The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-09-02
G7~G7%T@S

day afternoon. Il am not going 20
Dulcie's. I've done everything ex-
cept put the proposal in plain words,
and she has taken pains to show me
at every turn that my case is hope
less. There's no use causing her the
distress of actually refusing me. The
thing for me to do is to keep away.
Look how she acted when I was
Dragging up Alice Harvey's domestic
ability the other night-testing her
to see if she'd care. She chimed in
as if it were a positive relief 10 nave
me notice some other girl. All"
A CLEAN lighted his eyes as he
glanced at a window in Dulcie's
house, but his face hardened as he
tramped on.
What could a merry little creature
like Dulcie want with a big, clumsy
fellow like me, anyway" he demand
ed of himself. That dream is over.
I'm not going in"
Having arrived at this decision, he
turned and mounted the steps to Dull
cie's house.
It seemed an unreasonable time
before the door opened. Then, to his
Intense surprise, appeared Dulcie her.
self, covered from neck to toe by a
long-sleeved pink bingham apron.
She seemed to be out of breath, and
there was an ~ostentatious trail of
-four across one of her pink cheeks.
"Oh, how do you do?" she cried.
Excuse my appearance, please. It's
Thursday, you know, and the maid IS
out. Just step into the library, and
I'll go and make myself presentable."
"Presentable!" Murdoch blocked
her way and smiled down at her with
an elated expression hard to trans
late. You never looked so charm
ing to me in your life before. What's
in the oven, anyway? Bread or pies?
Let me come out into the kitchen and
help"
Dulcie gave a cry that suggested
dismay. "Oh, no, l couldn't! That
is, everything's done. I'll just go
and"
"No, don't go! And don't take off
that apron, please. l had decided
never to say this, but"
Then, without waiting to take the
chair she offered him, he manfully
asked the great question.
From the opposite side of the IL
brary table Dulcie listened, with eyes
downcast. You had decided never
to say this" she murmured without
looking up. What changed you?"
A twinkle relieved Murdoch's SOL
emnity. That kitchen apron and
the -four on your cheek" he con-
fessed.
Dulcie's eyes blazed at him.
There! Just what I've thought since
you talked about Alice Harvey the
other night. Your idea of getting
married is to c a cook"
"My idea of getting married" Muir
doch returned stoutly, lis to secure
you"
Suiting the action to the word, he
started around the library table, but
Dulcie sided swiftly along and the
barrier still interviewed.
Wait! Listen to me-" she COM
manded imperiously. You're making
q mistake. l don't know how to cook.
I've been too busy with my music.
] began to suspect, from the queer
way you acted, that you were afraid
I hadn't all the necessary qualifca-
lions for a wife and l ran and put on
fhic anrnn and 1ohhoI thic fnrr m
M cheek after 1 g.. you coming just
to-to see if"
ITO land me for the fun of throw
ing ME back into the water" Murdoch
finished for her with sudden grim
ness.
mo! Not that at all! Oh, dear,
! can't explain just why l did it.
Wait! Wait. Didn't you hear me
tell YOU that I cant cook?" she pro-
tested, wondering what in the world
had suddenly become of the large
library table.
who cares if you can't?" was his
blissful nswer
But you said it was the kitchen
apron made you ask me-"
Good reason why. Didn't I see
you at the window in that light blue
silk thing as came up the steps and
when you opened the door all in this
other rig didn't it give me courage to
think-What I'd never dared think
before-that you cared what
thought? 1t wasn't the cooking that
made me speak-it was the caring"
Il think l can learn" DuiGia whis-
pered.
ITO care?"
"No, to cook"
Hang the cooking, Id live on
vanished chicken from a d~eIicatessen
shop all my life if l could look up at
you 0 and then while l carved it.
Necessary qualifications Great
Scott, Dulcie, Does a mai stop to
ask an angel whether she can make
buckwheat cakes? Does he
"Oh, let me go! Somebody's com
ing in" Dulcie cried, as a latch key
clicked. Help me off with this
apron, quick! l neve could explain
it so that any one else would under.
stand. Tuck it under that pillow
There, And the flour on my face?'
UsTb,t'cp oar1y all ruhbed off /" MIR.