Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-03-14
HISPOCKET'
PIECE
By OSCAR cox

why should you? II you don't want
me what interest am to you?"
Girls like to get propositions Of mar
riage. and II tlatters their amor pro.
pre-"
But should think that Ave PROPOSE
tionS from one man would count only
as one proposition"
For my part have enjoyed the fifth
rs much as the first"
Il 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.
Il 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
indefinite?'
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 a silver half dollar from his
pocket. IT'S Il Columbian piece" he
said. ISSUED ut the time OF the Colum.
bian worlds fair at Chicago. l 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 II 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 funny looking shipw she
said. "And the two baseballs under
tt-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 mean7"
That's the age Columbus was when
he was born"
Don't be silly"
Pact. 1t means that he was MS
smart when he was born as most boys
are when they are fourteen years old"
us that really so7" looking up with
her innocent eyes.
Certainly"
whats the ninety-two on the other
side stand forT
"That's the age Columbus was when
he died"
II 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 tossi"
She sighed, and there was n far dis.
tant look in her fawnlike eyes,
"If the ship and the cricket balls
- ha continual m rafIun1
for good and all. II Ferdnand's head
Is up you will be mine"
He tossed the coin. and IL came down
heads up
ave won" he said exultingly.
mot Mt all"
you agreed that If Ferdinand's head
came up you would marry me"
THAT isn't Ferdinand's head It's
Columbus"
'IIumph. You're smarter than
thought you were. Must I toss again 2"
ITO decide anything youll 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"-
kiss stopped all that.
You toss H. and before 1t comes
down I'll choose" she said.
"Al right No qlhbbling this time"
'"Toss ii to the ceiling"
Il wouldn't lose II for anything"
He made feint 10 send It up and
she cried "BOth" He sent II to the
ceiling, then caught her In his arms.
and there was IA storm OF kisses.
The next day he looked for his pocket
piece. II was not 10 be found. The
cook few DAYS later sported new
collar. She said she bought 1t with a
cOin she found under the sofa.
Ten years later while looking over
collection OF coins he was making he
remarked 10 his wife