Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-09-30
FROSTBURG, Md, SATURDAY., SEPTEMBER 30, 1893.

I gave Bobs mind the little start it
needed. II haven't seen you for some
time"
NO; l noticed you took particular
pains not to see me on the street yes.
terday." said Bob.
Il didn't know you were anywhere
around-were your
Bob did not answer. he could hard
ly feel that the conversation had been
Il success so far.
Il want to have Il serious talk with
you" he said solcmnly.
Why l hope l always talk serious
/ ly. But so on. | am dying to hear
you say something
will you tell me if you cam" he
went on, why | don't get along better
with people? People seem to hate
me instinctively; and why should
they
Il don't know why they do" replied
Miss Shepard, in rather disgusted
tone, for she really did know very
well. I've never heard any girl say
anything about you, one way or the
other, but I've known Helen SO long
that perhaps they wouldn't say any
thing to me on that account. How
| can you tell that they don't like you!"
"Wcll-I don't know-for various
reasons" replied Bob.
Il guess the trouble is that they
don't fulfil your expectations. You
know that a persons self-eStecm is
equal to his success divided by his eX-
pectationS."
but why do you yourself go out of
your way to snub me on all occasions?
should think we might be good
friends
surely l want to be good friends
with anybody that l see as often as |
do you. l have never meant to hurt
your feclingS-I never knew that |
could. But did you bring me i'll here
to give me lecture on manners?
Frankly, Mr.. Gardner, l don't think
you are the person.
NO. interrupted Bob. 81 brought
you hithcr to ask you why you treat
me SO badly, because-I love you,
and"-
A shrek of laughter interrupted the
poor fellow, and Miss Shepard rose
from her chair almost convulsed. AT
this moment Helen Gardner and Tom
Smith. Miss Shepard's cousin, came
into the conservatory together Miss
Shepard, still laughing immoderately,
exclaimed:
Your brother there proposed oh"
AS Bob made his escape the COM
bincd shricks of the three reached his
ears but his sisters laughter was
faint, in justice to her let us say.
Poor Bob. his head in a whirl, feel
ing like an abject fool and crushed
| by the blow to his vanity no less than
chagrinrd that he had made such Il
confession to his enemy, as he thought
t he regarded Miss Shepard, hung around
his mother and the older ladies for the
| next half hour. How he hated and
| cursed himself. 1t seemed to him that
If he lived forever he must always feel
like Il fool now. But finally, as he
was wandering around. he caught
sight of Miss Shepard in the hall with
her things on, about to go. Seeing
that she was alone he stole quickly up
TO her
Miss Shepard" he began, with Il
terrible heaviness at his heart, Il am
very sorry that you saw tit to make
public what l told you, and make me
ridiculous. l had Il better idea of you
than that What | told you was true
why could you not respect my feel
ings, even if they did seem absurd to
you? l think'-
Il haven't time to talk now" inter
rupted the young lady, brusquely, but
with the shadow of smile; those
girls there are waiting for me- And
hope, Mr. Gardner, that you will find
out very soon why you can't get along
with most people. But Bob" she con-
tinued, dropping her voice, don't be
too angry with me, for your sister and
my cousin came into the conservatory
an instant before you knew it, and
might have made fun of you any way.
If it is any consolation to you'll have
decided to accept YOU"