The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-10-14
A MEAN TRICK.

He had often tried to propose to her,
but she was such q very fippant young
person that he found it herculean to re-
duce her to q sufficiently serious frame
OF mind. Then, too, he was by no means
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 even well grounded suspicion.
She had such a battling sort OF manner.
Never had he been able to surprise her
into an admission of anything, however
triiing, which might be taken as an in
dication that he aroused within her emo
tons of any kind whatever, It 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 taffy.
Next evening Bob said s~heepishly:
do you know, Minna, what key was
tellin me last night"
How could I know without You told
me?' 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 Ididn't know"
"That was right" 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 / told him-if I got the
chance, but / can't get the chance" de.
jectedly.
"What right had you to tell him you
couldn't get the chanceT
"'Cause you amt ever give it to me-"
"No, an I never will" returned Minna
with emphasis.
'sJes' what I thought" said Bob dis
mally. sGuess I'd better co." !
"Guess ye had" remarked his hostess
Hospitality. AS she spoke she wiped out
| the dishpan and HING it up on nail be
hind. IF / was you, I'd learn q few
things before I came courtin."
But you're q big sight clever'n me.
answered Bob meekly.
That's So" said Minna ~laconicall,
as Bob passed detected out of the kitchen
door.
On thinking over the interview on tn
way home, Bob thought that on th'
whole he had not made much progress.
A few days later hope returned, brigh
eyed and smiling, and Bob determines
to make another attempt to secure TIL
elusive Minna. In the soft dusk Of tn
early summer evening he went thought
fully across the field toward her father
cottage, now softened of its daytime On
gularitieA and. b Bob's i~rnaginatiou
nesting confdingly In the treea 4
House ainft much like Minna," he ne
fected sadly. "Wisht / could think o.
some way tocotch her."
Ashe walked, crushing down the mois
grass, he revolved a dozen schemes In hi
mind, all OF which had sooner or late
to be dismissed as impracticable In vie,
of the uncertain nature of the damsel i
question. Ii he could only be sure G
how Minna would take anything. Blu
he never could be. She was as waywar
as the summer breeze.
Suddenly, in the midst Of his ponder
ing, an idea came to him-a heaven sen
inspiration, 30 beautiful, so clever, this
the cunning little god himself must har
been hiding in a bluebell along his patti
4 Bob gave an emphatic clap to his LEI
, and the listening Cupid might have hear
. 3 short chuckle, followed by a delighte
. exclamation.
Gosh! But that'Il do itr' as the woo<
! sped along his path. Minna herself mi
! Bob at the door and gave him q chs;
outside beneath q fragrant honeysuckll
: She sat down near him on the doorste
and leaned her head against the cas-
ment. She looked very pretty, her blac