The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-07-19

house, town house, trips to Europe,
diamonds-O Lord?" Marston groaned
as lie finished the catalogue.
NO" She turned from him to a con.
temptation of the scenery, and for u
time they rode in silence, passing be-
yond the long line of palms to the Or
ange groves-brilliant stretches Of yell
low and green that filled the car with
the fragrance of wedding bouquets.
Suddenly Marston flung out, what
was it that kept you from turning him
down positively, Helen"
She leaned forward and spoke with
conviction.
II might do worse than marry Deer
ing"
"a pork packer"
cts better to marry a pork packer
than to have nothing to pack,' she in
formed him.
Marston fixed her with a stern eye.
II tell you right now, Helen," he
said, "that I won't run this race in
competition with Deering. I don't trot
in the same class. You can give him
up or give me up"
Helen reached over and touched the
electric bell. "Will yon bring me some
telegraph blanks? she said to the por-
ter when he came.
"And now will you lend me a pen
cil?' she asked Marston as she fiut-
tered the leaves Of the yellow pad.
"What are you going to do?" Marston
questioned as he handed it to her.
Il am going to telegraph to Deering,"
she said. II told him that 1 would
say yes or mo- by telegraph"
Marston went white.
Don't do anything rash, Helen,'' he
warned.
II shall do as I please" said Miss
Carstairs, and he leaned back and
snapped out, "Oh, of course"
She sat with the pencil poised. 81
wish you'd toss a penny for me-" she
said at last. "Heads 1 do it-tails I
don't"
II will do nothing of the kind,
ooh, we'll, DON'T" She scrubbed a
hasty word and reached for the bell.
But Marston stopped her. "What have
you written?" he demanded sternly.
The other passengers were growing
speculative as to the actions of the
handsome young couple. Helen, sud-
denly conscious Of their observation,
commanded:
"Go up there and get me one of my
boxes Of candy and some fruit. People
will think you are proposing to me-"
81 am. Will you marry me, Helen?'
"Not until you get my candy"
He came back, staggering under
behring's hamper, and passed the por-
ter going out, with a telegraph blank
in his hand.
Marston dropped the hamper on the
seat in front of Miss Carstairs and
hurried after the porter.
And then Helen waited A half hour
observation-disclosures She grew wor-
ried. Did he care enough to hurt him
self in my way? 1t wasn't like Rich
ard to kill himself for disappointed
love.
She rose and went through the train.
The eyes of the other passengers fol
lowed her. She walked with ease and
lightness, and from the topmost wave
of her brown hair to the tip of her tan
boots she was absolutely correct, mod
ish, beautiful.
She found Marston on the observa-
ton platform, with his moody eyes
fixed on the shining rails that seemed
to slip from beneath the train to end
in the sunset.
AS she came up behind him she saw
something in his face that touched her
with tenderness. She dropped her
hands on his shoulders. ooh, little
bad boy" she said, "you read the tele-
grant"
"Don't joke" he said hoarsely. II
am punished enough" q
eff you had not been $3.50 imperti-
nent," Miss Carstairs Informed him, II
should have told you before that 1
promised Deering to wire whether
had decided toto marry you, not
whether I was going to marry him."
YMarston gaZed at her in a dazed way.
''Then your yes meant
"That I am going to marry you, little
bad boy" said Miss Carstairs coolly.
A Theological Curiosity.
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