Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-08-08
FRAN CAS-
ANSWER
By CARROLL WATSON RANKIN.
lCopyright, BY Joseph 3. Bowles.

nooooeoeeeeoooooeeeeooe0
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)
.Let me see,' said Francesca, count
Ing on the prettiest of fingers, does
,, that make Is, or 29?"
"Twenty-nine what?" asked DeWii-
dered Bob.
"Twenty-nine proposals" said Fran
cesca, showing dimple. FTancescas
ldimples were a sight worth SEEING
sHave 30 men proposed to you!"
demanded Bob, with indignation writ
ten upon every feature.
you flatter me. Bobbie, but no suca
| luck. I've been singularly unfortunate
/ In the matter Of declarations, when
one takes all my charms into consider
alton. You'll admit have charms,
won't you, Bob?"
Eyes, I'll admit that, More than
your share into the bargain. But
about those proposals"
! Gust this: One man, Mr.. Robert
Wharton, by name, has offered me his
,, hand and heart % or 20 tines really
can't remember which"
"Oh,' said Wharton, greatly re-
lieved, lis that all?"
"All?" mimicked the girl. isn't
that enough? Twenty-nine times in
three weeks! At first, you know, l
used to write them all down in my
diary. Then l made ditto marks. FL
nally I left 1t out altogether, 1t got SO
monotonous. If you would just change
the FORM
Perhaps would better stop alto
gether. You don't appear to appreci-
ate your blessings"
WELL" said Francesca, smiling de-
murely, ut would be more exciting. I
confess. to have some one else do it
for change. DR.. Marsh, for instance,
or Mr.. Skagg. Skagg il such a lovely
name i should love to be Mrs. Hora-
ito P. skagg. Think how well 1t would
look on my cards.
WELL" said Wharton, stiffly, "you
may be Mrs. Skagg, for all care
What queried his tormenter,
clasping her pretty hands, has 1t
come to this? Wouldn't you truly
care?"
mo, wouldn't. I'm Just as tired Of
proposing to you as you are Of having
me do 1t. I'll never trouble you again"
"Oh, what rash threat! You know
you'll do it tomorrow; but ] shall Ger.
tainly smile upon Mr. Skagg."
Then I'll devote myself to Miss
Marshall. / may even propose to her"
Gust from force Of habit, suppose.
You should certainly be able to do 1t
to perfection by this time. You've Ger.
tainly had q great deal Of practice"
May have this waltz?"
Wharton and Francesca, in the dark
corner of the veranda, started violent
ly.
ooh, certainly, Mr.. skagg," said
Francesca, with much emphasis and
rising hastily. Nothing would give
me greater pleasure"
"Confound 1t! She needn't have told
him so," srr:ah!sia Wharton. Hes
conceited enough as II is
Ten minutes later, Bob was dancing
with Miss Marshall, to whom he de-
voted himself, without intermission,
through FIVE Dances while Francesca
was deep in Irritation Of equal length
with delighted Mr.. Skagg. Wharton
could see glimmer Of white, which he
knew to be Francesca's gown, at the
end Of the long veranda; Francesca
could see at the other end another
CLEAN Of white. which, she surm!sed,
was Miss Marshall.
Mr.. Skagg was Ii the seventh
heaven of delight, Miss Marshall was
almost as happy, Francesca was yawn-
Ing behind her fan, and Bob was
struggling with mad desire to rush
to the opposite end Of the veranda to
strangle Mr.. Skagg. when the guests
were summoned to the dining room.
Az the merry throng trooped into
the spacious, oak, sSaeea,sied room, Fran
eesca, In passing the candle-lighted
table, happened in some way to brush
earelessly against one of the unshaded
lights.
In an instant her light organdy
sleeve was ablaze. In another second
she was enyeloped in writhing flames
The horror-stricken guests were spell.
bound, and for long moment no one
moved.
With a smothered exclamation
Wharton tore OFF his coat, and spring
ling over all intervening objects
wrapped the garment about Francesca
whose eyes were wide with terror. He
Il oofzcd hc,. nv TIC shou1darsa and wifi II