Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-05-09

we left the club house" he answered,
ruefully.
She laughed Jack, what q miser-
able time you've been having! sup
pose 1t explains your playing, which
is-well, even worse than usual"
well, IL all you want in 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 angrily
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, Grace?"
'N-no, not exactly" she answered,
slowly.
He grunted. Sounds as though
you wish he had!"
Jack, you're very nasty" she said,
severely.
OF course one couldn't be angry at
Jack, though there was no harm in
seeming so sometimes; he had such
a nasty temper and was $3.50 I'M
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
too bad he was such a duffer at golf,
though of course she didn't care about
that so much as she pretended to;
Jack was so 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 1t was nice Of
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.
ho1I cfo hnn oh noly I'D
His frowns vanished at 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."
But you know l love you, Grace
he said, earnestly. you surely haven't
any doubt of that. / dare say I'm
pretty much of duffer at making
love. just as / am at playing golf, but
vi, NUNS ~ Oil, uNoi, VI Wv
anything in the world for you!"
81 wonder If you would?" she asked,
musingly.
TRY me, then"
She shook her head doubtingly. IF
l set you very, very difficult task,
just like the princesses in the old
fairy tales used to do, and told you
that if you performed it I would
marry you, would you do it?"
I'D make 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 before
you'd marry me, yes. 1t couldn't be
much harder than waiting"
Her eyes dropped, and a little blush
spread over her cheeks. "Tll take you
at your word" she said, hurriedly
Help me up, Jack"
He obeyed, and waited while she
shook her white skirt. She pointed to
the bag which they shared between
them, and turned toward the tree. He
followed, looking at her questioningly.
She was smiling gaily; trifie cruelty,
too he thought
"Well?" he asked.
We'll, coming out / beat, didn't 1?
Now Wen start over, Jack, and play
in"
"Well?" he asked again, beginning
to look worried.
IF you win, Jack, III marry you;
if you lose, you're not to propose to
me again-for year, at least"
you mean it?" he asked, gravely.
"Of course. You said you'd do any
thing to win me. What-what are you
doing?"
Getting ready" He had taken off
his stock, and was stuffing it into the
pocket of the bag, That thing both.
ers me. l haven't a ghost of a show,
suppose, but I'd try a harder thing
than this for the same stake, Grace,
It's your honor"
She hadn't expected him to agree,