Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-27


Sheldon's hand and retired to the bar.
there to indulge in a glass of beer.
The dinner rush was over. and he was
certain that no one would come now
until after the theaters let out.
Meanwhile the two young people at
the table would surely chat for half an
hour or so. which time Alphonse might
spend with profit in discussing with
the fat bartender certain nice points
in the mixing of cocktails.
Meanwhile his two patrons slipped
their coffee. and Sheldon lit the cigar
that Alphonse had brought. When he
dined alone the cigar came from the
corner box en- the five cent end, but
when the young lady came Alphonse
always brought a perfecto from the
box in the ice chest with an elaborate
ly casual THE usual, monsieur"
This was intended to impress the
guest with the belief that Sheldon ha-
bitually smoked fat perfectos with
red ard gold sashes. Tonight Al
phonse's elaborate politeness was ig-
norcd by the usually genial sheldon,
"Now fol! the news" he began as the
waiter headed for the bar II couldn't
wait fer Saturday to tell you, though
It is only two days OF"
"Isn't it f,inny that we always fall
back on Saturday night:" commented
Bess. Il don't know when we have
been out to dinner in the middle of
the week.
Never. / guess" agreed Sheldon.
You see, Saturday is a sort of Holt
day. get my salary, and you get your
check. from the publishers, and we're
both happy and content. even IL not in
agreement
1--WE would be in agreement if you
would only stop considering a proposal
us an essential feature of the Satur-
day celebration" reminded Bess, with
show OF severity. You must go and
spoil it all by proposing, Fred, when
I've told you long ago that to marry
would spoil my career. l am making
Il little name for myself in the art
world, and / can't keep house and
paint too"
"And I've told YOU" retorted Fred,
that / would not stop asking you to
marry me until you said Yes ] guess
I've proposed to you sixty times in
| the last sixty weeks, Bess, and Pm
good.for sixty times sixty if l have to
hold out that long"
Ibid you ask me out to dinner to
propose to me?' demanded Bess.
Not primarily" he admitted. What
| l wanted to tell you was that my big
| chance has come at last. Benny Groll
| has made good contract, and he
| needs a man to put little money and
n lot of time into the business. | have
more experience than money, but Ben
wants me, and he'll give me a half in
| terest il I'll come in. It's what I've
been working and waiting for eyer
since / came to town, Bess, and this
Is to celebrate my good luck.p
A slender hand was stretched across
the table and grasped his own.
Dear boy, 1 am so glad" she said
sincerely You have worked hard,
and you are entitled to your reward"
Which Is why ! am going to ask
for it." retorted Sheldon. Il am go
ing to break my. usual custom and
il propose ON Thursday instead of Satur.
day, Bess. I want you to work for
dear. 1t VIII be pretty hard camping
out with the construction gang and
working on the Job with the field
corps. ! want to come back to camp
every night and feel that have done
another good days work for you"
II Work, like virtue, should be III
own reward paraphrased Bess. Shell
don shook his head impatiently.
/ II know all that he said, .but that
sounds better than it works out.
/ want to feel that when the job Is
done and GroIl & Sheldon become Q
iirm Of importance Mrs. Sheldon 4
proud Of what her husband has done'
/ II shall always be proud of what
Jon do, Fred reminded Bess. eve
two are the only ones from the old