The Winslow mail., 1910-03-05

&'xS4E1- ask ner 10 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 mischiev-
ously 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. 'T am glad you over
heard what | said to your COUSIN" he
replied. Now you are prepared for
the inevitable"
That was year ago, and the inevi
table, in the shape of a proposal of
marriag ge from Bobby had not coue.
lie knew he would become engaged
TO her eventually, but for the time be-
ing 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 went
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 leisure
ly 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
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
introduced any further. He remained
beside the cream lace gown for the
rest of tie evening.
You had every appearance Of lil1.
ing It," said Pobby in a rage as he
was taking Beth home.
Il did ike it," she replied 'T liked
1t very much. 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 leisureIy
evenings at home with his pipe In
fact. the eastern man gave Bobby
what is sometimes called a run for
his Ioney.
g: am glad he's gone" acknowl-
edged Bobby, one evening about a
week after the eastern man had de-
parted.
Are you?" said Beth softly. Then
] am glad too"
But Bobby did not take warning
from the eastern man. When Beth
said that soft little: Then | 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
i'gs when she stayed at home, to be
her constant escort when she went
out. to give the world to understand
that she was his property-to be very
comfortable. in a word with the idea
OF eventually asking her to marry
him.
Bobby took fishing trip For six
weeks he fshed. He did not write TO
neth very often; it was too hard to
write often when one was roughing it.
Il should have to write her every
day if we were engaged" thought
Eobhy.
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
PObby's return he rushed up Beths
front steps. He wanted to seq her
very badly. lie had been gone for six
weeks
Beth's mother was sitting alone on
the porch.
How is Beth?" eagerly asked Bob
by And where is she?"
She was married last night" said
Beth's mother, quietly. They left on
q late train. They are going abroad
for their honeymoon"
Married" exclaimed Bobby, duly
Married"
1T was all very sudden Beth met
him the week you left. He was ex-
ceedingly eager. Think Of it, Mar
ried six weeks after they first saw
each >other!'
Tears stood in Beth's 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
che word TO himself
Fool" said Bobby.
He was feeling very wretched.-Ch..
cago Daily News.