The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1893-09-02

WI Mrl tried to pro-
IN MINI, u pose to h r,
I'M MThjIRn but she was
M NEEHWt' such a fliPpant
- H. young person
>X34N III that he found
.sE1: NRVH itHerculean to
G143 reduce her to
a sufficiently
serious frame of mind. Then. too, he
was by no means certain as to her feel
1ngs toward himself. Some definite as
surance either way would, he felt, have
been grateful, although it is safe to
affirm that had such assurance been un-
favorable to his hopes he would none
the less have been anxious for further
Information.
ton of even wellgrounded suspicion.
She had such a battling sort of manner.
Never had he been able to surprise her
into an admission of anything, however
triflfng, which might be taken IN in
dication that he aroused within her
emotions of any kind whatever. It
was certainly very difficult to know
what to do.
Many times had he almost taken I'D
vantage OF q mOmentary silence on her
part. Times uwithout number had he
nearly clasped her in his arms as she
promoted past him; but she was too
quick for him. The boldest effort on
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
ishly:
''Do you know, Minna, what Ikey was
tellip' me last night?"
GLOW could know without you told
me?' returned Minna, with spirit. She
was washing dishes and she clattered
them in the pan.
'Hc was asking me if 1 were going to
marry you?''
And what did you tell hi,n?''
'''rold him I didn't know
THAT was right" said Minna, swirl
ing the dish-cloth around.
''And he--hc said l was a burned fool
If didn't
Minna wc7t off into pcals of laugh
ter. Then she sobcred UP
didn't what:''
Didn't marry YOU
$50 you would bc-if you got the
chance!'' was the prompt reply.
''Tnat's what told hirn-if got the
chance; but l can't get the chance de-
ject.dly.
What right had You to tell him you
couldn't get the CHANGER
''Cause you amt never give it to
me-
NO, and 1 never will!' returned Min
ma, with emphasis
"Jcs' what thought said Bob, dis
nally. Guess I'd better CO.,
'Eucss 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 a
few things before l came courtin'."
"But you're big sight cleverer'n
me- answered Bob, 1neekly.
THAT'S so,' said Minna, laconically,
as Bob passed dcjcctcd1y 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.
few days later hope returned,
bright-eyed and smiling. and Bob deter
mined to make another attempt to
cure the elusive Minna. In the soft dusk
of the early summer evening, he went
thou.htfully across the field toward
her fathers cottage, now softencd of
its daytime irregularities, and, to Bob's
Imagination, nesting confidingly in the
trees.
House amt much like Minna." he
reflected, sadly. ''Wis!lt 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, all of which had
sooner or later to be dismissed inn
practica BILE, in view of the uncertain
nature of the damsel in question. If
would take anything. But he never
could be. She was 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 blue-beu
along his path. Bob gave an emphatic
clap to his leg, and the listening Cupid
might have heard a short chuclklc fol-
lowed by a delighted exclamation.
''Gosh! But thatll do it!' the
wooer sped along the path. Minna
herself met Bob at the door, and
gave him chair outside, beneath
Il fragrant honeysucl<le. 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
the dusl<y twilight; her hair curling in
moist little ends around her small face.
. Bob looked at her, and his heart failed
him. But he remembered u certain
Thomas Anderson, whom report said
had fingered beneath the honeysuckle
for the past few nights, and brought
back his oozing courage.
They wuz talking about you last
night down at the pump" he remarked.
with assumed cheerfulness-
''Talkin' about me- said Minna, an
grily. ''lIow dared they?"
.sOh Lord!' Casped Bob to himself: