Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1921-04-28
THE QUESTION
BY MARY POWER.

II was the impatient jingle of bell
"i'nout that caused Aubrey to hastel
WIN the hnal touches to her toilette. 4
moment later she emerged from tn,
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. "Ivt
exactly ten minutes"
well, if you don't take the cake" he
sputtered; here I've been waiting
Please, Kenneth. don't scold.
wheedied Aubrey. Gracious :" in sur
den alarm. 1--WE forgotten my notes
no, haven't, either" evidently re-
lieved.
III m" Kenneth cast a scornful
glance at the trio tigure beside him.
Whats the subject this afternoon, So
clalism, woman suffrage, or-or-bet-
ter babies? he grinned.
Aubrey flushed. 1.-THE eternal ques-
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. "No real
lady proposes" acidly.
Huh, nine-tenths of EN- do" vouch-
safed Kenneth. "That is. subtly."
Aubrey flashed him look of wither-
ing Scorn. zone couldn't expect you
a mere child-to understand" she said
frigidly.
The mere child" grinned.
81 promised to call at Ellen Colby's,"
said Aubrey; mind you're bach in
time"
moment later they stopped al the
headquarters of the Girls club. En-
tering, Aubrey swept down the aisle
and daintily took her place on the
platform.
The debate was a success. Aubrey's
opponent 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
ingly
"Our grandmothers couldn't, our
dear mothers wouldn't. I-you-we-
oh :" spiritedly, cit shouldn't be done"
Kenneth. ensconced in rear seat
was interested in spite of himself. He
could not resist one last sarcastic fling,
however as he dropped Aubrey at Ell
len Colby's door
81 say, Aubrey" he cautioned,
hadn't you better give Ellen bit of
advice? She and Floyd have been
counting for ages. They say he hasn't
,ver mentioned marriage. If you don't
watch out she'll upset your pet tradi-
ion by proposing herself. Times
ipe" he added maIicously. Seeing
he's Rogers sister, you should" he
hot a meaning glance at her and drove
way.
Ascending the stairs to the Colby
lat Aubrey frowned. cogitating on
-enneth's destinations.
Dear" Ellen was saying, her voice
II queer and trembly-like, eff Roger
nd Aubrey get married this year, I'll
o to you at Christmastide. | should
Ike to be a Christmas bride"
Aubrey waited no longer. but stole
nietly away. queer little ache in her
lroat. II was twilight when she :
umbled over her own threshold. The T
'agrant odor of a cigar told her Roger Il
as there ahead Of her smoking in the y
,rk. Roger often waited for her like 7
Iat. Throwing her wraps aside, she G
ptoed to the hall pOrtieres and pulled n
em together" b
Roger" she c&iled. softly, and as I,
came eagerly forward, Il want TO T
k YOU something-no, please stay
ere on the other side of the por-
,res For one breath-taking instant
e paused. then: II
Roger, do you love me-heapsT b
q
.'Why. Aubrey, of course-heaps ana il
ans and" Rogers handS, Iull'pilhs is
ERE on the other side of the portieres Q,
ddenly thrust themselves through. Al
Roger, has it ever occurred to you al
If Ellen and Floyd-might be wait n,
for s-to--to-cOuldnt we-at OF
ster, perhaps" breathlessly blush Il
? furiouslv there in the darkness IN A
te of herself. al
Aubrey" he said sterny, "are you ly
oking?" al
why, no." Aubrey laughed a bit In
Ikily. 'T'm merely taking advantage w
the season. glibly. And then eter- ell
feminine all over, she gave little ce
sob and hid her burning face Pa
inst his shoulder. From there shy-