St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-10-30
TAKING HIS
TIME

Bobby knew he would marry Beth
eventually. He had known It for a
year-ever since that night Beth I'M
expectedly passed through the door
way where he was lazily leaning, wait
Ing for something interesting to hap
pen.
who is she?" asked Bobby, sud-
denly alert.
"My cousin Beth" said the hostess.
Introduce me at once" said Bobby.
~ want to ask her to marry me"
The hostess laughed. She was used
TO Bobby's extraVagances.
Bobby met Beth later in the even
ing. Her eyes shone on him mis-
chievously and her mouth curved as If
she expected to laugh at any moment.
Are you going to ask me to marry
you at once?' she inquired of him
sweetly.
Bobby smiled. 81 am glad you over
heard what l said to your cousin" he
replied. Now you are prepared for
the inevitable"
That was a year ago and the in
eyitable, in the shape of a proposal of
marriage from Bobby, had not come.
He knew he would become engaged to
her eventually, but for the time being
things were very comfortable just as
they were.
He monopolized ,Beth's evenings
when she stayed at home. He was
her constant escort when she was
out. He felt all the satisfaction of
proprietorship. Still he was not bound.
He could come and go as he pleased.
He took time for his club. He could
pass an occasional 1eisurely evening
at home with his pipe.
One night, however, he met with re
verses. Beth wore a cream lace gown
that night and-was ravishing. They
had been invited to meet an eastern
man who was being introduced to a
good many persons. That is to say,
he was introduced until he met the
cream lace gown containing Beth.
Then he ~courteously declined to be in
troduced any further. He remained
beside the crea lace gown for the
rest Of the evening.
"You had every appearance of liking
It" said Bobby in a rage as he was
taking Beth home.
81 did like it very much. I have
asked him to come to see me"
For some time after that Bobby's
club knew him not. Until the eastern
man departed he passed no leisurely
evenings at home with his pipe. In
fact, the eastern man gave Bobby
what is sometimes called a run for
his money.
Il am glad he's gone" acknowledged
Bobby, one evening about a week after
the eastern man had departed.
"Are your" said Beth softly. "Then
/ am glad too"
But Bobby did not take warning
from the eastern man. When Beth
said that soft little "Then I am glad,
too" he did not ask her to marry him
and save him further alarms. He only
relaxed, with great tranquility of soul
and continued to monopolize her even
ings when she stayed at home. to be
her constant escort when she went
out, to give the world to understand
that she vas his property-to be very
comfortable, Ia a word, with the idea
Of eventually asking her to marry him.
Bobby took a fishing trip. For six
weeks he fshed. He did not write
to Beth very often; it was too hard to
write when n was roughing it.
Il should have to write her every
day If we were engaged" thought
Bobby.
He sent her his biggest catch, how.
ever, and felt considerable surprise
and some Resentment when she did
not write enthusiastically to thank
him.
At eight o'clock the first night after
Bobby's return he rushed up Beth's
front steps. He wanted to see hep
very badly. He had been gone sig
weeks.
Beth's mother was sitting alone ON
The porch.
How is Beth3" eagerly asked Bob
By. and where Is she?'
"sne was married last night" said
Bethg mother, quietly. 'They left on
. late train. They are going abroad
fsr their honeymoon"
"Marriedl" exclaimed Bobby duly.
"MaYriedS"
TT was all very sudden. Beth met
him the week you left He was ex-
ceedingly eager. Think OF it! Mar
ied six weeks after they first saw
each other
Tears stood in Beth'a mothers eyes.
She was not thinking of Bobby. She
was wishing that daughters did not
have to grow up and get married.
Alone in his room that night Bobby
smoked long and hard. He thought of
many things. When he finally shook
the last ashes out Of his pipe he said
Werd to himself.
"Fool!" said Bobby.
He was feeling very wretched.-Cht.
eago Daily News.
Not Qualified.
The two men were getting warw4