Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-23
Twas Leap Year

10 EPPERs and pumpkins! A wild
u ow moved in right next door, and

elis leap year,
Mr.. Alonzo Larkins stared apprehen.
sively out Of his window, as IL he ex-
pected to see his newly arrived neigh.
Dor fitting up his porch steps in search
of him with lasso. Instead he really
did see a small, Notwithstanding
woman walking serenely from he,
doorway toward her own front lawn
bearing pot Of pansies and trowel
"Of, course" he continued caustical.
", wants to make a good impression
first before she lets out at me. Well
ma'am, my heart is tough But you
are a neat little bundle" he added with
s slight change in tone; trim as q
sassafras whistle. That's rlght-let
that rufiied-up pink contraption slide
on your head. Gum, what shiny brown
hair! And look at the little curl bob
bling over her off ear!'
Little Mrs. Bittersweet did not seem
ut all troubled by the orb Mr.. Larkins
deemed it expedient to keep focused
upon her. She trotted around about
her own business, paying little heed to
the doings of her bachelor neighbor.
The first time she met him plump and
square she gave him sweet, indiffer-
ent little neighborly Good morning. .
which somehow excited his discomfort
and ire.
Took about as much notice of me as
she would Of brindle. dog" he COM
planned to himself; sin fact, not so
much. She pets up all the old stray
dogs and gives 'em bones. What's the
matter with me, I'd like to knowg'
He looked anxiously into the mirror
rs he brushed his hair. He saw there
In good-looking and fairly good-na
tured face, the chief defect of which
was an expression tending towards
self-conceit.
Now, ma'am," he observed decls-
lively. addressing the absent widow,
you've got to see me and appreciate
me; then If you choose to take advant-
age Of leap year privileges, don't real
" know as I'll run away"
Meantime Mrs. Bittersweet's atten-
ton had been directed to Mr.. Larkins
by her friend. Miss Podderly.
Hes the smartest man in Bibb-
ville,H said she. "and got everything in
his house woman's heart could wish,
from gas ranges to teaspoons, not to
mention scuds of blue-and-white ware
saucepans. But seems like he's afraid
some woman'll marry him in spite of
himself. guess he's too bashful to
ask any one. But believe in my heart
you could overcome the difficulty,
Polly. IL you'd set your cap good and
strong"
Set t1ddlestick," retorted Polly
Bittersweet. scornfully, "I'll never SET
my cap for any man." ssssis .,s5 s.
Well, said Miss Podderly. u wish
4 had- the opportunities you turn up
your Ase at so reckiessly.p
Mr.. Larkins finally grew decidedly
3discontented and little puzzled.
Il don't understand you, ma am" he
admitted, In one of his mental apostro-
phes to the widow. II have so far mod.
flied my views as to give you every op-
portunity to signify your wish to be-
come Mrs. Larkin, and vet you're as
cool and calm rs bale of snow. Tn
not used to 1t, ma'am, and l won't
stand 1t. I'll give you three weeks
more to get interested in me, and then
I'll take and propose to you-thats
about what I'll do"
When the allotted three weeks of
grace had expired Mr.. Larkins, In des-
peration. executed his threat and re-
49, n",la. ap ~. ne result OF
s..s,. A w sna.n'ionsiiip una
Ian " iaiiiess ~ ,iie WIDOWS,
spo'..lon
ne uecep.eu we sentence WIN Wis,
.ple uisappoln.ilreht' Out pore 1t with
manly IN, iortituuc.
3 I'm sorry ma am. ne SAID, frank
W touring sorry I've taken more of
snihe 70 YOU somehow than ever
uiu 10 any one ana "a pc good to you,
you eau Dahh on that. But II you can't
IKE me- you cant. ihere' now, mann,
uon,t go ana cry-oont. wouldn't
nurt your Ieeiihgs LOT forty farms"
LOT the Wiuow heart All ut once had
smit,eh her Sharply ana some subtle
49, :, .,.e... aa...a., !, "s.epe
@...,. -. .s.sa "si eses " prllil
We" .I,,, 30 - go ,o,,., ), ~,
.,,.hins ona sah,,,,, ~; sn ), iai'efeu'
"naas. .o..,n', s :. !,
..,,,na .don.t o ~. =, - inplorea Mr.
h,.a nhnrt ~ ~. ,e u nise,ao'e OF
~ ahana. ,a,.a = .. suu snoulu,kind
.ao,.n 1nst ~ -. ,.nan sou hnoM W,
Mr. Iorl.,ns dnro hoad,a mon YOU,
80 no., ,,ata,, 80 40 e mo his
S,stroat n,s .han..,.s o 'solously 10
sat down on the adn .s' 20 eu ~, 'ne MiuoM ),
sw,na har No.. ,,t.1s e. po.en anu
~ Do he,;eua TN haIs 80 ee.euis
she Under her breath 81 da. saiu
I,va ,ost M GOOD = mo, =. I I,1, say
meat and ali bao,rsa' 1Iann,...n eve ever
derlv told mo N RIM artar t h',, ou
naain,+ have nm q ftan h,n, r.. I'M
hive thrown him owav ona a,..,.
half ma smart nc thomgb+ = VOC a1 ~.
lonely and miserable wooNoo.oo y
NJ. p,t....I