The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-25

SzSssgsz reduce her to
ber1ous frame of mind Then. too. he
was by no means certain as to her feel
tngs toward himself. Some definite as
surance either way would, he felt, have
been grateful. although it is safe to
Rf1irm 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-
tion 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
tr1filng, which might be taken as an in-
Hication that he aroused within her
emotions of any kind whatever 1t
was certainly very difficult to know
what to do.
Many times had he almost taken ad-
vantage OF momentary silence on her
part Times 1without number had he
nearly clasped her in his arms as she
: plrouetted past him; but she was too
quick for him. The boldest effort or
his part had been made one evening
after he had brought friend to call
upon her. Minna, Bob and the friend
had all sat in the kitchen and pulled
tafy. Next evening Bob said, sheep
lshly:
''Do you know, Minna, what key was
tellin' me last night?"
How could / know without You told
me?" returned Minna. with spirit. She
was washing dishes and she clattered
chem in the pan.
"He was asking me if 1 were going to
marry your
And what did you tell hirh?a
Told him / didn't know"
THAT was right" said Minna, swirl
ing the dish-cloth around.
tAnd he-he said WAS q burned fool
If didn't"
Minna went off into peals of laugh,
ter. Then she sobered up !:
Didn't what?" j.
Didn't marry YOU (
$50 you would be--if you. got the
Ehancer' 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 chance?"
'sCause you amt never give it to
me-"
mo, and I never willi' returned Min.
IA, with emphasis I
''Jes' what thought" said Bob, dis;
nally. ''Guess I'd better 60"
ssCrouo ,o b,I ra,,,-Iyad l,;e boeAaeo
hospital bly,. As she spoke she wiped
put the dishpan and hung it up on the
hail behind. "lf was you, I'd learn q
few things before L came courtin."
but you're a big sight cleverer'n
ne," answered Bob, meekly.
That's So" said Minna, laconically,
rs 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 early summer evening. he went
thoughtfully across the field toward
her fathers cottage, now softened of
its daytime angularities, and, 10 Bobs
imagination, nesting confidingly il the
trees.
blouse amt much like Minna," he
reflected, sadly. "Wisht l could think
On some way to cotch her"
As he walked, crushing down the
moist grass, he revolved a dozen
schemes in his mind, ali of which had
sooner or later to be dismissed as im-
practicable, in view of the uncertain
nature of the damsel il question. II
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 nina Heaven
sent inspiration, so beautiful, SO clever,
that the cunning little god himself
must have been hiding in a blue-bell I
along his path. Bob gave an emphatic I!
clap to his leg, and the listening Cupid /
might have heard a short chucllle fol- /
lowed by delighted exclamation
Gosh. But thstll do it,' as the /
wooer sped along the path Mlnna /
herself met Bob at the door, and T.
cave him chair outside, beneath I.
a fragrant honeysuckle. She sat I.
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
the duslxv 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 honeysucble .
for the past few nights, and brought 4
back his oozing courage
They WIZ talking about You last
night down at the pump, he remarked,
with assumed cheerfulness-
..Talllin' about me-" said Minna, an
rr;IY. How dared they?