Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1908-06-25

I&I reach the point in
E &C uaintanceship
El where you begin
WI saving, Yes, in.
freddy" deed and fishing
around to find out whether you shall
make hit talking books, theaters or
machinery to a new man. At the same
stage out here he is telling you about
the several girls who have individually
wrecked his life and broken his heart
and how glad he is you are so differ
emit
In few more evenings you have
forgotten each others last names and
he is reading you letter from his sis
ter with news about all the home folks
and you are advising him about the
color of his neckties
This little system explains why
Reddington Smith and CHANGED to be
sitting in a secluded corner while he
smoked a cigar and finished lecturins
me-
Mind, I'm not saying a word
against White he ended, only II
wouldn't talk with him much, if | were
you
Strange l murmured. That's
Just what he told me about you this
afternoon. Why, really, l had no idea
you two We're so very much alike
I'm no more like White than you
are!' sputtered Reddington. 4 think it
very inconsiderate of you the minute
my back is turned to go walking with
rly -,
i saw You when you came in. Such
upsetting little things are frightfully
bad for my weak heart, and | had al
ways thought you sympathetic Now,
the last girl who proposed to me
haven't done it yet l gently re-
minded him.
"'oh, but you WILL Reddington
said, amiably. They all do. It's the
custom nowadays. l hope you aren't
so old-fashioned as still to fancy thar
men do the heavy work in the pro
posal line. AS | was saying, the last
girl led me on to think that / was all
the solar system to her and then lust
as had begun to get reconciled to the
Idea OF seeing her across the breakfast
table every day in the year what did
she do but marry another man! Ii is
things like that which imbitter a fell
lows life!
Yet nothing could really quench
your sweetness of spirit, Reddy, | re-
minded him.
Look out he warned You'll be
doing it next! Say, 1 kind of wonder
how you would go at it. You see,
you're SO different
I suppose do have to practice on
some one l agreed. I tell you what
III propose to you if you'll agree to
refuse me. AS much as like you
couldn't stand any Joyful acceptance.
Only you must give me time
It's f1eeting, he protested. But
take all the time you want. When will
you? You haven't the nerve!p
The blow will fall when you least
expect it. told him.
dare you, he said If saw YES
and you back out III sue you for
breach OF promise!
1t might turn out worse even than
that for YOU | told him. 4 might lie
revengeful enough to marry you
ANY old time he said and then
| sighed retiectively. I wish you wculd.
| he added
'You are getting ahead Of your
! cue, ! reminded him. You can't do q
thing but sit patiently and wait for me
! to ask you. 1t is nothing short OF for
ward and presumptuous for a we'll
| Drought-up young man even to show
the GHOST Of an inclination before the
| girl has signitied her preference.
wish you would hurry up, he oh
| jected. 1t is cowardly to bluff!'
Now?' | asked, nodding toward
| group of persons who were approach
ing us.
Reddington glanced at them and
Strengthened up a trifie as he saw old
Mrs. Jones, who is the eagle eve of
the hotel; her side partner, Miss Lang,
and the fuffy-haired young person
with no rs in her vocabulary, whom
| Reddington has been striving to i'm
press of late. They stopped by us and
| smiled in kindly way at Redding
ton, who quailed at once.
You haven't answered me- 7 said
to him In distinct and feryent tones
| i was just asking
Reddington if he .SHWaNSgalSfa
would marry me, tSSSsSsss;I
! explained pleas EsS q
antly, but serious ~
| ly, to the waiting ~
s The 1lutfv-nairea sSaA
young person grew
wi d eyed and
b lus he'd. Mrs ".
Jones shifted sus- no,a NM
piciously for joke. 's.
Reddington mopped his brow.
Go away, he said, weakly. Go
away.
Not just yet, 1 said You dared
mo N do and bapo a,,, ,,,;.,..---.