The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-04

he had meant 10 say, yet as he mopped T
his brow 1t vaguely occurred TO him +
that perhaps IN buggy it would be |
easier.
But even there, with Arabella by his |
side, words failed him.
~Will you-win YOU he began.
"Will I what. Ellery?" said Arabella
very sweetly and patiently.
"Will you-have an ice cream soda at
the drug store on the way backT'
Certainly" answered Arabella, q
shade OF disappointment in her voice.
She liked the broad shouldered, hon
est eyed young fellow more than she
admitted to any one save herself,
though she never had had SO bashful
sutton
And yet she knew Ellery was no cow
ard. His townsfolk had told her Of the
courageous things he had done-how
he had stopped a runaway horse at the
risk Of his own life and how one bit
ter winter day he had crawled to the
edge of an Ice hole in the river to res
cue the eldest Hardy child who chung
there, half frozen.
AS for Ellery, he felt that time was
passing and he was no nearer the goal.
Its terrible" he moaned. Ito think
I've gone this far and can't go fur
Their! Matters were getting desperate.
Better hurry up Elleryr his friends
urged him. There's fellow in her own
town wants her just as much as you
do!
| Advice came thick and fast.
why don't you write it?' drawled
one waggish acquaintance. "And then
she'll be sure to get it,
Modern invention has done good
many things chuckled old Jonas Fert.
ITS given US telegraphs and motor
boats and automobiles, but there's one
thing it hasn't done. 1t hasn't made it
any easier to pop the question. That's
just as hard today as 1t was a hundred
years agop'
Ellery groaned Then his face bright
ened. Modern inventions" he NUT
tered to modern inventions!
BY Jimmy, I've solved the problem!
I'll win her YETI
!
ed 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 i'm
probable.
Late that night Ellery tiptoed
through the Hardys' orchard, holding
tight to a mysterious funnel shaped
continuance, on which he had banked
all his hopes. The sleeping Arabella
was wakened by q voice beneath her
window. Slipping on q kimono, she
leaned out to listen.
"Ellery," she whispered, sis that
your"
From the shadows beneath came bis
answering tones, swift and unwaver-
ing
"Arabella, I love you. 1 love you
more than any one in the world. I'm
not worthy of you, know, but I'll dc
everything I can to make you happy
VIII you marry me, Arabella?"
Eyes, Ellery," said Arabella prompt
, ly. but what's the matter with your
voice? Mercy!' she calculated as
J there came a sudden whir and click
''You aren't choking, are you?"
l eff I am, It's with happiness" sale
her rapturous sutton, coming quickly
t into view.
! THAT sounds more natural" saiC
! Arabella. There was a whispered col
! loquy, and later, in a happy daze, hi
: photograph Rugged securely under hi
arm, they stumbled along the orchard
t path. She'll never know 1t was don,
1 by machine" he murmured, land sine,
: she loves me it's all right anyhow
a though 1 suppose that when 1 ge
: home I'd better destroy the record o
twill give me clean away"
e At the edge Of the road a familia
4 figure doomed in the darkness. ''Tha
n you, Ellery?" said Jonas Fert. 1T
g too black to see a foot in front Of me-
4 And they pretend to light this place b
J. electricity! I tell you modern inver
: tons
q Modern Inventions" said the happ
Ellery, "are the greatest things In tn
vorIdVS