The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-24


can cook meat an vegetables as good
as she can pie an crulls. N then she's
sensible" continued Peter. II hear
her a-tellin' Tidy she'd ruther hev 4
meal o. plain roast meat an potaters,
with a good pie of some kind, or bat
ter pudding, with dip sauce, than all
the rag-goos an Frenchified messes
that ever was put together. She's
good tempered, too. A body can see
that with half an eye. an not bad
lookin', partickler about the mouth
and eyes. Some way 1 like these
blue-eyed, yaller-haired wlmnln-
There's some vim about 'em. Seems
TO me she'd make a stavln' nice VIE
fur some Teller that amt too young
me, fur instance. l never thought
much about it before, but seems like
man hadn't ought to be mizzable old
bachelor all his days, particular when
there's nice single lady handy that's
sensible an knows how to cook. Not
as l want to marry woman jest
cause she can cook, but good neal o
vittles goes long way towards keep
IN man contented an cheerful.
IF she'll hev me-though like
enough she won't-rve a notion to
resk it. That last batch Of griddle
cakes OF Tilda's lays heavy on my stom-
ach yet. Another dose of emil give
me the dyspepsy, sure as shooting.
The only way out of it Is fur me to
marry, so there amt no use in shilly-
shallying. Might as well pitch right
il, first as last, SO here goesf'
With an air of determination, Mr..
Perriman deposited his hoe by the side
of the fence, mopped his brow, and
started toward Miss Browns white
painted cottage with resolute strides.
/ The door stood wide open, and throug h
the screen Mr.. Perriman could see
! Miss Barbara fitting briskly about in
/ her tiny kitchen, and hear her singing,
| in a clear voice, the old-time melody!
"When shall hear the bees Albumin
! All round the comb?
When shall hear the banjo tummin'
Down in my good ole homer"
/ She broke off suddenly at the sound
of a rap on the door, and came forward
with a pleased smile on her lip and in
her eyes.
10, Mr.. Perriman, I'll have to ask you
/ in here, or my shortcake will burn,
she apologized, hastily, bringing forth
a splint-bottomedc chair, and placing it
near the window, which was hung
with morning glory vines, their purple
cups still showing amcng the thick,
green leaves. I'm doing my Saturday
baking, you see." explained Miss
Brown.
But she got no further. Mr.. Peril
man had his mind made up and had nc
notion OF dallying with his fate. Pop
ping the QUESTION did not seem SO easy
matter as it had short time before,
but it must be done, he felt, and the
sooner it was over the better.
"Miss Barbara" he blurted out,
looking her straight in the face, ~
think you are very selfish woman"
Miss Barbara blushed furiously.
| al selfish?" she cried, aghast-
ITO be sure" nodded Peter. grow.
ing more composed at her evident agi'
tation. Don't you call it selfish to
be baking shortcake and boiling ham
I lit smells mighty good for your Sun
day dinner, when your next-door neigh
Dor is a poor old bachelor, who never
has anything good Sundays-or any
other day, for that matter?"
He paused ard looked At her pathet-
ically
Miss Barbara had never had a pro-
posal before, but with a woman's un-
erring instinct she knew what was
coming.
"Who is to blame because you are q
bachelor" she asked with tremuloul
smile.
You are" declared Peter, boldly.
"At least you will be IL you don't
promise to marry me-" He held both
her hands by this time in firm clasp.
MY shortcake is burning! Do let me
60" begged Barbara.
Not until you answer me, II il
burns to a crisp" declared Mr.. Peril
man, ruthlessly. "Will you be my
wife, Barbara Yes or nor
And how could any woman hold oat
when her shortcake was in jeopardy?
Yes, Peter" murmured Miss Brown,
demurely.
And to this day, when Mrs. Peter
Perriman tells her young friends about
her romance, she always adds: 81 just
felt as if something was going to hap
pen that morning he brought over the
apples. and it did" But Mrs. Tibbins
shrewdly declares it was the apple pie
that broug ht it all about!-Good House