The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1912-03-14

senior and of a domineering character.
Dick had fallen desperately in love
with Alice Wilson the year before
while Hal was in Europe, but Hal nao
suddenly returned three months ago
and, with his customary overbear1ng
manner, had hustled his cousin off the
field and Immediately laid open siege
to Alice's heart Dick, astonished and
quite difident in the presence or an
overpowering love. had allowed him.
self to be pushed aside until now he
found it almost impossible to regain
the ground he had lost.
Alice treated him with sweet friend
illness that was maddening as well as
disheartening All the sweet, gay in
timacy Of their friendship was gone.
He seemed to be numbered among a
host of unimportant admirers who
worshiped Alice from afar. while the
intrepid Hal Marcy stepped boldly
forward and openly admitted that
there was an understanding" between
Alice Wilson and himself. To all hints
and innuendoes the lovely Alice turned
the point Of her wit to excellent eff
feet.
Five weeks had elapsed since Dick
had ventured near Scarsdale, where
Alice lived. At his deliberately care
less remark that he thought he would
drive down that way his cousin had
been quick to sting him with the re-
mark that if he was going down to see
Miss Wilson his errand would be in
vain.
But Dick Corning's lips were set in
that obstinate curve that few had
ever seen and none had understood
because there had been so few things
in this world that he had had to fight
for. Most everything had come to
him easily, but now this greatest boon,
the love of good. fair woman. was to
be denied him. She was to be Halls,
and Hal was a bounder.
Dick was going to put the question
to her just the same. His attentions
to her had been so marked in the past
that he felt that he owed it to her to
ask the all important question. That
she would refuse him he had not the
slightest doubt. 1t would be done
gently, but convincingly, with perhaps
a hint at some cousinly relationship
in the future, after she should be mar
ried to Hal. He routed out a time
table. and. with one hand on the steer
ing wheel of the car, he studied the
trains from town and mentally COM
pared the running time with the de-
parture Of certain Pacific liners due to
sail from San Francisco in six days.
I'll get down there at 8, drink tea
at 4 and. if she is alone, ask her. 1t
will take her about ten minutes to turn
me down, including the cousinly advice
and all that. Then L can run back to
town by $50. catch the 7:1O for the
west and connect with the Kamkat-
scha at San Francisco on Saturday.
No wedding bells for you. Dicky. my
boy!'
His mind attuned to these gloomy re-
Elections and with a drab future care
fully outlined, Dick Corning was some
what taken aback at Alice Wilson's
greeting. She was a Dresden china
sort of beauty, all pink and white. with
soft blue eyes and hair the color of
ripe corn silk. She wore some little
soft. clinging gown of pale blue with a
pink rose tucked in her breast, and all
the pretty color faded from her cheeks
as her hand was lost in Dicks big,
warm grasp
where is Hal?" she asked, as she
sat down behind the tea table.
Dicks face clouded slightly. 81 sup
pose he will be down later l came by
myself. on my own Grand" he ended
gruf1y. He accepted a cup of tea and
dropped lump after lump Of sugar into
its pale depths before he realized what
he was doing.
ION your own errand?' repeated
Alice. fussing among the teacups.
eyes. a FOOLS Grand" returned Dick |
unhappily.
eff it is fools errand. why do you
Gomez" Alice's voice shook slightly and
her long lashes were laid against the
shell pink of her cheek.
Il had to--a fool and his errand are
soon parted" Dick grinned miserably
and replaced his untasted tea ON the
table. He leaned across the slender
legged table. menacing the fragile
china.
"Alicew he gasped.
"Well?" Her eyes were downcast. and
her fingers had ceased to futter. She
was very still and now very much
like a sweet. sad little Dresden china
shepherdess.
I've got to say it. and then I'm
going on trip around the world. I
love you. dear. l want to marry you
know you won't have me. but want
to give you the chance to say no."
stammered and stumbled unfortunate
Dick. saying more than he meant and
meaning more than he said
"Yes?' murmured Alice softly.
"That's ALL" assured Dick
eyes: I'll marry you. Dick. the dear
est and best boy in the world. only