The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1909-05-06

across the garden toward the cherry
trees. Her cat had caught a robin.
Here, Dick! Here, here, here!" she
was calling excitedly. He leaped from
the porch and together they succeeded
In cornering the cat in a nook beyond
the trees. 1t 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, 1t futtered into q
shrub.
"Oh, do you think it's hurt?" she
asked eagerly. W.
mot 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
CULVER in her voice.
He's only frightened, that's all.
He's all right. But Rose'-he changed
his tone abruptly-"I want you to mar
~ me. Will you, Rose?" She gave
him a swift, startled look, then sided
hastily toward the shrub.
on, see, his wing must be broken.
Just see how 1t hangs down. oh, see!'
mo, 1t isn't. See him fiy2 But will
you marry me, Rose? Say, will o %
He came close to her. There was a
tragic, do-or-die look I'm his face.
"oh, my dishes IL get stone-cold. I
must go right back" She started of
v ~ bhl lS CpI CIObC " IlCI al
most desperately.
But your answer-wm you marry
me?"
why, what a question:"
Yes or no.. will you marry me?' he
repeated d. ggedly,
NO"
You don't mean 1t. Rose. You can't.
Say, Will you, Rose? You will, won't
your Hs came nearer. Somehow she
had no desire to laugh now; the affair
was becoming dangerous.
But why? why should I want to
marry anybody? She looked him fun
In the eyes. .. b. ~. 3.
In the Dutch belt of Pennsylvania
maidens 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 1imsy logic, FL love
you, and therefore you should wed me-"
but he advances boldly with the more
convincing argument, II have so acres
and $1,000 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"
7 am happy now. I don't ask to be
any happier"
Yes; but think what we can have,
Rose. I'm not poor. I'll build you a
house that IL beat anything In this
whole region, and you shall plan and
furnish 1t. And you shall have the
best horses that money can buy, and
a stable for them that's right UP to
date. 1 car afford It, Rose. Say, will
your"
1--WE got everything I want now. I
don't ask for another thing better"
But what about a few years from
now? Your father and mother are get
ting old, Rose"
And what of THAR" She was ook-
ing at him sharply.
4 know--but, Rose, you'll need m
body to look after you"
do I look as If / needed sorr II" dy
to look after me?" She stocd very
straight and tall before him.
But you surely are not going to live
all alone by yourself your whole life,
Rose" $50.
"Oh, possibly not. I may marry some
body years and years from now" She
said 1t as If she were yielding a great
point,
TT shan't change your life in the
least, Rose. You may be as free as
you are now--just as free, and eve
freer. But / want you, Rose; I love
you. I can't live without you And
I want you now" He was looking into
her face with an eagerness that was
almost pathetic.
Tn sorry" she said, a little wave
Of pity somehow beginning to creep
over her tender heart. But you know
really I can't marry anybody-not for
years and years"
Perhaps I've been sudden Rose. I
won't press 1t Just now. I'll Isl you
again next Sunday. You'll give me your
final answer then, won't you?"
I've answered you now.
mo, no. You don't mean that, really.
You'll think 1t over and give me the
final yes or no next Sunday. You VIII,
won't you, Rose?"
NO"
"Rose!"
"A week Is not a great WHILE" she
said evasively. An image Of her father
had come before ~her-eager and plead
ing. She knew well hat II 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? Az well him as any one; yet
somehow she shrank. You may ask
me In a year-fve years." she added
quickly.
mo, no. I want you now. I'll make
It two weeks. 1 insist on two weeks"
you may ask me again on the first
day Of June, IL you insist Upon it, but
not one day earlier"
But Rose"
mot a day earlier"
But that's six long weeks, Rose"
IF you object again, 1 shall make IL
the first Of August"
VERY we'll. Then 1 agree; but,
~