Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-05-07
Rut every man has his chance.

But every man has his chance.
Suddenly he saw Rose make q dash
across the garden toward the cherry
trees. Her cat had caught a robin.
Here. Dickl Here, here, here!' she
was calling excitedly, He leaped from
the porch and together they succeeded
in cornering the cat in a nook beyond
h trees. IT made an attempt to get
through the chicken-wire fence, then
dropped the bird and dashed by them.
The robin lay still a moment, but as
they approached, it huttered into a
shrub.
"Oh, do you think it's hurt?" she
asked eagerly.
Not a bit. It's only scared" he re-
sponded with conviction.
But just see how the poor little
thing shakes. Just see how he's
rumpled up" There was a pathetic
culver In her voice.
He's only frightened, that's all.
He's all right. But Rose"-he changed
his tone abruptly want you to mar
ry me. Will you. Rose?" She gave
him n swift, startled look, then sided
hastily toward the shrub.
"Oh, see, his wing must be broken.
Just see how it hangs down. Oh, see!'
mo, 1t isn't. See him fly? But viii
you marry me, Rose? Say, VIII your
He came close 10 her. There was a
tragic, do-or-die look in his face.
"Oh, my dishes IL get stone-cold, |
must go right back" She started Off
d~ecisively, but he kept close to her al
most desperately.
but your answer-will you marry
me?"
why, what a question:
Yes or no, will you marry me?" he
repeated ~doggedly.
NO"
You don't mean II, Rose. o can't.
Say, Will you, Rose? You will, won't
your He came nearer. Somehow she
had no desire to laugh now; the affair
was becoming dangerous.
But why? why should / want to
marry anybody? She looked him full
In the eyes.
In the Dutch belt Of Pennsylvania
maldens are taught that their hearts
are shaped very much like a purse.
and that love awakes It's true ecstacy
only at the sight OF the substantial
things readily convertible at the county
bank. The rural swain, therefore, sell
dom advances the fiimsy logic, 81 love
you, and therefore you should wed me"
but he advances boldly with the more
convincing argument, II have so acres
and 81, 900 cash; is that not enough to
make you my wife," Thus Ii was that
Karl Keichline at the critical moment
began to argue.
II can make you happy, Rose, I
have"
Il am happy now. l don't ask to be
any happier"
Yes; but think what we can have.
Rose. Tn not o I'll build you u
house that IL peat anything in this
whole region, and you shall plan and
furnish 1t. And you shall have the
best horses hat money can buy, and
a stable for than, fhnffg r{pht I'm RI
date. / can afford it, Rose. Say, will
your"
i've got everything I want now. T
don't ask for another thing better"
But what about a few years from
You father and mother are get
ting old, Rose"
And what of that" She was look
ing at him sharply.
Il know-but, Rose, yOuIl need some
body 10 o after you
do / look as If | needed somebody
to look after me?" She stood very
straight and tall before MIN.
But you surely are not going TO live
all alone by yourself your whole life,
Rose?"
"Oh, possibly not I may marry some
body years n years from now" h
said 1t as If she We're yielding a great
point.
1T shan't change your life in the
least, Rose. You may be as free as
o are now-just as free, and ever
freer. But 1 want you, Rose: i love
you. / can't live without you. And
I want you now" He was looking into
her face with an eagerness that was
almost pathetic.
I'm sorry" she said, o little wave
Of pity somehow beginning to creep
over her tender heart. But you know
really cam marry anybody-not for
years and ears"
Perhaps I've been sudden Rose. T
won't press 1t just now. Til ask you
again next Sunday. You'll give me your
final answer then, Won't your"
I've answered you now"
mo, no. You don't mean that, really.
You'll think ii over inc give me the
final yes or no next Sunday. You win,
won't you, Rose?"
NO
Rose"
"A week is not a great WHILE" she
said evasively. An image of her father
a come before her-eager and plead
ing. She knew well that 1T was his
dearest wish To have the marriage at
once. He wanted Karl to help him with
the present springs work. The thing
was inevitable after all, and what was
the use? AS well him as any me-; yet
somehow h shrank. You may ask
me In a year-ive years." she added
quickly.
mo, no. / want you now. I'll make
II two weeks. / insist on two weeks"
You may ask me again on the first
day of June, IL you insist upon il. but
not one day earlier"
But, Rose"
Not q day earlier"
But that's six long weeks, Rose"
IF o object again, [ shall MAKE It
the first of August"
Very well. Then / agree; but,
Rose
tContinued Next Weekly