometimes" he explained as he pat
tered out upon the piazza and climbed
upon Ruth's lap. II was bad today"
he added. II got tar in Mr.. Carman's
boots, and got spanked because he
couldn't come over and ask you to
marry him. Won't you please marry
him, so l won't be spankedr' he add
ed. II was spanked three times to-
day"
Wont your" asked Carman softly.
II want you so, dear! When It seemed
that had lost my opportunity l was
nearly crazy. II was fate that brought
you over. ! am not a good pleader.
Won't you let ID. ID. d. plead for me y
Miss Emory's eyes grew softly
bright. She. too. had been afraid that
perhaps the word that would mean so
much to- them both would never be
spoken.
IL am a member OF the Children's
Aid society" she said, with a low
laugh. perhaps for the sake Of d. d.
ID. had better say yes"
In moment Carman's arms were
about her. and he knelt beside her
chair. Mrs. Dudley's first hint that all
was well was gained as she rounded
the porch from ID. ID. DIS sleepy voice
kiss me, too" he pleaded. And
Mrs. Dudley smiled and went softly to
the back door lest she disturb them.