The Argosy, December 1905 — page 84: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

66 upon ecards or go down to the track again, Rosa, I promise you that. [’m going to turn over a new leaf this very day and work hard to win fame and for- tune, in order that I may lay them both at your pretty little feet.” “You dear boy! I know you'll suc- ceed, Arthur. You can accomplish any- thing you want to, mind to it. To think that you should have won over my obstinate old father! I eandidly confess I never thought you would be able to manage it. Tell me everything that occurred. If only you could have heard how my poor heart was beating while you were going through the ordeal.” “You poor little faint-heart. Well, I don’t mind confessing that I felt very shaky myself, first of all. You see, every time I have met your father he has im- pressed me as being such a stern and fearsome old chap. Winning your con- sent was one thing and winning his was another, I fully realized that. “Oh, yes, Vil candidly admit it was with fear and trembling that I knocked at his seenary door.” “ And what happened ?” “Why, he called ‘Come in, and I went in. He was sitting in a rocking- chair, dressed in a formidable looking dressing-gown, smoking his pipe, read- ing the morning paper and with his feet resting comfortably on a red hassock. He frowned as I entered. He was a most awe-inspiring sight.” “T can picture him. But go on. me every detail.” “Well, I summoned up all my cour- age and said ‘ Good- evening, Mr. Adrian.’ He answered in chilly fash- ion, ‘ Good-evening, sir. Take a seat. What can I do for you?’ The atmos- phere just then seemed to grow so cold that I was sorry I hadn’t brought my overcoat along. “T took the seat he indicated, and sat there looking at him lke a blithering idiot, not knowing how to begin.” “How did you finally manage it?” “T think I remarked something about its being a fine day out, and he replied that hed known better days. Then I sat looking at him again for some min- utes trying to get my tongue to form an- Tell if you put your. THE ARGOSY. other sentence. Finally he said, fixing his sharp eyes full on me: ‘ What is it you want, young man?’” “And what did you say?” asked the girl eagerly. “T got all my nerve together and an- swered, ‘I want Rosa, sir, if you’ve no objections.’ ” “Oh, how brave and clever of you, Arthur. And what did he say to that?” “What did he say! Why, he just jumped clean out of his chair and-came over to where I sat and yelled: ‘ You want what, you audacious young jacka- napes? Just say that over again.’ “<T want Rosa,’ I repeated as boldly as I could. “* How dare you, sir!’ he burst out, spluttering with rage. “* You told me to say it over again, sir, I replied meekly. “€You have the impudence to come here and tell me that you want my daughter. Maybe next you'll be telling me, sir, that my daughter wants you, he yelled. “*T have her word for it that she does, sir,’ 1 answered. ‘If she hadn’t assured me of that fact I would not have come to you. By this time I had re- covered my self-possession again.’ “You brave boy! ” said the girl ad- miringly. “* And so my daughter has gone and made a fool of herself, he said, and it was then he told me that you were throwing yourself away, and that he had hoped you would have done much bet- ter.” “Foolish old dad! And what did you tell him to that?” “T told him that his daughter might possibly have found somebody who was more worthy of her, but not one who loved her more truly.” “Dear Arthur! Did he shake hands with you and thank you for that pretty speech?” “He did no such thing. He said ‘ Fiddlesticks, and turned his back to me. After a time he snapped out: ‘D’ye think you can earn enough to support two, young man?’ “T replied that I thought I, could; that you had told me you would be satis- fied with a few hardships at first, and COmMICLOOOKS (C@