The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-20

waiting, but alas for his nearsightedness.
he made sad mistake. Roberta was
detained n few moments, and Nell Black
was the first to go into the yestibule.
which was dimly lighted, or rather light
ed only by the lamps in the church q She
stopped a moment to arrange her wrap.
but Jim thought it was Roberta, and he
stepped out of the shadow of the door and
offered his arm. She knew him and did
not hesitate, but still she thought lit
queer that he'd treat Rol erta in such'a
manner.
II was waiting for you,n he said as
they stepped out into the sweet night air,
laden with perfume from clover and wild
roses. Don't speak until I've said
what have to say. I've known and
loved you from childhood, but never had
courage to tell you, Roberta
Jim Brown, take me right back to
the church! You have made your proposal
to the wrong girl
jim was as if paralyzed. Presently he
found his voice and said:
81 believe it's all a joke you girls played
on me-"
But Nell declared not He vowed he'd
never speak to Roberta again as long as
he lived after that trick, for he felt sure
she had put Nell up to it. Just the same
he took Nell back to the church door and
left her
Roberta did not understand why he
was not waiting for her, so she had driven
home with her father. Nell told all. the
girls about Jim proposing making each
one promise not to tell, but it leaked out,
and soon every young man in town knew
it, and Jim did not fail to hear it from
some one for at least a month He avoid
ed Roberta, and she, not understanding
his conduct, was too proud to question
anyone about it. Thus eight years passed
without either seeing or speaking to the
other, for she was staying most of the
time with her aunt in the city. Her
deafness increased with the years and she
was compelled to use an ear trumpet.
Since Brushwood had become a thriv-
! ing town, her fathers farm had become
cut up into lots, and she lived in neat
home at the further end of the town,
when she was there at all. Jim was the
proprietor of large dairy, and supplied
a large number of customers with rich
| milk.
| One morning Roberta (now an old
maid) sat by her window looking up the
| street.
''If I had some sweet milk'' she
| thought, 'Id make one of those corn
| buildings father likes so much" On this
| particular morning one of Jim's drivers
had the misfortune to run hay fork
through his foot, so Jim drove the milk
wagon in his stead. Just as Roberta
thought of the pudding he turned the
corner with the wagon. Hurriedly going
to the door she called Qor the house set
back somewhat from the street,, "Can YOU
spare me quart of milk?'
whoa! Yes madam" he answered as
he stopped at the curbstone. She went
into the house for pail, and he measured
the milk from the great shining car, when
she stopped beside the wagon she asked ::
SIS it mornings milk" and put her
ear trumpet to her ear.
Jim, as ne ,rsighted as in years gone by j.,
lifted the quart of milk and poured it
into the ear trumpet.
I'm the name of Heavenr she cried and
let the trumpet fall
Did she have him arrested? You'll be
surprised when say no. But he is a
prisoner for life. Whys The recognition
was mutual, and the reason know this
is because my hostess told me. Ny host
ess: oh yes, she is Roberta Brown, Jim S
! wife for the past eighteen months.