Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-16
Euening Story
PINES PROPOSAL.
BY Jane Osborn.

Honest, Dave, you've got to give me
time the red-haired advertising man.
ager of the furniture firm of Pins,
Pines & Noteworthy was saying to
Dave Pines, who had fingered after
closing hours of the store to speak TO
Miss Drew on what he referred to IN
his note beforehand as passing mat
ter OF business"
you sure did give me surprise.
Why, I'd no more idea that you had
taken fancy to me than that--than
that we'd sell out Of refrigerators IN
February. Do you know, If the Morn
ing Bugle was to send over here with
the statement that We could double
our Sunday avertising space for the
same rate as we pay now wouldn't
have been more surprised. But why
didn't you spring it on me gradually?
cent say YES or no, honest Dave,
till have thought of it. You see, I'm
so happy here doing just what am
doing, I've got my little apartment fix.
ed up so coy and I'm getting kind o.
course-that I haven't thought of
marrying It's been dead easy stall
ing the others. But with you it's diff
I. I
when might be sorry later. Give me
time Dave. When? Oh, let me see.
Suppose you wait till after next Sun
day It's Monday today. Well, I'll
take next Sunday to dope it out. I've
an awfully hard week coming. That
special sale of Grand Rapids antiques
we've been trying to sell for the last
two years will take some clever copy
No, cant possibly tell you any soon
err. I have thought SO little about get
ting married I'll have to drop around
to see my friends that have gone and
done it and see what they have to say
about it. Drop in next Monday at
about this time. if you're still interest
ed. And, whatever decide, you ana
I'll always be good friends, won't we?'
Say, that was kind o. clever copy II
l do say it, and that idea of yours to
leave the chairs and tables on that
special sale out in the rain for two
nights beforehand just did the bust
ness. If they had come over In the
Mayflower they couldn't have looked
more like the real thing. Oh, that's SO,
it's Monday. No, hadn't forgotten
had it down on my desk, but guess
I'd have remembered any way.
"NO thanks, Dave. l don't think
will 90 to hotel for dinner. I've sort
o. got in the habit Of having dinner at
home and hotels don't sell much furnl-
ture with me any more. Besides, When
I have a cold proposition like this TO
handle feel better to be right here IN
the Office. I'd ask you to come up to
the apartment, but that's too home
like. I want to keep my head, ana
want you to see my point OF view.
"Tell you my answer? Well, DON
he impatient. Take 1t slowly, Dave,
and then you'll see why have dec1a'
cd as have. You'll understand bet
fer You know I wanted to handle
the proposition squarely. AS ! told
YOU it wasn't just an ordinary WIN
Won marry me- when David Pines ask
ed red-head Peg Drew to be junior
mariner You know I appreciate the
compliment.
$50 started OF Sunday morning to
see the girls I went to school With
Aggie Dayton, Pearl H1te, June oaun,
ders and Moll Braun. They've al
married and thought they'd give me
the dope I was after. And /! guess !
got it.
"Well. Aggie-I went to her house
first Knew she'd be at home. Wnen
a woman has six children and good.
for.nothing husband she doesn't stand
nuch chance Of being out on Sunday
morning. I was out OF breath by the
time I got there, four flights up ana
such a racket! Youngest was cutting
Ito teeth and Oldest was yelling be-
cause he'd Just had to have his BABY
teeth pulled out She was mighty
glad to see me, though. She hadn't
seen any of the girls for years. You
know how 1t is when girl needs
friend-she usually can't find any. !
didn't have to ask her how her mar
Rage had panned out. ! tried 10
cheer her up, though. She had been
Food housekeeper once and asked
her why she didn't try this new game
IT economic independence, II her hus-
hand didn't earn enough to get out and
earn Il herself. But how could girl
1,ra Aggie get out with six children
harg ing at her apron strings! IL she
did she'd only earn enough 10 pay 1or
a nurse, and what nurse Woulo tahe
care of six children!
.Well, then went to see Pearl Eiite
and do you know was almost scared
to go in. Those buffers In plum-color-
ed uniforms always did make me feel
shy. Pearl sent down by her French
maid for me to come up. She was
having her coffee in her boudoir and,
do you know, hadn't been there ten
minutes before she burst out crying
and told me all about it. She's miser-
able. Husbands gone off with a vaude-
vile tango queen and it's all. they can
do TO keep the scandal out OF the
papers.
"If only Pearl had some children,
they might keep her from being so
lonesome, but that little, yelping Pek-
,nese is Q pretty poor substitute for
live baby You're lucky woman,
she said to me as was going. Take
my advice and stay SINGLE But say,
Dave, you ought to have seen The bed
room suite-real Chinese Chippendale
not any of this rush order goods
either, but the kind that Pins, Pines
& Noteworthy never had inside their