Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-02-26

mean to propose to you-I've been trying
to get UP my courage for cons and ages.
! wouldn't have proposed to any other
girl for the whole world. l never should
have dared then, but the darkness gave
me courage. couldn't bear the idea of
being turned down where It was light
enough for you to see me. oh, yes. I'm
a coward, for all my big hulk. That's
another thing that made me suspicious
I'd made botch of things You didn't
seem bit inclined to turn me down; in
fact, you were just going to say yes, when
the intruders came polxing out and"
'rKindly remember 1t wasn't /, Peter"
she reminded him.
He mopped his brow hurriedly. Yes,
yes. of course" said he, You would
have turned me down, wouldn't your"
Felicia looked at him queerly. She
started to say something, then bit her
lips and flushed a bit. You funny in
fant!" she said instead.
Peter sat UP. Say, I'm homely as sin,
and I'm a clumsy brute, in mind as well
| as in body" said he. But I'm not wholly
bad, Felicia"
Indeed you're not" she said.
Peter Gray made certain throaty sounds.
Indicative, II one were to Judge by the
light on his face. OF great and uplifting
joy.
'Do you mean have show with you,
Felicia?" he blurted out, leaning eagerly
SO far forward in the chair that he threat
ened to upset 1t. '1Say, Tn crazy about
you, Felicia, and
Felicia Strengthened UP in dignlfied fash
| ion.
Peter! The very idea" she said with
I well-simulated horror. You, an engaged
| man, talking to me like this"
"Oh, thunder!" said Peter, remember
ing what he had just been telling her.
But, say: suppose it had been you out
there on the boathouse piazza last night.
repeat. supposing It had been you;
what-what would you have said?"
That's not fair"
"well. fair or not, what would you have
said?"'
st shan't answer"
"TelI me you'd have turned me down"
She said nothing.
Peter got UP and began to pace the
porch with nervous strides.
I'll" he began. stammeringiy, at
length. ''Felicia, will you marry me?'
Good heavensi How many girls do you
| want to be engaged to at once?" she
gasped.
Darn itw said Peter II believe you
would have said yes If that had been
you on the piazza. Would you?'
TITS too late to think of that just now"
said she.
Peter reached her side in one mammoth.
| Joyful stride. In another moment he had
| lifted her out of the chair and was hold
| ing her close to him.
"I know 1t now" he cried happily.
| "Peterr' she choked, struggling to free
herself 'TPeter! For shame! You
mustn't You're engaged to that other
girl, whoever she is. 1t isn't my fault
| you made such a mess of it. Let me go,
| Peter. Do you hear2"
| But for all her pleading Peter merely
| held her more tightly.
| "Idsten," he said chucklingly There
wasn't any other girl. I didn't go near
| the boathouse piazza last night. II in
| vented that tale to fnd out the lay of
| the land here. was coming over to ask
YOU to marry me this afternoon. When
| got here had cold feet didn't dare.
/ was sure you'd never have meme,
| clumsy, homeAy old Peter Gray. I didn't
dare come right out. I wanted to find
out IL had a ghost Of a show first.
| Sd
Felicia ceased her struggles.
"Weu, of all the nerve!' she COM
mented.
"Or, lack OF IT," chuckled Peter, bend
/ ing his head to hers.
| Copyright 1914.