The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-07-30
LEAP YEAR LETTER
ssWell, I am blessP'

- well, i am O4eS6f
1t was no wonder that Bob Kirk stared
at the letter he held in his hand, for it
contained a proposal of marriage, and it
bore the signature Katie Armstrong''
Katiel Saacy, charming Katie, who had
refused dozen at least.
Poor little thingi It must have been
hard for her to write, - he thought. mo
doubt she wished to help me. By Jove,
Pm lucky fellow 3"
s'My darling Kate he began, ''I'm a
blunt, stupid fellow and never could say
what I felt but love you and have loved
you longer than you have any idea Of. If
you will have me, shall be the happiest
man alive. May I call this evening? Yours,
Bob. -
Meanwhile Miss Armstrong was going
about her daily avocations as If there were
no such disturbing elements as lovers and
proposals in the world. She was the only
lively individual at the breakfast table,
for Tom and VIII, her irrepressible school
boy brothers, were not in their usual spir-
its. Kate rallied them on their abstraction
as she prepared their lunch
you needn't tell me, Tom. I know
BETTER for the youth was earnestly pro-
testing that his conscience was perfectly
clear. You'll both be wanting me to help
you out of scrape. Now, I've warned you. -
And she shook her pretty head at them as
they departed, with guilty countenances.
haO6y QeaFT
It was her mothers voice. The girl look
ed ruefully at the blackboard and -four bar
rel, then ran up stairs.
Il want you to run out TO Browns to
match this wool, dear. I can't get on with
my knitting"
''I'u get on my hat at once, " she said
brightly, and presently looked in again
with face so sunny that one hardly no
ticed how shabby was the little hat cOquet-
fish1V marched on the brown O71Tla
f'KatieP'
'tBobr'
Her brown eyes met his as frankly as
usual. Her smile was unembarrassed. 1t
was the gentleman who blushed and look
ed conscious
s'You-did you get my note9'' he STAN
mered; then, noting her look of surprise:
mo, of course not. What am thinking
OFF,
'sYour notes. she repeated innocently.
''No, what was in it, Bob9 Anything par
ticular?''
Anything particular And Bob felt her
letter at that identical moment cracking
IN his breast pocketl Kate looked at him
with wondering eyes
Cit is impossible to explain here, = he
said, with heightened color. Are you to
be at home tonight, Katie9''
Eyes, certainly. Come to tea, Bob. III
have scenes and marmalade. -
Scenes and marmalade! Bob wondered
vaguely as he sat at his desk a few mo
ments later whether he had dreamed it
all And Katie wondered what made Bob
so unlike himself and what on earth he
had been writing to her about.
''Here's your wool, mother-the exact
shade, and here arc some flowers. Icou1dn't
resist them. I was tempted with cowsIips,
butt
"In the miIliner's 5, y laughed Katie
''Ohl Did you meet Prince Charming
with smile.
''No, only Bob Kirk He is coming to
tea, SO I must make scenes. -
just then the doorbe1 rang.
The pest, thought Katie and opened
the door. 1t was Bobs letter. Wondering
much, she tore 1t open.
my darling Kate
She looked round startled, the rich color
dyeing cheek and brow, then quietly shut
herself III her little room and read the
short note through. She was not mistaken
then. 1t was q proposal from Bob-just
the kind of proposal she might have ex-
pected froIn him, dear old fellow, if she
had ever thought of such thing. But he
had never said word of love till today
Tom and Bill we're not often particular
about their toilet. AS q rule they threw
their caps in the hall, tumbling over each
other in their eagerness to be first at the
tea table.
On this particular evening they were
late, but when at last they made their ap-
pearance their faces shone from recent alb
1utions 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" growled Tom. s'You
needn't tramp en- a fellows toes" Then
he, too, opened his eyes.
s.Hellol I sayP'
Its all right, youngster,' - said cheer
full voice. 1t was Bob, sitting in Tom 8
particular chair, beside Kate and the tea
kettle. He was holding her hand in his,
and, what was more astonishing, Katie
seemed to like it, and the mater was beam
ing approval
This is my seat now explained Bob,
and Tom 1reekly drew his chair to re-
spectful distance.
Tt was all right evidently, as Bob said,
but Tom and VIII were not easy in their
minds and haunted the lovers throughout
the evening, to their great discomfort, IN
til Bob had fairly said good night. Then
they slipped out after him
Il say, Bob. .
''Well2' Bob felt amiably disposed to
all Katies belongings, even to Tom and
Will.
cts all right with you and Katie -
''An right should think So" with
emphasis
Ibid you-did she-I mean Tom
had difficulty in finding words. "Was it
her letter that did it?''
''What do you pean?''
Because, y Tom blurted out the words,
"she didn't send that letter. 1t was VIII
and I that did it. -
The murder was out Bob caught the
culprit by the collar Tom squirmed.