The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-04-22

That evening surprise was In store
for Mr.. Ripley. Just at dusk. while all
things here were taking ON the gray
greens Of twilight. he walked soberly
home % supper. When exactly oppo-
site 4 certain hammock small voice
piped mp In m authoritative manner:
"Will you please be Lind enough 10
come here;-
Mr.. Ripley thonghtfully rubbed his
right foot over his left foot. took his
handkerchief out Of the crown Of his
straw hat. and. after wiping his fece.
carefully replaced Il. Then followed
the suggestions offered BY the small
voice:
"well. kid. What il it,
Elm not . kid. I'm girl. And my
name Is lie. didn't know until to-day
that your name was Joe. Our Pink
nurse told me- Would you mind telling
me II you've an Annie already"
1--WE no Annic.- and Mr.. Ripley
grinned.
Would You like onc:"
"Idon't mind"
'.l,ccause-I know one"
s.So?"
Yes. That's our Pink nurses name
She watches you from behind the cur
| tain
| ..So?-
That's all. : added Zie. with dignity
| ''You can 60 now"
| And Mr.. Ripley went home. but Mr.
| Ripley has since confessed TINT he nevel
| felt 80 queer in all his life. and further
more acknowledged that if he hae
not got religion during the previous
spring he should have been tempted 4
believe in fate.
| And in fact Mr.. Ripley. the villag'
telegraph operator. began 70 act rs !
under some sort ~ spell Just il
front Of Catalpa cottage. ont near th'
primitive horse block. there was
loose plank. II was a singular fact tina
the window where the Pink nur>s
luricd commanded view of this loos'
PLANK.
Now. avoid that plank as he would
Mr.. Ripley no sooner reached that spo
each day, in the full consciousness .
the ewes behind the window curtain
and the calm. judicious aspect Of tn
small figure in the hammock, than som
demon lured him to il. stubbcd his To
with il and allowed him 10 pass on wit
neck and ears perfect match TO III
Pink nurse
| One day he distinctly heard . title
from behind the curtain.
Never mind.- came the small VOC
I 4. s..l
the same. il she does laugh at YOU Sli
wouldn't watch for vou every day. 20
know. II she didn't Which was ser
I sible conclusion for fve-year-oid CIR
But the plank grew TO be . nigh
mare TO Mr.. Ripley. the telegraph ope
. ator. Every day he found il there.
One night At midnight Zie had
dream. All in the moonlight Of a pc
feet June night she heard the fairies:
KNOCK. knock! knock"
1T sounded real she announced ovs
! her oatmeal po-ridge-
And it probably was 70 some exten
for the plank was found firmly fixed
| its place that morning by three brigh
, new nails
..I's coming true" whispered lie
, herself. and she told the same thing
: strictcst confidence TO three intima'
friends. after the fashion Of her Sc
, But as they happened 20 be merely
hop-toad. demure lady-bug and
gaudy hunming bird the secret vi
! still secret
! That night when Mr.. Ripley wei
home to his supper, lie sat on the hors
: block
Ibid you nail it?- she promptly aske
u Nail whatg- responded Mr. Ripe
= with brief glance at the window Gu
r tain
. The plank. I think Il was fair
! She thinks il was you. Was it,"
A But Mr.. Ripley passed on speechless
A And rs he went he was quite angry
End himself marching tothe tune Of:
II soon they'll be married.
Never 10 part"
And. on the last day Of June. WIZ
I the catalpa blossoms lay like silv
snow upon the lawn. Zie PROFOUND
! a remarkable question At the lunches
!. table.
!" DO all men say they never kiss
:, anyone else in all their lives? VIII