Mexico Missouri message., 1910-11-17

He knew that she could not hear
him in the midst OF that hideous din,
but as IL in mute testimony to his
words, she held up two small palms,
scratched and bleeding.
oh. my darlingl" In his pain and
regret the words slipped out unheed-
ed. Finding a handkerchief, he tore
1t In strips and awkwardly wound the
pieces about her hands Then, there
being no other way to secure the
bandages, he laid one palm upon the
other and held them SO. During this
| operation It was necessary for Miss
Ferris to sit up in the jolting, sway.
ing car unsupported, but when, upon
finishing the task, Cunningham again
| slipped his arm about her shoulders
and drew her head to it's former posi-
| ton, she made no resistance.
A wonderful idea occurred to him.
| A blazing, beautiful idea.
Sylvia" he stammered, as rapidly
as the beating of his heart would per-
NIT, there's a jolly good way out of
this for us If you-if you'll marry
me-" He trembled before his own
| audacity and rested his burning creek
an instant against the cool softness of
her hair, forgetting the road that re-
duced his words TO mere, huttering
] breaths.
| Sylvia lifted her head; Cunningham
saw her lips moving and bent till her
lashes swept his face, blt still he
doubted that he heard Alright.
/ 4. ~ II
repeated, finally making herself audi
BILE.
So shocked was Cum .ngham that
he had little breath with which to
sniff, There did seem 20 be an oder
now that It had come to notice
overpowering, but familiar
"Phosphate!" he shouted in answer,
relieving his discontinue by strength
of lung. IT'S fertilizer!"
Sylvia nodded and dipped her dainty
nose into the rose that decorated his
lapel Cunningham decided that con-
versation was out of the question, and
there was no use getting fretty about
it. The train would have to stop
some time. Meanwhile, with both
hands comfortably full, he mapped out
his course of procedure.
The train stopped sooner than he
had expected, but at a lonely water
tank without visible light or habita-
ton.
mo escape here" he reported, look
ing down the pebbly slope of an en-
bankment which fell away from the
door of their prison full thirty feet
"Oh, dear, that horrible odor," sigh
ed the girl.
Cunningham struck a match. The
car was empty but for themselves and
the smell of the fertilizer which en-
| Veloped the air like loathsome, suf-
locating blanket.
How can we ever explain?" she
lamented.
Cunningham saw his opening and
rushed in. There's only one thing
to do" he remarked in an deliberately
matter-of-fact tone, land that is to get
married.
''What?" Sylvia's voice rose to a
high note of establishment
rs 1t so distasteful to your" he
asked, affecting a GOODNESS he did not
feel. Then, reseating himself and TAX
ing the bandaged hands:
81 have been trying for two years
to muster the courage to propose to
you. You must have seen how hard
hit l am"
"You never said anything"
I'm saying it now; and-you--care
little, don't you, Sylvia? It's the
best way"
Sylvia neither answered nor shrank
from his embrace.
81 have no idea where this train is
taking u.s." he continued, but we shall
come to a town before long, that's GER
tain. Ministers and licenses are cas-
lily found. You have no parents to
consult, nor have I, and neither Of rs
are minor. After we're married we
will come back and tell Prexy all
about it. He'll stand for it, l think;
he's a fine fellow" he finished stoutly.
Sylvia began to cry, silently at first
then a little harder.
I'VE shall lose our diplomas, I Just
know" she sobbed, smuggling her
cheek against his vest pocket in a
rather comfortable manner, neverthe-
less.
what is a piece of old sheepskin,
anyway" he challenged, compared
with our having each other?"
II don't know, Mr.. Cunningham
very TREMENDOUSLY.
Call me Tom dear"
"Tom," more TREMENDOUSLY still
then, with nervous, giggle, dear"
The locomotive. having drunk its
I'LL, now pounded on with loud, tril
umphant toots and sonorous puffs Of
exultation. bearing its blissfui cargo
into the golden unknown.
His Cure.
Pitman--why don't Saunders sing
any more?
Horner-He listened to a solo he
had made on a photograph cylinder