The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-10-20
A MEAN TRICK.

He had often tried to propose to her,
but she vas such a very hippant young
person that he found it herculean to re-
duce her to a sufficiently serious frame
of mind. Then, too, he was by no mean
certain as to her feelings toward himself.
Some definite assurance either way
would, he felt, have been grateful, al
though it is safe to affirm that had such
assurance been ~unfavorable to his hopes
he would none the less have been anxious
for further information.
However, he was denied the satisfac-
ton Of ever well grounded suspicion.
She had such a battling sort of n
Never had he been able to surprise her
into an admission of anything, however
trifiing, which might be taken as an in
dication that he aroused within her emo
tons of any kind whatever. 1t was GER
tainly very difficult to know what to do.
Many times had he almost taken ad-
vantage of a 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 boldest effort on
his part had been made one evening aft
er he had brought a friend to call upon
her. Minna, Bob and the friend had all
sat in the kitchen and pulled tafy.
Next evening Bob said sheepishly:
"Do you know, Minna, what key was
tellin me last night"
How could | know without you told
meT' returned Minna, with spirit. She
was washing dishes, and she clattered
them in the pan.
"He was asking me if I was going t.
marry YOU"
"And what did you tell him?"
"Told him didn't know"
'That wasright," said Minna, swirling
the dishcloth around.
"And he-he said I was a burned fool
if I didn't"
Minna went off into peals of laughter.
Then she sobered up.
Didn't what?"
Didn't marry you"
$50 you would be-if you got the
chance!" was the prompt reply.
''That's what I told him-if 1 got the
chance, but / can't get the chance" de-
jectedly.
"What right had you o.tell him you
couldn't get the chance?"
"'Cause you amt ever give it to me-"
"No, an Inever will" returned Minna,
with emphasis.
"Jes' what thought" said Bob dis
mally. 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 a nail be-
hind. eff l was you, I'd learn a few
things before 1 came courtin."
"But you're a big sight clever'n me-"
answered Bob meekly.
''That's So" said Minna laconically
as Bob passed detected 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, bright
eyed and smiling, and Bob determined
to make another attempt to secure the
elusive Minna. In the soft dusk Of the
early summer evening he went thought
fully across the field toward her fathers
cottage, now softened Of its daytime an
gularities and, to Bob's imagination,
nesting corfidingly in the trees.
House amt much like Minna," he re-
fected sadly. .Wisht l could think on
some way to cotch her"
Ashe walked, crushing down the moist
grass, he revolved a dozen schemes in his
mind, all of which had sooner or later
to be dismissed as impracticable in view
of the uncertain nature of the damsel in
question. If he could only be sure of
how Minna would take anything. But
he never could be. She was as hayward
as the summer breeze.
Suddenly, in the midst of his ponder
ing, an idea came to him-a heaven sent
inspiration, so beautiful, so clever, that
the cunning little god himself must have
been hiding in a bluebell along his path.
Bob gave an emphatic clap to his leg,
and the listening Cupid might have heard
a short chuckle, followed by a delighted
exclamation.
"Gosh! But thatll do it" as the wooer
sped along his path. Minna herself met
Bob at the door and gave him a chair
outside beneath a fragrant honeysuckle.
She sat down heal him on the doorstep
and leaned her head against the case
ment. She looked very pretty, her black