Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 213, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1913 — ACROSS THE ROAD [ARTICLE]

ACROSS THE ROAD

Timed His Proposals Most Inopportunely, but Always to the Same Woman. v

By SUSANNE GLENN.

John Kennen had always timed hla proposals most inopportunely. Such a statement might give rise to the supposition that he had proposed to inany women, when the truth of the ease is that he had merely proposed many times to one woman. “And what he > sees to be so ‘gone on’ In Louise Atwood beats me," the neighbors were fond of declaring. “She’s always been an independent little piece, w'tyle John is the kindest fellow in the world. He had ought to know what she is like, living right acrbss the road from her all his life, but they say love is blind, and I guess John goes to prove it!” John was thinking about his proposals as he rested on his porch one evening, watching through a screen of fragrant apple blossoms the glint of Louise’s white dress on the porch across the road. “That first one Was about the worst,” he decided between puffs from a pipe, “for I’ve never been so scared since, and Louise haß never been quite so superior. I declare, I thought she’d say ‘yes’ long before this. I fail to see the sense of waiting till the best part of our lives are over, for marry me she surely will, some day. Guess it’s about time I did something beside just propose.” When Kennen presently .sauntered across to occupy the comfortable extra rocker on her porch, Louise Atwood felt no surprise. Grass had not grown in the path between the two houses since John was old enough to appreciate the attractiveness of his tantalizing neighbor. “It’s so absurd of John to suppose I should wish tp marry him after having seen him every day of my life in this tiresome way," she thought, watching him leisurely approach. “Men seem to be JUBt clear conceit, anyway. Why should I marry any one, when I’m perfectly comfortable and happy here by myself?” She smiled patronizingly as he settled himself in the big arm chair.

“Louise, I’ve come over to ask you a question,” he stated with a directness that had not characterized his previous declarations, "possibly several questions,’’ he amended, Louise merely smiled. “My first question is not a new one, but it is final —will you marry me, Louise?’’ “Gracious, who do you expect would accept such a heartless proposal as that?” "I did not much expect you would,” smiled John serenely, “but I thought it safe to try once more, at least. It Isn’t lack of ‘heart’ that is the trouble, Louise. You know I’ve put heart enough into the others to satisfy any woman. I had hoped you would see fit to accept me, some time, still it is comfortable to have it settled definitely. I hope we can continue to be friends just the same?” "We always have been friends,” murmured Louise, with a lack of her customary superiority. "We’ve been more than friends,” he \ corrected; “that is why it is a bit perilous to drop back upon mere friendship. But we are both pretty sensible, so I guess we’ll make it go.” For some minutes he smoked in silence. “There is one thing I hope you will always do, Louise,” he continued presently. “I hope you will always feel free to ask me wljen you want help about the things I’ve been in the habit of helping you with. I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I was courting you, but now that that is at end I shall not feel justified in coming over here with the freedom of the past. If you understand why, this will not disturb you—perhaps it will even be a relief,” he added.

“I trust you will always feel free to come whenever you like,” said Louise, Ignoring his supposition. "That’s mighty kind and neighborly In you,” agreed Kennen as he rose to depart. “And that reminds me, Lou, I’ve rented the cottage to a woman from Anderly who wishes to get out in the country for the summer—-Airs. Carlton her name is. I hope yoell like her. She seems a pleasantspoken person.” Louise shivered ff little —the spring night had turned suddenly chilly, and she went In and closed the door. Not once during the weeks that followed did she receive a call from her one-time lover. To be surei, he shouted friendly greetings across the road or waved as he scurried past in his runabout, and Louise began wondering' how long it would take time to effect that patch about which she had so often fretted. She was setting plants in the vegetable garden the morning he met the new renter at the station. ' - ' ' Louise had never done the transplanting alone before, and bad peVer realised how tedious the task might be. In fact, when she came to think about it, Jphn had always helped with all the undertakings that had made her place a model of attractiveness. “But I am glad he does not come,” she assured herself repeatedly;. “it is not right to receive so much from him when I means to give nothing in return.” As the summer passed time did not appear to hang heavy upon the callable hands of John Kennen, for he was bestowing all those attentions at the little cottage across the road that he had once lavished upon the unappreciative Miss Atwood. While Louise laboriously repaired her broken trap

lis, John was fashioning a fine new model for Mrs. Carlton’s roses! Long after heat rows of transplanted vegetables were putting out new roots in the cottage garden, Louise shed actual tears of vexation and weariness over the seemingly endless task of finishing her own. Louise knew that the' neighbors were noticing. “They, think I’ve been jilted, and I cannot tell them the truth about it,” she said grimly to that inner self to whom lonely people commune. “Well, haven’t ytfu?” retorted that impertinent other self. “If I have, it is my own fault, and I shall have to endure it,” she said aloud. “I expect this is good for that pride and independence of which people are always complaining!” “Whoever dreamed of John Kennen acting in this way,” people seemed to delight in telling her. “We never supposed an idea of marrying ever entered his head, he has always been so quiet—never hunning round with the girls like most boys.” “Well, he is certainly making up for lost opportunities,” smiled Louise as the little runabout whizzed past with the new neighbor in the place she once' occupied by right of first choice. Louise chanced to be on the front veranda where that extra rocker always flaunted its emptiness at her the afternoon they brought home the runabout slowly, with a limp figure crumpled up on the seat. Somehow she forced herself to remain behind the blinds while they carried him in, and-while the doctor arrived hurriedly and Mrs. Carlton bustled about. Somehow she forced herself to listen to neighbors who endlessly repeated how he had unhesitatingly run his machine into a treacherous ditch to save a child that had started heedlessly to run across the road in front.

No, he was not hurt seriously unless other symptoms developed, tbo doctor assured every one. He needed good care more than anything else at present, and he was likely to get that. When they had all gone she sat on in the welcome darkness behind the vines watching the lighted windows across the road. She was not conscious of Mrs. Carlton’s approach until she was very near. "Will you come over, Miss Atwood?” she requested. “Mr. Kennen has asked to see you.” It seemed to Louise that she could never force her feet along that path Where the grass was already beginning to creep in. “Why, Louise, did I frighten you, sending for you like cried John cheerfully, if weakly, when he saw her face. “There is nothing to make you look like that. I just thought I could go to sleep better if you’d come over and say good-night to me, and Cousin. Martha said she did not mind calling you.” “Oh,” whispered Louise, with a sob. “Why, Lou,” he said, holding out his unbandaged hand entreatingly. Louise dropped to her knees beside him. “John, do you suppose you will ever again ask me to marry you?” “I don’t believe it will be necessary, my girl,” answered John Kennen, simply. (Copyright, 1913. by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.)