Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1936-09-04

manly VI LIZ 1llCu dAOu4lus SOlIlC-
how he always seemed to speak of
theg reat outdoors, of clean living
and wholesome thinking, as if he
had some purpose in life instead of
merely gratifying all his desires.
Yes, she was proud Of him.
Raising his head, his eyes met
hers. "Oh, Charley Grant brought
me here so we could talk about the
gadget undisturbed. They don't
hurry you. If you want to, you
can spend the whole evening at one
of the tables without a single black
look from any of the mattresses or
manager"
"Welll, that's rather nice when
you'v We business to discuss"
eft sure is" A twinkle danced in
Rods blue eyes. "But you haven't
decided what you want, What do
you say to some real English beef
steak pie and a nice mug of ale?"
"Oh, but I'm not terribly hun
cry, Rod. II don't believe I could
tackle that"
"Sure you can l wish you'd try
it. It's the finest thing they have
here, and I bet you'll eat every par
ticle. What say, sweetheart"
"All right. 1t does look rather
good" and Maris glanced with ap-
praising eyes at one that a waitress
was just brinfinf in.
GOOD, Maris; you'll say you
never tasted BETTER" Giving the Or
der, Rod laid the menu to one. side.
Then, gazing across the table, he
said, "Say, honey, I've just been
thinking I've had a darned lot of
gall making you ride in Dulcie all
this time, but you won't have to
much longer. Looks as though the
gadget's going to pay all right, and
then"
Just at that moment the waitress
appeared with their order and Rod
said no more. Then as she left the
table Maris cried excitedly. you've
sold it, Rod! It's really a sue
cess?" Her dark eyes were spark
ling.
"No, sweetheart, not yet, but
I'm going out of town tomorrow-
to CIeveland-where they're going
to give it a try-out. Then, if ev-
erything's okay, won't we cele-
brate! But now, let's eat. Pm
hungry as a hawk. You little witch,
you had me so worried, l was right
off my eats"
go on, Rod. I'd like to see the
girl who'd bring you to that state.
But deep in Maris' heart she felt
a thrill of pride in her power over
this handsome man who sat across
the table from her.
That was the n thing in which
Stanley disappointed her-he was
only a little over five-feet-four,
and in spite of all his fine clothes,
he would neve have the presence
of Rod,
Again Rod spoke. It's the truth
Pm telling you, dearest. l thought
I'd lost you, that maybe I'd never
hold you in my arms again. You
don't know what a wretched night
l put in. But now, honey, I guess
there's only one thing to do-tell
me you'll marry me, Maris darling;
that you'll be NINE"
A swift tumult rose in Maris'
heart. This was her first proposal.
But why Rod chosen to ask her at
the diner table? All her life she
had dreamed of this wonderful mo-
ment, when the nan she loved
would ask her to marry him, would
take her in his arms. . His lips
would meet hers and the age-old
question would once again be set
tied. For, even if she could not an
swer in so many words, with her
lips on his and her head pillowed on
his heart, he would surely know her
answer.
But ven as something urged her
to say, eyes," a shadow form rose
like a silhouette in her memory-aI
slender, dark-eyed young man. He
was not particularly impressive
from a physical standpoint, but he
had. money, limitless money behind
him, and social position.
Yet as thoughts of Stanley Fay
son flashed before her, Pats words
of warning came swiftly to her|
mind. Well, she didn't need any
advice-she could take care of her
self. But as she raised her eyes to
Rods she whispered, "Please, Rod,
DOM ask me that here" There was
a little quaver in her voice.
"But YOU haven't said. NO." heI