Holbrook argus., 1910-04-05

\%N.A ask her to 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 q am glad you over. heard what I said to your cousin" he replied. Now you are prepared for the inevitable"
 That was a year ago. and the inevi table, in the shape of a proposal oi marriage from Bobby had not core Ite 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 a 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 tAe evening
 You had every appearance of lik. ing it." said Bobby in rage as he was taking Beth home.
 T did like it. she replied q 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 leisurely evenings at home with his pipe. In fact, the eastern man gave Bobby what is sometimes called a run for his iIoney.
 ''I 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 I am glad too.'
 But Bobby did not take warning from the eastern man. When Beth said that soft little: Then I 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 ings 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 fished. He did not write to Beth very often; it was too hard to write often when one was roughing it.
 q should have to write her every day if we were engaged" thought Bobby.
 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 Bobby's return he rushed up Beth's rront steps. He wanted to see her ha1 fr- eix 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 a late train. They are going abroad for their honeymoon"
 "Married!" exclaimed Bobby. duly. "Married."
 Tt 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 one word to himself.
 "Fooli" said Bobby. He was feeling very wretched-Chi. cago Daily News.