Middletown transcript., 1915-09-11
CHAPTER x-contlnued.

He went up to her. but she darted
away like a cat. "Oh, no! Mr.. Boni-
stelle! Don't!" she protested.
He stopped in amazement. why
not2 What's the matter?"
"Oh, you've proposed to three wom-
en- today!" she lamented pitifully. She
sat down and looked at him with a
haggard face.
well, what If l dld2 They didn't
accept me, did they? Haven't right
to ask somebody else. under the cir
cumstances-with SO much at stake?
Why. they may all refuse me, even
now; I'm not at all certainl can't
risk fortune on their whims, blow
ing hot and blowing cold! D'you think
intend to stand for this T-will-and-I
won't business? Not much! I'm glad
they did put me of, now. It's the
luckiest thing in the world! It gives
me a good excuse to take you. Why,
was so ratified, Flodie, 1t never oc-
CURED to me l could marry you"
Flodie rose; her hazel eyes snapped,
"Oh, didn't It? Well, then, Mr.. Boni.
stelle, evidently there are several
other things that didn't occur to you!
Do you think you can treat me this
way and expect me to stand for it?"
What way? Lord, haven't / asked
you to marry me, Flo?" He stared at
her In surprise.
mo, you haven't asked me! No,
you've insulted me! All you've done
is to announce coolly that you have
decided to marry mel" Flodie,
aroused, fairly stOrmed now.
"Oh, pshaw-I thought you under
stood, Flo. OF course I'll ask you, II
you want the conventional, orthodox
proposal" He smiled patronizingly at
her whim. as at pouting child, then
dropped gracefully upon one knee.
"Will you marry me, Flodie?"
There was q new note In Flodie's
voice. mol" she cried harshly. Get
up. Mr.. BonistelleI I'm afraid you've
made a mistake. You've forgotten
who am. haven't you? Why, I'm only
the girl with the funny face!' I'm just
a queer little tyke,' who is always
happy!' Hal Ha! Ha! Why don't
you laugh? fought always made
you smile? Just a Jolly good pail
that's all am! Didn't you say SO
yourself?"
But, Flodie!" Hall approached her
placatingly, amazed at her outburst.
She pushed him away. mo, sirl
Not much! I'm not SO anxious to be
q lady of leisure as all that, Mr.. Boni
stelle! WhatI Marry you, with all
the love left out? No. sir! should
say mott"
But, Flodiei" Hall could scarcely
believe his ears. "Confound it, what's
got into you? Why. hang it all. hat
no idea you felt like that!" He stared
at her.
She made a queer. whimsical face
at herself or Hall, who knows?-ant
went on.
mo. I'm only little F1odie, the Egf
Boiler! And you're SO used to me
that when you do want to get married
you propose to one. two, three womer
before you give me thought. / ONLY
come in as a last resort-Flodie, the
Forlorn Hopel Mr. BOnistelle, do yoI
think I'm the sort of girl to marry
like that?"
Flodie. transformed by this long
pent'up rage. was a new and splendid
creature; her eyes shot sparks. thu
color famed upon her cheeks.
Hall, dumfounded, stared at her
speechless. If q baby had suddenl!
attacked him he could not have beel
more amazed. He didn't know her II
this aspect; she took his breath ava,
like a strong wind. His impulse wa
to defend himself. resist. but he wa
overcome by her emotion. He strucl
out any way-blindly, like a swimme
in rapids; he tried to placate heI
"But, Flodie-deari know-but
want you'll"
"OA. yes, know you want mean,
why7 So that you can win four mil
lions of dollars. That's all you want
You'll have to get married, so YOU
better take mel l make you laugh
oh, it's as simple as daylight. is it
Well, I'm not SO simple as l looh
When marry a man. Hall Bonistelle