The Coconino weekly sun., 1896-10-22
utter disregard for the conventional.

utter disregard for the conventional. tiles?
 And it is leap year, too!
 Were a conceited man," he said, smirking at himself in his mirror, "I would fancy her in love with me-"
 So he thought the matter over in every light. Putting together the otherwise unacountable blushings. leap year. her undisguised liking for him he made up his mind he would as soon marry her as not--in fact, rather. On no acc count could he wound her susceptible little tender heart. Guileless little creature! In fact, he owed her great deal for brightening his story--a serial, too-beyond all belief. And how might she not brighten his life!
 So with beating heart he entered tho parlor. ready for any emergency.
 Daisy was there.
 "I have been waiting," she cried. "I have braced up my courage tc make the avowal."
 Her hands were behind her and her lovely face all aglow. 'I wish you would help me out. You must suspect what the secret is. Come, now; don't you? Don't make it so hard for me to say the words, MT. Dexter"
 Dexter dropped upon n sofa, utterly overcome with blissful anticipation, in kind of tranced calm.
 "You are so clever, Mir. Dexter, you may have guessed"
 Daisy, darling" he murmured, draw ing her gently to his side. "I have guessed--I thought so from the very first"
 "Ah, you clever dear!" she cried, joy fully; "and you have given me every encouragement. haven't you? And in so many delicate ways"
 "That have, dearest; but don't be SO shy. Come out and say the words. I long to hear them from those innocent lips"
 Daisy looked up and she looked down. Come, darling" murmured Dexter; "don't keep me in suspense. You have every right to speak out. Consider the year-leap, you know; and the new woman and all that. I'll be sure to say yes to everything"
 What on earth do you mean 2" cried Daisy, drawing herself n little aloof. She kept her two hands clasping some. thing tightly behind her back.
 "You shy little mouse!" whispered Dexter, reaching for them.
 "There! you have it!" and she dropped into his hands thick manuscript. "l have written love story, MT. Dexter, and have worked you in as my hero"
 Dexter fell back limp and speeches. and she rattled on:
 "1 worked you in from the point of your shoe to the crown of your dear old head. Though, of course, covered that bald place with nice brown hair and smoothcd out your wrinkles and made you look as you must have done 20 years ago."
 "Oh. you did?" murmured Dexter. feebly.
 "Was it wrong?" she cried, in con- sternation. II thought it would make you feel young again. thought you would be pleased"
 Daisy" uttered Dexter, hoarsely "why did you blush every time camo near you?"
 "To make you notice me. Is it wrong to like to be noticed?"
 "Why did you draw me on to tell you of love, love, love?"
 'I wanted to know; and Sister Hctty said I might talk to you like a dear. sweet old grandfather. Oh-oh, have furt your precious feelings?" and Daisy fairly blubbered.
 Some months later Dexter met his friend, who greeted him warmly and congratulated him on the success of his serial story.
 Tt is bowling success," he said, "par- ticularly the rosebud of girl"
 Dexter was looking away at a swallow in the air.
 Did you get up a case? Has love taken you in yet?
 Dexter looked very glum. He an- swered, slowly:
 There is a weapon called boomerang, which, unsltillfully thrown, recoils and cuts your throat"
 "Wcll, what about the boomcrang?"
 "I fooled with the thing" said Dexter. with bitter smile, land it struck me just under the fifth rib"
 IT. f-.