The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-09-03
,sasssasx..n..ny.ye..ny ay.y.,nr.yEy, sr.ags
When ne Proposed



me 10 entertain any sort OF hope.
said Nicodemus AS a matter Of tact
haven't any hope Not The fainiest.
I'm just telling you about II 10 re-
lieve my mind Kind Of had TO- don't
you know You know how IL Is
don't mean In a case of this kind. OF
course. you being a girl. but you
know how II Is when you have 10 tell
something"
Being "A girl. Of course do" re-
piled Margherita Well. hope your
mind feels al ease low
Nicodemus sighed dolefully Il sup
pose IL does" ne said
You hadn't finished what you were
going To say though. had you?" asked
Margherita.
II think so?" said Nicodemus
Il just thought I'd tell you. anyway
Tell me what" asked the young
woman Il haven't heard anything
yet except that you don't entertain
am hope. You are really a little in
coherent this afternoon. Mr.. Swank-
ey."
Nicodemus groaned Il suppose /
could get that name changed" he
said. I'm told that II you apply to
the State legislature they'll 40 II for
YOU The only thing is that il would
seem a little rough on the old gentle
man. I'm pretty sure he wouldn't
| like H. Mother wouldn't. either You
see the position I'm in. don't YOU |
don't suppose IL would make an diff
| ference 10 YOU. though. would it, IL
| | picked up something like Percival
/ De anCpy for instance -
Margherita shook her pretty head
I'm sure that cant guess what you
mean" she said.
"Oh. know it wouldn't said Nico-
demus. Il am sure that il isn't worth
while explaining"
You must know best" said Mar
gherita But | should like TO know
what you were going 10 say in the
first place. You seemed 10 be feeling
little discouraged about something
Then you go wandering OF about
| State legislatures and nonsense. OF
course | shouldn't want 70 force your
confidence"
do YOU mean TO say You don't
know that | was proposing 20 you2
asked Nicodemus with wide-open
/ eyes.
Margherita leaned back in her chair
and laughed until the tears brimmed
over and ran down her cheek.
Nicodemus bit his thumb nail and
then stared al the gas log until the
girl dabbel her face with her hand
kerchief and begged his pardon
It's al right" he said 4 expected
something OF the sort. You'd natur
ally take that view OF IT,"
But il wasn't any view Of g." pro
tested Marrherita. IN was the funny
way you did il. Nobody could have
guessed. I'm sure What was that you
said about the State legislature"
We'll. as say. don't think II
would make any difference" explain
ed Nicodemus. still. even II were
suitable in other respects. you
wouldn't want 10 be called Mrs Nico
demus Swankey No girl would. o.
course. And then Mrs Micodemui
PTkington Swankey would be still
worse"
TITS a matter Of taste. OF course.
said Mareherita Personally,
wouldn't consider the name Of an
particular objection. It's rather al
interesting name in fact. Everybod,
hasn't one exactly like H. III there
was nothing worse than the name
Margherita blushed but Nicodemui
was still contemplating the gas los
and did not notice H.
We'll. you won't let this make al,
difference. will you?" he asked pres
entity After all il was more 10 &c
it of my mind than anything else
III do my best to converse on agree
able subjects after this"
Then II wasn't because Won renll,
wanted TO propose 20 me- said Mar
cherita. 1T was weighing on You
mind as a disagreeabie duty TO he per
formed and Won wanted 70 have dom
with It, How very peculiar, Really
though. shouldn't have fclt you wcr
neglecting me-"
You don't understand sail
Nicodemus. Il assure you that I've no
had nights rest for a month. think
ing about YOU I've lost my appetite
entirely Everybody notices ii. In
really awfully in love with you
never did get into such a condition
hefore-not so bad mean-so
makes IL all the harder"
Makes what all the harder" aske
Margherita.
Being refused" said Nicoiemus
Still I don't want you 10 feel ba
about it," he went on. I'm prohahf
get over il very soon do some
times YOU know generally. as 4 mat
ter Of fact. And you aren't a BIT q
blame You've been as sweet as coui
be 10 me and you've never given m
any reason-any announcement q
that way. YOU know I've known girl
to encourage me"
Shameful" commented Narcher
tia How many girls do YOU make
practice OF proposing TO in the cours
Of a month. MIR Swaukeyg"
Il have proposed 10 as many a
three" confessed Nicodemus.
never expect 70 propose to another
though You're the last"
II hope so" said Marsheriia. III
try to see 10 IL that you don't"