Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-08-27
A LEAP YEAR LETTER

V . r
refused u dozen at least
Poor little thing 1t mass havo been
.44..l. ~. 49, 49,, A.. s-.uu.-.. 49,
doubt she wished to help me BY Joye,
I'm lucky fellow. "
My darling Kate " he began, 81 IN
blunt. stupid fellow and never could say
what felt, but love you and havo loved
you lonssr than you have any Idea OF. II
you will have me, l shall be tho happiest
man alive May call this evening" Yours,
Bob
Meanwhile Miss Armstrong was going
about her daily avocations a. II there wer'
no such disturbing clements as lovers and
proposals in the ord she WIS the only
lively individual a. the breakfast table,
for / ON AID WILL, nor iTTepressltGc school
boy brothers, were not in thelr usual spir-
its Kate ralliDd them on their abstraction
as she prepared thor lunch.
You needn't tell me, Tom l know
better" for the youth was earnestly pro
testing that his conscience WAS perfectly
clear. You II both " wanting NE to help
you out of scrape Now, l W warned you
And she shook her pretty head ut them as
they departed, with guilty countesaanceA
Kate, dear
1t WAS her mothers voice The girl look
ed ruefully at the blackboard and four bar
rel, then ran up stairs
Il want you 70 run out TO Browns TO
match this wool, dear l can't get on with
my knitting"
"I'u get on my hn. at once, sho said
brightly, and presently looked In again
with a face 40 sunny that ono hardly no
tioed how shabby WAS she little hat coquet-
tishly peroAe.d On ths brown clirlA
katie
Bob
He. brown eyes met his as frankly az
usual. her smile was unernharrassod 1t
was the gentleman who blushed and look
ed conscious
"You-did you get my nosa" he STAN
mered then. noting her look OF surprise:
No, q curs-s not What Am thinking
of"
Your not. she repeated innooeusly
mo, what WAS In u, Bob Anything par
tioulaE"
Anything particular And Bob felt her
letter at tina. identical moment cracking
in his br>,est pockrti Kate. hooked y, him
with wondering eyes
1T Is impossible to explain hero = hs
said. with heightened color. Arr you 10
ne at home tonight Katie
"Yes, certainly Come to tea. Bob III
have scenes AID uarnalHda
Scenes and marInaladel Bob wondered
vaguely ~ he sat at his desk - few mo
ment- later whether he had C.reamed II
all And Katie wondered Whist made Bob
so unlike himself and what on earth he
had heen writing TO her about
Here : your wool. mother-thc exact
shade and here are SOME flower. couldnt
Tod
but
"Cowslipst"
"In the mi'liner's. " laughed Katie
"Oh, Did you Ine<s Prince Charlings"
with "a smile.
NO, only Bob Kirk. He Is coming 10
tea, so l must make scone--
just then tIIe doorbvll rang.
The post, thought kstie and opened
the door. IL WAS Bohs letter Wondering
much, she tore 1t open.
My darling kate
She looked round startled, the rich color
dyeing chte. and brow, then quietly shut
herself in Lar little room and r,s.d the
short note through. She was not mistaken
then. 1t was a proposal from Bob-just
the kind of proposal she might have ex-
pected from him, dear old fellow, il shs
had ever thought Of such a thing. But he
had never said word OF love .ill today.
Tom and Bill waro NOS otton particular
about their toileA As rule they threw
their caps in the hall, tumbling over each
other in their caSerness 10 be first at the
tea table
On this particular evening they wcre
late, but when st last they made their ap-
pcaraIos their faces shone from rooant ab.
lutions and their entrance wAs decorous.
VIII came first urged from behind, but
stopped short on the threshold, his eyes
round with establishment
Mind your eye, gruwled Tom You
needn l tramp on IA fellow ; toee- Then
he, too opened his eyes
Hello! l say
Its all right, youngster, " said cheer
full voice. II WAS Bob, sitting in Tom !
particular chair beside Kate and the tea
kettle. He was holding her hand in his
and, what vvas Innre astonishing, katIa
seemed TO like H. and the mater Was beam
ing approval
This is my seat now, explained Bob,
and Tom n-eekly drew his chair To a re-
spectful distance,
1t was all right evidently, as Bob said
but Tom and VIII Were not easy in their
minds and haunted the lovers throughout
the evening 10 their great discomfort, un-
til Bob had fairly said good night Then
they slipped out after him.
Il say, Bob. -
"WelE' Bob felt amiably disposed TO
all Katie's belongings, even 70 Tom and
Will
ITS al right with you and Katie"
'All right 1 should think 50, ;" with
emphasis.
Ibid you-did she--I mean Tom
had difficulty in finding words, Was it
her letter that did it?
What do you mean"
Because, Tom blurted on, the words,
"she didn't send that letter. 1t was VIII
and that did it. -
The murder was out Bob caught the
culprit by the collar. Tom squirIned.
Don't, Bob. She wrote 1t, really and
truly, and VIII and I found it and put the
names and sent il to you for fun We were