The Yale expositor., 1912-10-10

PIECE
BY OSCAR cox

But l should think that five PROPOSE
tons from one man would count only
as one proposition"
as 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 I'll toss up for it," he said.
"FOr what?'
whether I 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
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. ITS Columbian piece" he
said, ISSUED at the time Of the Column
bian worlds fair at Chicago. l 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 1t together. In order to see its
workmanship the more clearly they
were obliged to put their heads very
close together, so near that a few
strands Of her fluffy hair tickled his
| cheek.
What funny looking shipw 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 mean?'
"That's the age Columbus was when
he was born
Don't be silly"
Fact. 1t means that he was as
are when they are fourteen years old"
as that really SOP" 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 chidren'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"
81 should think they would have
put Columbus head on it."
well, are you ready for the tossT
| She sighed, and there was a far dis
tant look in her fawnlike eyes.
eff 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 Mt all"
"You agreed that If Ferdinand's head
came up you would marry me-"
THAT isn't Ferdinands head. It's
Columbus
"Humph. You're smarter than l
thought you were. Must toss againr
ITO decide anything you'll have to-"
(which shall it be this timo2'
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 It, and before It comes
down I'll choose" she said.
"All right. No quibbling this time"
"Toss II to the ceiling"
II wouldn't lose 1t for anything"
He made feint to send It up, and
she cried "Bothw He sent It 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 1t was not to be found. The
cook few days later sported new
collar. She said she bought It with a
coin she found under the sofa.
Ten years later while looking over
collection Of coins he was making he
remarked to his wife:
II wonder what induced me to throw
that Columbian half dollar so high that
when 1t came down couldn't find t."
you didn't look for It,"
Didn't II WhyT
She looked at him with the same
wondering eyes as when he had told