Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1903-04-05
CHOLMONDY BIFKlNS.
est darling, yours forever and forever

When | had concluded debating this
ludicrous, gushing epdstle, ! could hard
ly refrain from laughing aloud and
naturally thought how different it
was from the nice, sensible one | had
dispatched to Miss Helen Goldr6X
that afternoon, wherein l had polite
ly added that | would call for my an
swer in a couple of days-on the fol-
lowing Sunday, in fact, Easter Sun
day
Bifkins looked the whole thing over,
and then, looking up at me obviously,
asked:
Say, old fellow, do you think this
is all right? Isn't it just-er-just a
trifle-er-strong?"
1t was all l could do to keep from
laughing right at him, poor chap, but
l restrained myself and said in an in
jured tone:
That's the usual thanks a fellow
gets for helping a friend OUT"
"Oh, say, old chap, l didn't mean
that he said, apologizing profusely.
"Of course it's all right if you say So
this even more dubiously
.'Of course it is l answered gayly.
and then stayed until ! saw him
put it in an envelope and send it to
be posted.
1t was a great lark, I thought, as |
strolled home afterward, and when
Easter Sunday came l spruced myself
up to wait upon the sweet and veal
thy Helen, to whom | thought, after
| had been accepted, | might tell the
farce, and. as she always exceedingly
enjoyed joke, after she had playfully
quite sure to have her jain me in a
hearty laugh at poor Bifkins' expense.
made my way to the Goldrox man.
sion, and being admitted waited in
the parlor several minutes for Helen
to come down. Having to wait was
unquestionably good sign, thought
|; girls always like to put a few fin
ishing touches on their toilet before
they come down to meet their future
husbands, and l was rather glad she
made me wait.
When she did come down she didn t
act just as I'd hoped she would-that
is, she didn't come nesting into my
arms or anything of that sort But
then, thought I, Helen always was
sensible sort of girl and wasn't very
apt to do that sort of thing. So we
just shook hands and | sat down on
the sofa, but instead Of joining me
Helen took seat in one of the chairs
that stood quite near to the sofa, but
yet not near enough to be quite COM
portable.
for moment. but, recovering my self
command, softly whispered:
Helen, I've come in person to urge
what asked in my letter of pro.
posal and honestly, sincerely trust
that you care sufficiently for me to
trust your future happiness in my
hands,"
Helen didn't speak for nearly min
ute, when, sinking her voice, she
said: Believe me, Mr. Hardup. | am
equally sincerely sorry, and | should
have written you. only l didn't know
how to put it, but the very next day
after your proposal | received anoth-
er SO passionate, so flattering so-oh,
SO beautiful! her eyes lit up
that, though have always had a
most friendly regard for you, l could
no: resist-'he gentleman who wrote
the other proposals passionate, beau
tiful pleading and l wrote him let
ter accepting him by the return mail.
II hope haven't hurt you, but then
there are any number of other really
doubt fearing she might put her foot
in it, Helen said no more.
l sat half dazed for moment, and
then summoned up enough courage
to murmur. May l ask the gentle
mans name?'
Yes" she answered timidly; "It's
Mr. Bifkins.''
l was almost tempted to burst out
laughing. | thought it must be joke
But instead l merely murmured, And
do you care so much for him.
well, candidly," she replied, 81
hadn't thought much about him be
fore-before | received his proposal.
out when read that, so fiery, so kind
so full of burning admiration, my eyes