Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-11

each waiting for the other Ia speak.
When she had made up her mind that
he never expected to open his mouth
again, she gave In. "And-and how
does-the girl--feei about tn" she In
quired. THAT would Wholesome diff
ference--of course" Hours passed foi
her before he replied.
IL haven't-asked her-yet," he
said hesitatlngly.
With little shiver OF relief she
sank back in her seat and caught Uack
The smile in her eyes so that he might
not see. lie went on clustering, man
fashion:
III isn't unreasonable, Is II, to want
enough 10 live Oh decently: Pm MOI
aspiring To plumbers wages, You
know, or anything like that; but hang
It, even teachers got to live"
She began speaking then aud her
voice grew softer and fuller as she
went on. IL know" she replied. ITS
unfair and II probably will be for a
long time to come, but you cant have
Ne work you like best in all Inc
world. Not many men can say that"
IL know all that" be said, shaking
his head In reply. "Ive talked that
way TO myself. too, hut all the same
steam-heated apartments in town rent
for $50 month"
so you have been house huutngT
He had not even the grace 10 blush
sure :" he exclaimed. "Why shouldn't
/? Even poor devil or pedagogue
can look. can't hep
She leaned forward, her eyes dane
ing, but for the moment she felt
little like his mother, nevertheless.
Boy" she explained slowly and
alphabetically, when you're school
| teacher you don't rent q steam -hea'ed
| apartment in town you get cottage
in the country and buy a good second
hand stove. For that matter, all the
! furniture is secondhand but YOU
needn't look Ike that--lt's nice You
! buy a few pieces at a time and put
! OH three coats Of paint and then you
enamel il and II you want To you paint
! little low"
he could not wait for her To finish.
and for an engagement ring" he
! jeered, you buy some pretty little TIN
! thins at the five and ten
She shook her head defiantly till the
red tassel bobbed mo, you don't !
| You hunt up that lovely old amethyst
ring of your mothers that you once
! showed Toto me-.
He was still stubborn and uncOn-
| yinced. And then" he demanded.
when the house Is rented and fur
1 nished and-and everything who pays
! he billsi"
Her patience reached It's limit.
Cant you figure out anything for
Some land goes with the cottage. Of
course: enough To raise garden truck
/ for the-the family, and besides that
/ YOU do whatever You can. Raise
chickens or rabbits or bees or thor
oughbred dogs or mushrooms or any
! thing that sells--how can | tell TX
actlyt Personally. I've made several
hundred dollars writing 'desckriit'
stories Maybe your--your wife could
do something Ike that--after The
dishes"
Tie assistant professor of biology
( began 10 believe he had died and gone
10 heaven He felt a. il he were tread
/ ing on balloons hat bore him higher
aud higher. yet strangely did not
! break. The prospect Of remaining ~
! his work made him gddy enough. but
added To that the idea of wife and
home was still beyond Ms rapidly eX.
pandlng imagination.
"Do you--do you suppose-it could
he doner" he demanded. and tried to
swallow The red mouth beneath the
red tam-O'-shanter was quivernS hut
the round little chin was firm "Oi
course IL could :" she said.
God :" murmured the assistant pro
feSsor OF biology ferYently, Il al.
most believe IL could, too And you
don't believe I'd be low-down cad
Tor asking the best little girl in the
world to marry me and live Ike that?'
His hands moved forward, eagerly
awaiting the touch Of the TWO steady
ones that slipped into his own, while
lhe paddle. unnoticed, slid into the
water and floated away.
"I-rm sure you wouldn't" she an
SWered. tiff you mean--ine