Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-09-07
CHAPTER XVII.
A PROPOSAL.

SI1AT 1 EN- AN II.
A Proposal.
Bliss entered upon his new job and
hated it. He was, furthermore, affllct-
ed by an entirely new sensation. Mr..
Montague, a little surfeited perhaps
by the aamboyant charms of the null
titude of his lady friends. was OBJ
viously disposed to admire his typlst,
and seemed quite unable to compre-
bend her avoidance of him.
On one Of his evenings off Bliss
talked to Frances seriously.
Look here, you know" he said,
when l came in this morning for
orders that chap was trying to hold
your hand"
She frowned.
Girls who have to earn their own
living" she remarked bitterly, get
used to that sort Of thing. We can
see when it's coming It's generally
easy enough to deal with"
She sighed, and Bliss expression
became more and more forbidding.
Fellows making nuisance of him
self, I'm sure of it." he muttered.
He is persistent" he muttered.
He is persistent" Frances ad-
mitted with little gesture, half of
amusement. half Of despair. "All my
usual methods for keeping such per-
son in his place seem wasted upon
him. He has the skin of rhinocer
os.''
That's the reason this sort of chap
makes money" Bliss declared. I'll
tell you what, Frances, we shall have
to chuck It,"
That's all very WE'LL" she pro-
tested. "but there are dozen girls
applying for every post In the city
where one can earn enough to live on,
and, remember, you weren't finding it
too easy to get place yourself.
Then I'll stay without one. and
starve," Bliss retorted. But aSn not
going to stand that fellow trying to
make love to you under my nose.
What was that about Brighton on
Sunday?"
"Oh! He's asked me to 60 to
Brighton every Sunday since first
came" she replied evasively.
Brighton, indeed" Bliss grunted.
you might start, but you'd never
reach there II were driving. What
about picture palace?
She shook her head.
"You can't afford it. Neither can
l. With your moderate salary, and
no money saved at all, you ought to
put by at least half of it until you
have something I'm the bank. Well go
and sit in the park"
They found sheltered corner, for
although it was now the end of May.
the weather had changed again and
the wind was chilly. They looked out
upon a, little1ake bordered with beds
Of hyacinths, sweet-smelling, but
withered before the east wind. Before
them was Park Lane.
Bliss closed his eyes. For a mo-
ment he saw into the interior Of that
wonderfully incongruous medley OF
houses. A reminiscent wave OF lux
ury set him longing. The seat was
not very comfortable. they were
neither of them very warm. there was
nothing very interesting upon which
to feast their eyes. Yet when that
wave Of memory carried him back to-
the old days he felt suddenly content.
There was something new here With
him.
He took Frances hand and held 1t
tightly There were many people pass
ing backward and forward. A little
way in the distance excited men were
shouting time-worn doctrinesito wood
en-faced groups of auditors.
There were many others in similar
circumstances to themselves.-serv-
ants and their young men; shop girls
and their beaux; a world which, few
months ago, Bliss would have regard.
ed without interest, almost with cont
tempt.
He looked at his companions worn
clothes and tired face He thought
for a moment Of those theatrical
young ladies' of his acquaintance
whom he had honored with his atten-
tons, and the contrast was almost
ludicrous
Yet he admitted to himself with i'm
mense satisfaction that the answering
pressure of her fingers upon his stir
red feeling Id him which he had
never before experienced. feeling
sweeter, more wonderful than any
thing he had ever known
Its an odd world" he said
abruptly.
ITS a cruel one" she replied.
"Why?'
"Everythings so hopeless" she
sighed. 81 came to London. hoping
to do something for my sisters, but l
can't you know"
Tell me about them,' he begged.
~ have never heard you talk of them.
What are their names?"
Her eyes were very soft.
Il can't talk about them very
much" she said 1T all seems SO sad.
When my mother died there was about
a pound week between the three OF
us. Ruth, she's the youngest, has
really wonderful voice, but we can't
afford TO have it trained. If only she
could go to Dresden for one year
But there, it's no use talking about
that She earns little singing at
concerts and giving lessons.
(To be continued.)
Ut uN0AY