Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-03-12


pcrtcd 10 see lis newly arrived neigh
Dor fitting up his porch steps in search
OF him with a lasso. Instead he really
did see a small, MISUNDERSTANDING
woman walking sereuely from hel
doorway toward her own front lawn
bearing a pot of pansies and a trowel
"Of course, he continued caustical
Is. wants to make a good impression
first before she let's out at me. Well
ma am. my heart is tough But you
are a neat little bundle. he ,dded with
a slight change in tone; trim as 4
sassafras whistle That's right-let
that ruftled-up pink co'traption slide
off 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
at all troubled by the orb Mr.. Larkins
deemed il eXpedient to keep focused
upon her. She trotted around abour
her own business, paying little heed TO
/ the doings of her bachelor neghbor.
! The first time she met him plump and
( square she gave him sweet indiffer-
emf little nelghborly Good morning, 4"
which somehow excited his discomfort
and ire.
: Took about as much notice of Ae as
she would Of a brindle dos" he com
planned to himself; lin fact. not 50
much. She pets up all the old stray
dogs and gives 'em bones What's the
matter with me. I'd like to know"
He looked anxiously into the mirror
as he brushed is hair He saw there
in goOd-looking and fairly good-na-
tured face. the chief defect Of which
was an expression tending toward,
self-c0ncelt
Now. ma'am," he observed decis-
you've got to see me and appreciate
me; then II you choose to take advant-
age OF leap year privileges. don't real
ly know az I'll run away"
Meantime Mrs. Bittersweet's atten-
ton had been directed to Mr.. Iarklns
by her friend. Miss Podderly.
He's the smartest man in Bibh-
VILE" said she. land 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 afra id
some woman'll marry him in spite OF
himself guess he's too hashful to
ask any one. But | believe in my heart
YOU could overcome the difficulty,
Polly, If you'd set your cap good and
strong"
Set tddlestick, retorted Polly
Bitterswect scorufully I'm never sci
my cap for any man
Well, said Miss Podderly. Il wish
| had the opportunities you turn up
your nose at So recklessly.
Mr. Larkins finally grew decidedly
DISCONTINUED and little puzzled.
Il don't understand you, ma'am." he
admitted. IN one OF his mental apostro-
Plies to the widow. II have so far mod
flied my views rs to give YOU every OPP
portuniiy To signify Your wish to be
come Mrs, larku, and yet you're as
cool and calm a. bale of snow. I'm
not used 60 Il, ma am. and ! won't
stand il. I'll give you three weeks
more Ia get Interested in me, and then
I'll take and propose TO y0u-that's
about what I'll do.
When The allotted three weeks of
grace had expired Mr. IArknS, in des-
pertion. executed his threat and re-
celved n plump "No.''-the result or
Miss Podderly's championship and a
streak of coutrariness in the widows
disposition.
lie accepted the sentence with Wis
lille disappointment, but bore 1t with
manly fortitude.
I'm sorry. ma am" he said frank
~. tearing sorry. I've taken more OF
II shine ia You. somehow. than ever
did TO any one, and Id be good To yen.
You can hank on thar. But II You can't
like me, you can't. There now. ma am
don't 80 and cry~-Gou't wouldn't
hurt your feelings for forty farms. "
for the Widows heart all at once had
>mitten her sharply and some subtle
paIhoS in MIR. l.arknS simple accept.
auce of defeat caused her eyes To hrim
with misty tears.
I'm So >o-Soo-o sorry" she faltered
hluShing aud sohhlng. u"
Don't mention IT," inplored MIR
I.arkuS, don't you Ice miserable OF
blue about H. But II you should kind
ot change your mind. You know
ma'am, Just LEI me know. won't you%
Mr.. l.arkins dove headlong into hi.
garden patch and hoel vigorously /,
distract his thoughts and the widow
sal down on The edge of her porch an,
swung her neat little foot dejcctcdly
I $50 hrlievr I'm half-witted. sal,
she, under her breath Il dare ga,
I've lost a. good man AS I'll eve
meet. and all because Henrietta Pod
DERBY told nv to run after him.
+. needn't have run after him. hut / coul,
have thrown him away. and ain
half As smart aS | thought WAS. In
: lonely and miserable. WOO 600.
Mrs BI'terSwert ran into her slttln