The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1920-07-09
THE QUESTION
BY MARY POWER.

/ NH"I c0uScu aubrey 10 master
with the final touches TO her toilette. 4
moment later she emerged from thu
mouse and swung her 1.-the young body
into the sleigh beside her brother.
Wen have to hurry, Ken" she ,ad
vised, tucking the robe about her. "Ive
exactly ten minutes"
We'll, il You don't take the cake" he
sruttered; here I've been waiting
Please, Kenneth, don't scold,"
wheedled Aubrey. Gracious p' in sur.
den alarm. 1--WE forgotten my notes
no, 1 haven't, either" evidently re-
lleved
HIN" Kenneth cast a scornfui
glance at the trig figure beside him.
what's the subject this afternoon, So
cialism, woman suffrage, or-or-bet-
ter babies?" he grinned.
Aubrey flushed. 1.-THE eternal cues
tion-'Should Woman Propose Choose
the Mate Rather"
Kenneth gave prolonged whistle.
Going to take advantage of leap
year. eh?" he chuckled. "You're-af-
firmative?'
Aubrey shook her head. mo real
lady proposes" acidly.
Huh, nine-tenths Of 'em do" vOuch-
safed Kenneth. "That is, subtly."
Aubrey flashed him look Of wither.
Ing scOrn. Zone couldn't expect YOU
mere chld-to understand" she said
frlgidly.
The "inprp child" VrinOod
1 promised to call at Ellen COlby's,"
said Aubrey; mind you're back i'm
time"
A moment later they stopped at the
headquarters of the Girls club. En-
tering, Aubrey swept down the aisle
and daintily took her place on the
platform.
me debate was success. Aubrey's
opponent, a fair-haired languid girl of
twenty, expounded her views on the
eternal question" in well couched Ian
guage. Aubrey. on the other hand,
took the house by storm when, in con-
Guiding her remarks, she said, with
flushed cheek and sparkling eye:
mo girl with an ounce of dignity in
her makeup could. with honor, ask a
man. to marry her" And then, thrill
lngly:
Our grandmothers couldn't. our
dear mothers wouldn't. I-yOu-we-
oh !! spiritedly, at shouldn't be done!"
Kenneth, enseonced in a rear seat,
was interested In spite of himself. He
could not resist one last sarcastic fling.
however as he dropped Aubrey Mt FL
len Colby's door.
II say, Aubrey" he cautioned.
hadn't you better give Ellen hit of
advice? She and Floyd have been
counting for ages. They say he hasn't
ever mentioned marriage. IL you don't
watch out she'll upset your pet tradI-
tion by proposing herself. Tunes
ripe" he added malclously. Seeing
she's Rogers sister. you should" he
shot meaning glance at her and d-ove |
away.
Ascending the stairs to the Colby
fiat Aubrey frowned, cogitating on
Kcnneth'S destinations.
Dear Ellen was saying, her voice
all queer and trembly-like. IF Roger
and Aubrey get married this year, III
go to you at ChrIstmastfde should
ike to be q Christmas bride"
Aubrey waited no longer, but stole
quietly away, Il queer little ache in her
throat 1t was twilight when she
over her own threshold. The
fragrant odor of cigar told her Roger
was there ahead of her, smoking In the
dark. Roger often waited for her like
that. Throwing her wraps aside, she
tiptoed to the hall portieres and pulled
them together"
Roger" she called, softly, and as
ne came eagerly forward II want to
ask you someth!ng-no, please stay
there on the other side of the Dor
.ieres. For one breath-taking instant
she paused. then:
Roger, do you love me--heapsr
why, Aubrey, of course-heaps and
heaps and" Rogers hands, fumbling
here on the other side of the portieres.
thrust themselves through.
Roger, has it ever occurred to you
hat Ellen and Floyd-might be wait
ng-fOr us-tO-tO-couldn't we-at
Iaster,. perhaps" breathlessly, blush /!