The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-04-24

come hcrc?"
Mr.. Ripley thoughtfully rubbed his
right foot over his left foot, took his
handkerchief out Of the crown of his
straw hat, and, after wiping his face.
carefully replaced it. Then followed
the suggestions offered by tho small
voice:
swell, kid! What is it?"
"Fm not IL kid. I'm Il girl. And nv
name is Zie. didn't know until to-day
that your name was Joe. Our Pink
nurse told me. Would you mind telling
me if you've an Annic-alrcady?
'I've no Annie" and Mr.. Ripley
grinncd.
Would you like onc?"
II don't mind"
"Bccause-I know one"
"So?"
"Ycs. That's our Pinl, nurses name.
She watches you from behind the cur
tain"
''So?"
'rhat's ALL" added Zic, with dignity
"You can go now"
And Mr.. Ripley went home, but Mr..
Ripley has since confessed that he never
felt SO queer in all his life, and further
more acknowledged that if he had
not got religion during the previous
spring he should have been tempted to
believe in fate.
And in fact Mr.. Ripley, the village
telegraph operator. began to act us if
under some sort of Il spell. Just in
front of Catalpa cottage, out near the
primitive horse block, there was
loose plank. 1t was Il singular fact that
the window where the Pink nurse
lurlled commanded Il view of this loose
PLANK.
Now, avoid that plank as he would,
Mr.. Ripley no sooner reached that spot
each day, in the full consciousness of
the eyes behind the window curtain
and the calm, iudicious aspect OF the
small figure in the hammock, than some
demon lurcd him to it, stubbed his toe
with it and allowed him to pass on with
neck and ears a perfect match to the
Pink nurse.
One day he distinctly heard litter
from behind the curtain.
Never mind" came the small voice
from the hammock, ''shc likes you just
the same, if she does laugh at YOU. She
wouldn't watch for you every day, you
know, if she didn't" Which was Il sem
sible conclusion for fivc-year-old girl
But the plank grew to be night
mare to Mr. Ripley, the telegraph opcr-
ator. Every day he found it there
One night ut midnight Zie had n
dream All in the moonlight of Il per-
feet June night she heard the fairies:
KNOCK! knock! llnocl1!"
elf So1tp1o6 ,c1,J CLIO ,,,,,,,,,.,.,,>.1 s....
her oatmeal porridgc.
And it probably was to some extent,
for the plank was found firmly fixed in
its place that morning by three bright,
new nails.
"Ifs coming Huc," whispered Zie to
herself, and she told the same thing in
strictest confidence to three intimate
friends, after the fashion of her sex.
But as they happened to be merely a
hop-toad, a demurc lady-bug and a
gaudy humming bird the secret was
still secret.
That night when Mr.. Ripley went
home to his supper Zic sat on the horse
block.
did you nail it?" she promptly asked
Nail what?" responded Mr. Ripley.
with brief glance at the window cur
tain.
The plank. I think it was fairy.
She thinks it was you. Was it?"
But Mr.. Ripley passed on speechlcss
And as he went he was quite angry to
find himself marching to the tune of:
Is Soon they'll be married.
Never to part
And, on the last day of June, when
the catalpa blossoms lay like silver
snow upon the lawn, Zic propoundcd
remarkable question at the luncheon
table.
do all men say they never kissed
anyone else in all their liveso Whnn