The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1894-01-11
A MEAN TRICK.

4 MEAN TRICK.
He had often tried to propose to her,
but she was such very fippant young
person that he found it herculean to
reduce her to sufficiently serious
frame of mind. Then, too, he was by
no means certain as to her feelings to-
ward himself. Some definite assur-
ance either Wav would. he felt. have
been grateful, although 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 salts
faction of even well-grounded suspi-
cion. She had such a battling sort of
manner. Never had he been able to
surprise her into an admission of any
thing, however trifling, which might
be taken as an indication 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 adj
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 even
inc after he had brought friend to
call upon her. Minna, Bob and the
friend had all sat in the kitchen and
pulled taffy. Next evening Bob said
sheepishly:
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
them in the pan.
He was asking me if Iwere going
to marry you?"
and what did you tell him?"
Told him | didn't know"
That was right" said Minna, swirl
ing the diShcloth around.
And he-he said was burned
fool if didn't"
Minna went off into peals of laugh
ter. Then she sobered up.
Didn't what?"
Didn't marry you"
so you would be-if You cot the
chance was the prompt reply.
That's what | told him got the
chance; but | can't get the chance"
dejectedly.
What right had you to tell him you
couldn't get the chance?"
Cause you amt ever give it to
me-
No an l never wiII.' returned
Mnna. with emphasis.
"Jes' what thought" said Bob, dis
mallv. Guess I'll better 90"
Guess We had" remarked his host
ess, Hospitality. As she spoke she
wiped out the dish-pan and hung it up
on the nail behind. If | was YOU I'd
learn few things before came court
in"
But you're bic sight clever'n me-"
answered Bob meekly.
That's so said Minna, lacOnicallv.
as 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 prog
rcSS.
a few days later nope returned,
hright-eyed and smiling. and Bob de-
termined to make another attempt to
secure the elusive Minna. In ths soft
dusk of the early summer evening he
went thoughtfully across the field to-
ward her fathers cottage, now soft
ened Of its daytime angularities, and,
10 Bob's imagination, nesting cOntid-
inglv in the trees.
House 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 resolved dozen
schemes in his mind, all of which had
sooner or later to be dismissed as i'm
practicable, in view of the uncertain
nature of the damSel in question. If
he could only be sure of how Minna
would take anything. But he never
could be. She was as wayward as the
summer breeze.
Suddenly. in the midst of his pom
dering,a 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 bluebell
along his path. Bob gave an emphatic
clap to his lee aud the listening Cupid
ll4Ht INV Z Hetlu Il SHUil CutNhlt iOI-
! lowed by delighted exclamation.
Gosh. But that'll do it," as the
wooer sped along his path. Minna
herself met Bob at the door and gave
him chair outside, beneath fra
grant 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 the dusky twilight; her hair curl
ing in moist little ends around her
small face. Bob looked at her and his
] heart failed him. But he remembered
( a certain Thomas Anderson, whom re-
/ port said had loitered beneath the
/ honeysuckle for the last few nights,
and brought back his oozing courage.
They wuz talking about YOU, last
night. down at the pump" he re-
marked. with assumed cheerfulness.
"'Tal>in' about me?" said Minna,,
angrjly. How dared thcy?'
, On, Lord" gasped Bob TO himself;