The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1912-04-19

PIECE
m OSCAR cox

"We,l. Dolly. what have you to say
in reply to my third proposalT"
"Your hfth."
"oh, you have kept countT
"Why shouldn't IT.
why should you7 II you don't want
me what interest am to your"
"Girls like to get propositions OF mar
Rage, and it fatters their amor pro-
pre-"
but should think that i've PROPOSE
tons from one man would count Only
az one proposition"
"For my part have enjoyed the fiftn
as much as the first"
81 don't know whether to crafty your
penchant for proposals further or say
goodby forever"
The word forever" was pronounced
very seriously. She heaved an inVolun-
tary sigh.
II believe I'll toss up for it," he said.
"For what?'
whether l make you one more pro-
| posal or not"
You might better toss up whether
give you 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-"
He took silver half dollar from his
pocket Its q Columbian piece" he
said, ISSUED at the time of the Colum-
bian worlds fair at Chicago. 1 would
not part with it for farm. keep it
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
were obliged to put their heads very
/ close together, SO near that few
strands Of her fluffy hair tickled his
cheek.
What a funny looking ship" she
said. and the two baseballs under
it-what do they mean, wonder?'
| 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 meanY'
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"
lis that really soT' looking up with
her innocent eyes.
| Certainly"
whats the ninety-two on the other
side stand forY'
That's the age Columbus was when
he died"
| Il 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,"
Nov 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
ican trip"
Il 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 be NINE"
He tossed the coin, and it came down
heads up
1--WE won," he said exultingly.
"Not at ALL"
"You agreed that If Ferdinand's head
came up you would marry me-"
THAT isn't Ferdinand's head. It's
Columbus
"Humph. You're smarter than l
thought you were. Must toss again p
ITO decide anything you'll have to-"
(which shall it be this timer
III 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 it, and before it comes
| down I'll choose" she said.
AL right. No qhbbling this time"
., "Toss it to the ceiling"
i wouldn't lose it for anything"
he made feint to send It up. and
she cried "Bothv' He sent it to the
ceiling. then caught her in his arms.
and there was storm Of kisses.
The next day he looked for his pocket
piece. 1t was not to be found. The