Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1912-05-07

about with you If you won't let me
get fair holdT
What would you do If I did box
your ears?" she demanded
"How d. YOU mean-if I'd picked
you up2 Put you down again, Of
course. Your hand mayn't be very
big, but it's good and nat"
The girl looked disappointed. you
you wouldn't even have shaken
me?" g..
Lord, no; I've not shaken any
thing bigger than a bottle of sauce
for years. Mean to say you'd like me
tor
I'D never speak to you again II you
did" she declared vehemently She
hesitated. "Only should love a man
who could treat me, like that. Not
rwould-could. I'd hate him If he ever
|}really did,"
I've really got It," cried the young
man triumphantly. Il know what's
the matter with you."
J, "What?" she demanded, flushing
& Imaginative dyspepsia; and It's a
/ Ejolly serious thing, let me tell you.
You've caught it from one Of those
library books"
y You're not such fool as you look,
: lTommie," said the girl thoughtfully,
latter slight pause.
Course I'm not" he said pleasant
y, there's bound to be limit"
And you think you know lot"
mot lot" he corrected modestly-
} "a Bit"
But there's one thing you'll never,
! never know"
What's one among so many? What
is it,"
You'll never know enough to make
me marry you"
The remainder of that day the
young man spent in deep thought. It
|. was not very deep, but still it was
deep for practically virgin soil.
Passing sleepless night, he arose
. the next morning at an hour that
caused him to shake his watch sew
eral times before he could credit it.
! strolling into the grounds, he sought
out the head gardener.
Morning, Richards" he said brisk
ly. Whereabouts does the sun rise,
as a ruler"
Richards, a taciturn man, returned
his greeting with touch Of the cap.
:. "If so be as you're looking for the
young lady :"
Young lady! Where?"
:. Miss Templeman, think, sir. She's
!, gone toward the river"
Reaching the bank he was just in
time to see the girl, In a punt, disap-
pearing around bend in the river.
To unchain the nearest punt and set
out in pursuit was the work Of an i'm
pulsive moment. AS he drifted slowly
round the curve, he was startled to
find the girl had disappeared, punt
|, and all. For one Mortified moment he
/ thought that opportunity had forgot
ten to give him call In time-then
he observed the punt drawn up
against small island. The girl hav-
ing landed, was busily engaged pluck
ing wild flowers.
"Now's my chance" he murmured
thoughtfully. "If I only jolly well
knew what it was" An idea came to
him. by Jove!" he chuckled admir-
ingly, "smart-oh, jolly smart"
Padding softly, he drew alongside
the empty punt and carefully removed
the pole and paddle,
Morning" he called out, this ac-
complished.
The girl turned round in astonish-
ment.
"Hullo," she cried, you still up?'
"Still up" he echoed, hurt at the
implication. Hang it. I've just got
up. Matter Of fact" he went on, with
friendly frankness, 81 couldn't sleep.
] was trying to make up my mind
whether 1t was better to marry girl
like you, or girl who likes you.
. What's your opinion?'
'If / were you" stated the girl, II
should think myself lucky to get mar
ried at all--without being married
for your money, mean, Of course"
co." urged the young man, after a
moments consideration-"O I don't
think you'd marry me for my money"
me? I wouldn't marry you for a
million pounds. I told you yesterday
I wouldn't marry you"
, "Of course you did. But then, You
see, that was yesterday, and we were
in the billiard room. Now it's today,
and you're in punt. and"-he leaned
l back in his seat and regarded her
with pleasant smile-"and I've got
your pole and paddle"
The girl gave startled cry as she
confirmed this statement. Then with
hasty movement she stepped into
, the boat
You horrible coward" she cried.
. II suppose you were going to leave
me on the island"
, Without replying the young man
worked his pole until the two punts
were end to end, and then skilfully
) punted himself and the girl out into
midstream
Yes he admitted, when he had