Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-02-18

AhO OAOo6h Via was NoD111k.
by Jove, I've got it" He pounded
his fist. 'It's the solution of the whole
problem. Hooray!" He walked over
to her, and shook his finger. "Flodie,
d'you know whom I'm going to marry?
You'll"
She jumped up as If he had struck
her, and retreated a few steps, almost
in fear. Manlike, he had uncon-
sciously done the wrong thing at just
the right time. He had struck her
secret sorrow, and the pain was, for
the moment, unbearable. F1odie cow
cred, shrinking away from him, star
ing, unable to speak a word.
He followed her up with all his ego
ism. why, see here, Flo!" he ex-
claimed. tits all as simple as day.
light. Why in the world didn't l think
of it before? Here we are bully good
pals-get along fine, don't we?-never
had a single quarrel. You're right;
you're the only one that does care
enough for me to make me work and
keep me up to my best. l believe you
could actually make something of me.
Flodie, I'm going to make you a lady
of leisure! Say, Fodie, I'm going to
kiss you! For the first time, tool"
He went up to her, but she darted
away like a cat. "Oh, no! MI. Boni.
stelle! Don't!" she protested.
He stopped in amazement. "Why
not? What's the matter?"
ooh, you've proposed to three WON.
en- today!" she lamented pitifully.. She
haggard face.
well, what if l did? They didn't
accept me, did they? Haven't l 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 a fortune on their whims, blow
ing hot and blowing cold! D'you think
l 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 a good excuse to take you. Why,
was so ratified, Flodie, it v &C.
Cured to me l could marry you."
Flodie rose; her hazel eyes snapped.
ooh, didn't it? Well, then, MI. 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 l 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 coolly that you have
decided to marry mel" Flodie,
aroused, fairly stormed now.
ooh, 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 within, as at a pouting child, then
dropped gracefully upon one knee.
Twill you marry me, Flodie?"
There was a new note in Flodie's
voice. mol" she cried harshly. Get
up, Mr.. Bonistelle! I'm afraid you've
made a mistake. You've forgotten
who l am. haven't you? Why, I'm only
the girl with the funny FACET I'm just
a 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 l 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
a lady of leisure as all that, Mr.. Boni-
stelle! What! Marry you, with all
the love left out? No, sir! l should
say not!"
But, Flodiei" Hall could scarcely
believe his ears. "Confound it, what's
got into you? Why, hang it all, l had
no idea you felt like that!" He stared
at her.
She made a queer, whimsical face
at herself or Hall, who knows?-and
went on.
mo, I'm only little Flodie, the Egg
Boiler! And you're SO used to me,
that when you do want to get married,
you propose to one, two, three women
before you give me a thought. l only
come in as a last resort-Flodie, the
Forlorn Hopei Mr.. B~onistelle, do you
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, the
color famed upon her cheeks.
Hall, dumfounded, stared at her,
speechless. If a baby had suddenly
attacked him he could not have been
more amazed. He didn't know her in
this aspect; she took his breath away
like a strong wind. His impulse was
to defend himself, resist, but he was
overcome by her emotion. He struck
out any way-blindly, like a swimmer
IN ropidc. ho triad RI n1anato her