The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-03-04
EIISPOCKET'
PIECE
BY OSCAR cox

=
"Why shouldn't n"
why should you? If you don't want
me what interest am to you?'
Girls like TO get propositions of mar
rage. and it hatters their amor pro-
pre-"
But | should think that five PROPOSE
tons from one man would count only
as one proposition"
For my part have enjoyed the fifth
as much as the first"
II don't know whetherto crafty your
penclant for proposals further or say
goodby forever"
The word forever" was pronounced
very seriously. She heaved an involun-
tary sigh.
81 believe III toss up for it," he said.
For what?'
whether + make you one more pro-
posal or not"
You might better toss up whether |
give you a definite reply to those you
have already made"
"Oh. your answers, then. have been
indefnite?"
There was no reply. Silence gives
consent.
since you are undecided as to what
you will do with my proposals, suppose
you toss up whether or no you shall
marry me-"
lie took a silver half dollar from his
pocket TITS a Columbian piece" he
said. issued at the time of the Column
bian worlds fair at Chicago | would
not part with it for farm. / keep 1t
for pocket piece"
Let me see it,"
He sat down by her, and they looked
at it together. In order to see its
workmanship the more clearly they
We're obliged to put their heads very
close together. so near that few
strands Of her fluffy hair tickled his
cheek
what a funny looking shipv' she
said. "And the two baseballs under
it-what do they mean, | wonderY' -
She referred TO the twin worlds on
the coin.
They're not baseballs; they're crick
ct balls. They signify that Columbus
bowled out all the other navigators
who ever lived"
whats the fourteen on the left side
Of the balls mean?"
That's the age Columbus was when
he was born"
Don't be silly"
Fact 1t means that he was as
smart when he was born as most boys
are when they are fourteen years old"
rs that really SOP" looking up with
her innocent eyes.
Certainly"
whats the ninety-two on the other
side stand for?"
That's the age Columbus was when
he died"
81 didn't know he lived to be so old"
HE died of the Group finally. You
see, having been born at fourteen, he
hadn't had any children's diseases.
The first one that got him carried him
off"
Now you're talking silly again."
Meanwhile his arm had fallen on her
waist. She turned the coin over, ex-
hibiting the great navigator's head.
who's that?" she asked.
That's Ferdinand. the king of SPAIN
who furnished the funds for the Amer
lean trip"
II should think they would have
put Columbus head on it,"
well, are you ready for the toss?"
She sighed. and there was a far dis
tant look in her fawnlike eyes.
"If the ship and the cricket balls |
come up" he continued, I'm refused |
for good and all. If Ferdinand's head
is up you will he mine"
He tossed the coin. and it came down
heads up.
give won" he said exultingly.
"Not Mt ALL
You agreed that If Ferdinand's head
came NJ you would marry me-"
That isn't Ferdinand's head. It's |
Columbus"
"Humph. You're smarter than
thought you were. Must toss again"
To decide anything you'll have to-"
(which shall it be this timer
IF it's the ship and the cricket balls
it's Yes"
Thank you, no. I'm not to be caught
that way again.
Didn't you say that's what they
were and that Columbus was fourteen
years old when he was''-
a kiss stopped all that.
You toss 1t, and before it comes
down I'll choose" she said,
."All right. No q,ubbling this time"
"TosS it to the ceiling"
II wouldn't lose it for anything"
He made feint TO send it up. and
she cried "Bothr' He sent 1t to the
ceiling. then caught her In his arms.
and there was a storm of kisses.
The next day he looked for his pocket
piece. It was not to be found. The
cook few days later sported new
collar. She said she bought it with
coin she found under the sofa.
Ten years later while looking over a
collection of coins be was making he
remarked to his wife:
II wonder what induced me to throw
that Columbian half dollar so high that
when it came down couldn't find it."
"You didn't look for it."
"Didu't 7? Why?"
she looked OF him with the same
wondering eyes as when he had told