The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1893-12-13
B0B'S WAGER.
BY MADGE ROBERTSON.


her, but she was such very hippnnt
young person that he found it hercu
lean to reduce her TO sufficiently Sc
rious frame of mind. Then, too, he
wos by no means certain as to her feel
ings towards himself. Some definite
assurance either way would, he felt,
have been grateful, although it is safe
to affirm that had such assurance been
uninvorable to his hopes he would
none the less have been anxious for
further information.
However, he was denied the satisfac-
of even well.grounded suspicion. She
had such n battling sort of manner
Never had he been able to surprise her
into mn admission of anything, how
ever trifling, which might be taken as
an indication that he aroused within
her emotions of any kind whatever.
1t was certainly very difficult to know
what 10 10.
Many times had he almost taken
advantage of n momentary silence on
her part. Times without number had
he nearly clasped her in his arms as
she pirouetted past him, but she was
too quick for him. The b5ldest effort
on his part had been made one even
ing after he had brought a friend to
call on her. Minna, Bob and the
friend had all sat in the kitchen and
pulled tafiy. Next evening Bob said
sheepishly:
''Do you know, Minno, what Ikey
was telling me last night?"
''How could l know without you
told me?" returned Minna, with spirit.
She was washing dishes, and she clat
tered them in the pan.
He was asking me if was going to
marry you"
"And what did you tell him?"
'I told him didn't know"
'That was right, said Minna, swirl
ing the dishcloth around.
"And he-he said was big fool
if didn't"
Minna went off into peals of laugh
ter. Then she sobered up.
'"Didn't what?"
"Didn't marry you"
$50 you would be if you got the
chancc!" was the prompt reply.
"That's what told him-if 1 got
the chance, but can't get the
chance" dejectedly.
"What right had you to tell him
you couldn't get the chance?"
" Cause you amt ever give it to
me-"
"No, an never WILL" returned
Minna with emphasis.
"Jes' what thought" said Bob
dismally. "Guess I'd better CO."
"Guess ye had," remarked his
hostess Hospitality. AS she spoke she
wiped out the dishpan and hung it up
on nail behind. If I was you, I'd
learn few things before came court
in"
"But you're a big sight clever'n
me-" answered Bob meekly.
"That's so. said Minna laconically
as Bob passed deiectedly out of the
kitchen door.
On thinking over the interview on
the way home Bob thought that on the
whole he had not made much progress,
A few days later hope returned,
brightIeyed and smiling, and Bob de-
termined to make another attempt to
secure the elusive Minna. In the soft
dusk of the early summer evenings
he went thoughtfully across the field
towards her fathers cottage, now soft
ened of its daytime angularities, and,
to Bob's imagination, nesting contid-
ingly in the trees.
"House amt much like Minna," he
reflected sadly. "Wisht Icould think
on some way to cotch her."
As he walked, crushing down the
moist grass, he revolved dozen
schemes in his mind, all of which had
sooner or later to be dismissed as inn
practicable in view of the uncertain
nature of the damsel in question. II
he could only be sure of how Minna
would take anything. But he never
could be. She was as wayward as q
summer breeze.
Suddenly, in the midst Of his pom
dering, an idea came to him--a heaven
sent inspiration, 30 beautiful, SC
clever, that the cunning little god him
salf muat have haan hiding In a hlua,