The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-10-02
|ONE WAY or SAYING TT:|
BY EDYTHE

lating hills. From where he was sit
ting on the porch of the rambling club
house building, Dick Arnold could see
the orange sweater of Doris Ackley
flashing in the early afternoon SUM-.
He watched idly as the girl completed
her final putt on the home green and
then strolled easily toward the veran-
da, unconscious of his presence. When
at last she discovered him, the
faintest tinge Of red crept into her
sun-browned cheeks, but she smiled
pleasantly and seated herself on the
railing before him.
For a long two minutes neither
spoke. The girl, her face half turned
from him, gazed wistfully across the
rolling green's. The nan studied her
silently. A slight breeze rufled the
brown curls of her hair, releasing them
from the bondage of a small straw
hat.
"Doris," he said suddenly, "you
promised to answer me today"
"Why do you want to know so
soon?" she asked.
Because l can't wait any longer.
1t means everything in the world to
me, and If you're going to say No
I'd rather have it over WITH"
ITO tell the truth, Dick" she said,
81 don't know exactly what I'm going
to say. We've known each other all
u lives, and / always thought that
some day we would be married. But
lately, Dick, especially for the last
year or so, I've begun to doubt you
just a little. 1t isn't that I've doubted
your love-" she fastened to explain,
"but I've doubted your ability to arouse
my love-"
'In what wayT'
"For the past two years you've been
drifting along. You have all the money
you need and you've grown careless I;
you spend the afternoons playing golf
and the evenings playing bridge. And
In the mornings you sleep. Is that
your idea Of a mans work, Dick?"
"No," he answered, sit isn't" He
gazed frankly into the girls accusing
eyes. 'Tve been drifting along as
you have said, but-but does that
make you love me less?'
81 think that perhaps 1t does" she
answered honestly. 81 have always
thought Of you as a mans man, Dick,
but instead of hat you r growing
into a fop."
He WINGED slightly at her words, but
his eyes met hers bravely.
"What can 1 do to make you care
as 1 want you to?" he asked.
81 want you to turn about and do
things worth while" she answered.
''This afternoon, for instance, you
meet Ned Farley in the final round for
the club championship. Ned is a bet
ter player than you, but If you resolve
to win and show me that you can stand
by your resolution, perhaps I'll give
you the answer you need"
"And you would stake all your fu-
ture on a golf match?' he asked in
credulously.
ct isn't the match that counts" she
explained, "it's what the match stands
for"
He rose and squared his shoulders,
the heavy muscles standing out
strangely beneath the light fabric of
his golf coat.
"If 1 win, will you promise to marry
me?" he asked.
"Yes," she answered.
It was almost six O'clock, and the
sun was beginning I disappear
around q neighboring ridge when Doris
Ackley discovered the two finalists.
The match had narrowed down to a
question of puts. Dick tapped the
ball gently. Straight toward the hole
It rolled. But suddenly 1t struck a
large stick, swerved for q fraction of
a second and then came to a halt.
And then, to make matters worse,
Ned Farley holed a 20-foot putt and
O the match. When Dick congratu-
lated his opponent Doris noticed that
his face was pale. She went back TO
the railing on the porch and waited.
The sun sank beneath the neighboring
ridge and streamed the west with Grim
son. 1NlliSu@ ltll IupldASs buN 'WN
girl still remained in her place. Finally
steps sounded on the porch and Dick
Arnold stood before her.
81 didn't win," he said simply, "but
/ tried my level best"
"I know" she answered. o" was
watching YOU"
'"That was the hardest of ALTO lose
on the eighteenth hole when l knew
you were watching"
Something in his voice caused the
girls eyes to soften.
'Does a mere golf match count so
much. Dick?' she asked.
Didn't you tell me If | won to-
day you would promise to marry me?'
"Yes, but what does that matterT'
81 didn't win, and / suppose the
promise is off"
'Why, Dick?' The girls eyes shone
like twin stars in the gathering twi-
light. "Did l say that IL you didn't
win | would refuse to marry your"