Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-05-01


scathingly, that you decoyed me
away out here to propose to me?'
I've been trying to do it ever since
we left the club house." he answered,
ruefully
She laughed. Jack, what miser-
able time you've been having! l sup
pose it explains your playing, which
is-well even worse than usual"
Well, if all you want in a hus-
band is fellow who can go around in
a. he replied, GROSSLY, you'd better
marry Brown"
She half-closed her eyes, perked her
head and studied the toe of her
shoe.
do you really think so, Jack?' she
murmured. I've been thinking of it,
but-he's so stout, and gets so red
In the face, that don't know
Jack Bower glared at her angrlly.
Has that little fat idiot been making
love to your he demanded.
She glanced up in simulated sur
prise. Idiot? Why, Jack, he's the
best player here"
Has he?''
"Well-really, you're very imperti-
nent."
HAS he, Graceo'
''N-no, not exactly" she answered,
slowly
He grunted. Sounds az though
you wish he had
"1oo
severely
OF course one couldn't be angry at
Jack, though there was no harm in
seeming SO sometimes; he had such
nasty temper and was $3.50 un-
reasonable! But he was nice, too,
in fact quite the dearest fellow in
the world; and handsome. She look
ed approvingly at his long, 1.-THE figure,
at the dark hair that was almost
black, at the broad shoulders and mus
cular arms from which the sleeves
were rolled away, and sighed. 1t was
though of course she didn't care about
that 80 much as she pretended to;
Jack was 50 lovely to tease! And be-
sides, it wasn't really his fault He
worked hard five days in the week,
and one really couldn't keep up his
game doing that And it was nice of
him to- come up to Riverton every
weekend; he cared lots more for
yachting than for golf, and would
much rather spend his Saturdays and
Sundays on the sound, she was sure,
il it wasn't for-for her. She really
ought to be nice to him; he deserved
it, only Oh, dear, it was such fun
to tease him.
Shall We start back?" she asked.
His frowns vanished az sight OF
her smile You haven't answered
| me yet" he reminded.
Answered you-what?" she asked,
looking away.
whether you'll marry me-
Jack" she said, despairingly, 'how
many times is this?'
-Four"
"Only four! 1t seems as though
you'd been proposing to me ever since
l knew you-and that's six years."
And I'm going to keep on propos
ing he said doggedly. You refused
three times, but to-day you're going
to say Yes aren't your he begged
She made no answer for a moment
but looked thoughtfully down at the
sun fecked river at the foot of the
green slope upon which they sat.
your proposals are so dreadfully
matter of fact" she said, presently
Her tone sounded aggrieved.
But you know l love you, Grace,
he said, earnestly. You surely haven't
any doubt Of that. l dare say In
pretty much of a duffer at making
| love, just as l am at playing golf, but
| but Oh, hang it all, dear, Id dc
anything in the world for you!'
Il wonder if you would?' she asked
musingly.
TRY me, then
She shook her head doubtingly. 81
I set you very, very difficult task
just like the princesses in the OLE
fairy tales used to do. and told yol
that if you performed it I woult
marry you, would you do it?'
I'D make a stab at it,, he answer
ed, grimly.
But if it was-was-oh, almost i'm
possible?'
IF you said it had to be done befor
you'd marry me, yes. It couldn't b
much harder than waiting"
Her eyes dropped, and little blusl
spread over her cheeks. I'll take yo
at your word" she said. hurriedly
Help me up, Jack
He obeyed, and waited while sh
shook her white skirt. She pointed t
the bag which they shared betwee
them, and turned toward the tree. H
followed, looking at her Questioningly
She was smiling gaily; trifle cruelty
too, he thought.
''Well?" he asked.
'Well, coming out beat, didn't
Now well start over, Jack, and pla
in
*:Well?" he asked again, beginnin
to look worried.
If you win, Jack, I'll marry you
if you lose, you're not to propose t
me again-for a year, at least"
'You mean it," he asked, ,gravely.
"Of course. You said you'd do any
thing to win me. What-what are 70
doing:~
Getting ready" He had taken O
his stock, and was stufing it into tn
pocket of the bag. THAT thing boil
ers me. 1 haven't ghost of a SHOW
I SUPPOSE. but I'd try a harder thin