Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-09-07
CHAPTER X-Continued.

f1b hCuS up W ACAJ OuC SuS udILOu
away Ike a cat. ooh, no! Mr.. Boni-
STEELE! Don't!" she protested
He stopped in amazement. why
not? What's the matter?"
"Oh, you've proposed to three wom-
en- today" she lamented pitifully. She
sat down and looked at him with
haggard face.
We'll, what if did? They didn't
accept me, did they? Haven't I a 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 certain! l can't
risk q fortune on their whims, blow
ing hot and blowing cold! D'you think
I intend to stand for this T-will-and-I-
won't business? Not much! I'm glad
they did put me off, now. It's the
luckiest thing in the world! 1t gives
me good excuse to take you. Why,
l was so ratified, Flodie, it never &C.
CURED to me could marry you"
Flodie rose; her hazel eyes snapped.
"Oh, didn't it? Well, then, Mr.. Boni-
STEELE, 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 1 asked
you to marry me, Flo?" He stared at
her in surprise.
NO, 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, if
you want the conventional, orthodox
proposal" He smiled patronizingly at
her whim, as at a pouting child, then
dropped gracefully upon one knee.
"Will you marry me, Flodie?"
There was a new note in Flodie's
voice. MOI" she cried harshly. Get
up, Mr.. Bonistelle! 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 facet! I'm just
queer little tyke,' who is always
happy! Ha! Ha! Ha! Why don't
you laugh? I thought l always made
you smile? Just a Jolly good pail
that's all I am! Didn't you say so
yOurself?"
But, Flodie!" Hall approached her
placatingly, amazed at her outburst.
She pushed him away. mo, sir!
Not much! I'm not so anxious to be
lady Of leisure as all that, Mr.. Boni-
STEELE. What! Marry you, with all
'ne love left out? No, sir! l should
say mott"
But, Flodie!" Hall could scarcely
believe his ears. "Confound it, what's
got into you? Why, hang it all, l had
10 Idea you felt like that" He stared
at her.
She made a queer, whimsical face
at herself OF Hall, who knows?-and
Went on.
No, I'm only little Flodie, the Egg
Boiler. And you're so used to me.
mat when you do want to get married,
you propose to one, two, three women
DeloTe you give me a thought. l only
come IN as a last resort-Flodie, the
fOFlorn Hope! Mr.. Bonistelle, do you
laInk I'm the sort of girl to marry
like that?"
flodie. transformed by this long
pentup rage, was a new and splendid
creature; her eyes shot sparks, the
color famed upon her cheeks.
haiI' dumfOunded, stared at her,
Speechless. If saby had suddenly
attacked him he could not have been
more amazed. He didn't know her in
ll'S aspect; she took his breath away
lAe strong wind. His impulse was
10 defend himself, resist, but he was
overcome by her emotion. He struck
OUT any way-blindly, like a swimmer
III rapids; he tried to placate her
But FlOdie-dear! l know-but 1
want you!"
uA. YES. l know you want me-and
why So that you can win four mil
mons OF dollars. That's all you want.
'oI ii have to get married, so you'd
oG',er take me! I make you laugh!
"! It's as simple as daylight, is it?
W+--, I'm not so simple as look.
w men marry a man, Hall Bonistelle,