St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1893-09-16

sufficiently
eerious frame of mind. Then. too. he
was by no means certain rs to her feel
angs toward himself. Some definite as-
eurance either way would. he felt. have
been grateful, although it Il safe TO
affirm that had such assurance been un-
favorable TO his hopes he would none
the less have been anxious for further
information.
However. he was denied the satisfac-
zion of even well-grounded suspicion.
She had such baflaing sort of manner.
Never had he been able to surprise her
intoa An admission Of anything, however
trihing, which might be taken rs m in
dication that he aroused within her
emotiops of any kind whatever. II
was certainly very difficult to know
what TO do.
Many times had he almost taken ad-
vantage of . momentary silence on her
part Times cwithoul number had he
nearly clasped her in his arms o she
pirouetted past him; but she was too
quick for him. The boldest effort ON
his part had been made ono evening
after he had brought . friend to All
upon her. Minna, Bob and the friend
had all sat in the kitchen and pulled
taffy. Next evening Bob said. sheep
ishly:
do you know, Minna, what Ikey was
tellin' me last night?'
"ITow could I know without you told
me?" returned Minna, with spirit. She
was washing dishes and she clattcred
them in the pan.
''lie was asking me IL were going to
marry your
'.And what did you tell him."
Told him didn't know"
THAT was right, said Minna. swirl
ing the dish-cloth around.
And he-he said was . burned fool
II didn't"
Minna west OF into pcals Of laugh
Ger. Then she scbcred up
''Didn't what:''
Didn't marry you."
$50 you would bell, you got the
ehance.' was the prompt reply.
That's what told him-if got the
chance; but can't get the chance" de-
jectcdiy.
What right had you TO tell him yoa
couldn't get the chance?"
"'Cause you amt never give it 70
me-"
mo, and never willy' returned Min
M, with emphasis
"Jes' what Thought" ," said Rob. dis
mally. Guess I'D better CO."
'Guess We had, remarked his hostess,
Hospitality. As she spoke she wiped
out the dishpan and hung it up on the
nail behind. IF was you. I'd learn
few things before came courtin'."
"But you're q big sight cleverer'n
me" answered Bob. meekly.
That's So" said Minna, laconically,
Is Bob passed dejectedly 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 deter
mined TO make another attempt to Sc
cure the elusive Minna. In the soft dusk
of the carly summer evening. he went
thoughtfully across the field toward
her fathers cottage, now sOftened OF
its daytime angularities, and. to BOb's
imagination, nesting eonfidingly in the
trees.
House amt much like Minna." he
reflected, sadly. "wisht could 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 n inn
practicable. in view of the uncertain
nature of the damsel in question. II
he could only he sure Of how Minna
would take anything. But he never
could be. She WAS As wxyward Is the
summer breeze.
Suddenly. in the midst of his ponder
ing, an idea came to him-a Heaven
sent inspiration, 50 beautiful, so clever,
that the cunning little god himself
must have been hiding in = blue-bell
along his path. Bob gave m emphatic
clap to His Leg, and the listening Cupid
might have heard . short chuckle fol-
lowed by a delighted exclamation.
sGosh. But thatn do it," as the
Wooer sped along the pain Mlnna
herself met Bob 1t the door. and
rave him Q chair outside, beneath
: fragrant honeysuckle. She sat
down near him on the doorstep. and
leaned her head against the easement
She looked very pretty, her black eyes
darkening the lids. and her face pale In
tae dusky twilight; her hair curling in
moist little ends around her small face
Bob looked at her. and his heart failed
him. But he remembered certain
Thomas Anderson, whom report said
had fingered beneath the honeysuckle
for the past few nights. and brought
back his oozing courage.
They wux talking about You last
night down 1t the pump" he remarked.
with assumed cheerfulness-
..Talkiu' about me-" said Minna. an
crily. "liow dared they: