Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1922-10-12
NO MEANS YES
BY ANNIE M. coR5iN
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AttNtI--JuSI dnbul int liEAk
sort of a girl for rather cookbook
ing, rather capable sort of a fellow,
such as John was Somehow or other,
though, Priscilla hadn't wanted to an
Rwer Yes" when the great, big ques-
fion came along, because she had al
ways been more or less a coquette, and
she wanted frightfully TO have John
realize that she could make, OH just
dozens of men perfectly foolish about
her.
That momentous night, as though
she had suspected something, she left
the telegraph office where she worked
more in hurry than usual, and when
she reached home, and dressed, it was
surprising what a furry she was in.
But you would never have known it,
and of course John didn't either when
he saw her coming down the stairs.
In fact, she was so alarmingly self
possessed and polite that naturally, he
became confused and, instead of Civ
ing her his new straw hat (bought
that very evening at an outrageous
price, especially for the occasion), he
dropped 1t, and handed her his rub
hers.
That was obviously bad start for
both of them.
John was commonplace, perhaps,
but ever so much more restful than
the cave person might turn out to be.
But you know what women do, just
she same. They are extremely irritat-
sng, because they do insist on hav-
ing their cave men, and you know all
The time that they don't know what
they are talking about. Well, hours
and hours of time limped past. BY the
time twelve o'clock struck the minutes
began actually to trot Before any
more of them could get by him John
asked her He couldn't talk by this
time. so he whispered it.
And, of course, she said she wouldn't,
and he put his rubbers on and went
home, and they were both miserable.
Well, here she was again in that
horrid Office, ticking away at the most
monotonous messages. As If she cared
whether Samuel had cut a tooth or
not, or, for that matter whether Ell
mer Higgins was coming and wanted
Peter Trudger to meet him She hoped
Elmer Higgins would miss his old
train and that Peter Trudger would
have to trudge home again. And as
for caring whether Western Coal had
gone down two points, and the thing
to do was to buy She hoped Abrash
(what a silly name , would forget 10
buy, and would be miserable about 1t
afttraprds. You see. she was miser-
able herself. and it didn seem so bad
If she knew other people were miser-
able, 100.
There is consolation in company, be
its common emotion JOYOUS or dismal,
She lad been wishing bad luck on
all sorts Of people for what seemed a
long long time when Il rather nice
looking, though extremely nervous,
young man came in He actually
blushed when she looked at him. Why,
he acted just like John had, last night.
Oh her poor, dear john
After he had scattered the money
all over her desk, and had dropped his
change twice. he went out Then she
read it, and she saw why he acted so
much like John,
MARY wilkins,
1909 Pleasant ST.,
"Huntersville, "
("Why, she lives III the same town -
said Priscilla to herself)
"Will you marry me7 -
("Whyr y said Priscilla, her eyes
round in a surprised sort of way)
Signed Harold"
"What an IDIOT" she said
doesn't he dare even to ask her:
The way John didY'
why, what difference there was,
after all John had asked her face to
face, and here was this stupid Harold
person. whom she had at first thought
nice. who had to telegraph
She didn't know just how to send
the thing, but she typed it, and gave 1t
to young Jerry to deliver and told him
TO hurry with the answer (if there was
any) because it was important.
When he came back with the mes
sage 10 De sent III tue sdHit uhttA way
to the nervous young man, she realized
that all women were about the same,
too. Ii said "Now
Then she wanted to do the widest
thing she ever thought of. She actu-
ally started to change it to Yes.
She blushed as she thought Of it, and
felt as If the whole block was going to|
fall over Then she became angry, and
sent It, with great big No in capt
tails. typed with the red ribbon-but
abe did 1t reluctantly.
MARY wilkins ought TO know bet
teri she said. And Mary did, for, a
half-hour later, young lady, who
looked as though her whole life was
desert Of buried hopes, almost ran into
that office and sent this message:
Harold Butterheld
1908 Pleasant ST.,
"Huntersville, -"
("Whv" said Priscilla. Tine very
same streetrD
1--we changed my mind.
"Signed, MAKf.