The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-17
VA" said Jack Severance, Il
must return to the city to-
n,nrrnur -,t1l .. l. 80

"HRt Twill W thC lily tO-
morrow. | wish you to tell
me before l go whether you will mar
ny me or not"
Suppose | say not"
Then ! will not ask you again."
Eva WINGED.
Il believe" continued Jack, Sin a
woman taking plenty of time in maxi
ing up her mind on such an impor-
amt matter as marriage, but what's
fair for one is fair for the other. 1t
would be as unreasonable for the
man to put off the wedding day in
definitely as for a girl to take an in
definite time to accept or decline
him."
IF accept you and we find what
so many. are finding nowadays, that
marriage is in our case a failure, you
will be the sufferer as well as l."
Correct. And If We grow every
day more devoted to each other you
will be the gamer as we'll as J."
In other words, it's a game Of
chance"
If you think so, why not come to
your decision by a game Of chance? I
win play You an odd number of games
of euchre; II | win the most of them
you marry ME; If you win the most
Of them you don't"
There would be no sense in that"
"Why not?"
"f1 wanted you ! would play bad
"; If not ! would play my best. But
It wouldn't be fair anyway, because
you are a much better player than l."
You might spin a coin. No one can
tell on which side a coin will fall.
Fate alone would decide in that
case"
But suppose fate should decide
wrong?"
IF you know which alternative is
wrong why resort to cards or coin
spinning? Why not decide in the
right YOURSELF"
But l don't know which way is
wrong"
There was silence for a few mo-
ments. She looked very unhappy.
There is no greater source of mental
discomfort than vacillation.
I'm going to give you," he said,
"till 8 o'clock tonight to decide. If
you don't decide in my favor before
the clock strikes 8 I shall wait no
longer"
What do you mean by that"
Il shall withdraw the offer"
You mean you'll never ask me
AGAIN."
IF you prefer that method of ex-
pressing It,"
You're very independent; aren't
your"
Il have reached a decisive point"
Jack babe her adieu and left her.
He knew that he possessed her heart
and that she would marry him, but
she would never make up her mind to
do so. He must make up her mind
for her.
But how should he do this? He
would have done 1t long ago if he
could. He had thought of frighten-
ing her into it by some drastic meas
ure, but In that case there was a
possibility Of his breaking with her
altogether. He had finally concluded
to set a limit Of time for her answer,
but he knew that the clock might
strike 9 till the crack of doom and
it would have no effect upon her.
But he was determined to get his
answer and get 1t before leaving her
again. They lived a thousand miles
apart, and he could not be making
journeys to 60 back after each with
nothing decided. He had a simple
plan in his head, and If he could get
her to adopt it she would decide in
his favor. The result would be ac-
complished by s%trategem, but he con
sidered that the end justified the
means.
When he went back to her in the
evening he had a new silver half dol
lar and a new quarter in his pocket.
He called at $40. He skirmished
for q quarter Of an hour, when he
drew forth a half dollar and said:
Are you willing to leave this mat
ter between us to Fate for decision?"
Eyes, | am. I'm tired Of trying to
decide it myself"
Very well. | will spin this coin, or
you can spin 1t yourself If you like.
You may choose heads or tails. If
you win, | losing, you refuse me; il
l win you accept me. The best in five
spins decides"
You may spin the coin and choose
heads OF tails"
Very WELL" He spun the coin,
calling heads" and won. He spun it
ayaip calling "heads." and won