Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-03-31
Twas Leap Year

svely out of his window, as If 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 small, MISUNDERSTANDING
woman walking serenely from her
doorway toward her own front lawn,
bearing pot Of pansies and a trowel.
'Of, course" he continued caustical-
ly. wants to make good impression
first before she let's out at me. Well.
ina'an. my heart is tough But You
are neat little bundle" he added with
slight change in tone; trim as a
sassafras whistle. That's rlght-let
that rutlied-up pink cOntraption slide
off your head Gum. what shiny brown
hair. And look at the little curl bob
hing over her off earl
Little Mrs. Bttersweet did not seem
at all troubled by the orb Mr.. Larkins
deemed II 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 ana
b4UdIC Bic 8ASt Hitu SWCCt,
ent little neighborly Good morning"
which somehow excited his discomfort
and Ire
Took about as much notice Of me as
she would Of a brindle dog" he COM
planned to himself; lin fact. not 80
much. She pets up all the old stray
dogs and gives EN- bones. What's the
matter with me. I'd like to known"
He looked anxiously into the mirror
as he brushed his hair He saw there
IN a good-looking and fairly good ma
tured face. the chief defect Of which
was an expression tending towards
self-conceit.
Now. ma'am.' he observed decis-
lively. addressing the absent widow.
you've got to see me and appreciate
me: then II you choose to take advant
age OF leap year privileges, l don't real
iy know as III run away
Meantime Mrs. Bittersweet's atten-
ton had been directed to Mr.. I.arkins
by her friend, Miss Podderly.
He's the smartest man in Blbb
VILE" said she. land got everything in
his house a wOmans 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, II you'd set your cap good and
strong"
Set fiddlestick." retorted Polly
Bittersweet. scornfully, "I'll never SCI
my cap for any man."
Well" said Miss Podderly II wish
had the opportunities you turn up
your nose at so recklessly."
Mr. Larkins finally grew decidedly
discontinued and little puzzled.
II 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 as to give you every OPP
portunity to signify your wish to be-
come Mrs. IArkin. and yet you're as
cool and calm as a bale OF snow I'm
not used to it. ma'am, and 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--thYt's
about what I'll do
When the allotted three weeks of
grace had expired Mr.. Iarkins, In dps-
peration. executed his threat and re.
reived a plump "NO!'-the result OF
Miss Podderly's championship and
streak of c0ntrarineSs in the widows
disposition.
He accepted the sentence with Wis
ibc disappointment, but bore it with
manly fortltude
I'm sorry. ma'am." he said frank
iy. tearing sorry. I've taken more of
shine to you. somehow. than | ever
did to any one, and I'd be good to YOU.
you can bank on that But If you can't
like me. you can't. There, now ma'am.
don't go and cry-dOnt. | wouldn't
hurt your feelings for forty farms"
for the widows heart all at once had
smtten her sharply and some subtle
pathOs In MIR. Iarkins' simple acc-nr.
ance Of defeat caused her eyes TO brlm
with misty tears.
I'm so so-soo-O sorry" she faltered.
blushing and sObblng. l."
Don't mention IT," implorcd Mr.
Larklns. don't you be miserabI or
blue about 1t. But If you should-klnd
VI change your mind. you know
ma'am. just let me know. won't you:"
Mr.. Tarklns dove hcadlong into his
garden patch and hoed vigorously to
distract his thoughts. and the widow
sat down on the edge OF her porch and
swung her neat little foot dejectedly.
i do believe I'm half wltted." said
she, under her breath. Il dare sav
I've lost as good man as I'll ever
meet. and all because Henrietta Pod
derby told me to run after him. |
needn't have run after him, but | could
have thrown him away, and | amt
half as smart as thought was. I'm
lonely and miserable. woo-oo-oo."
Mrs BittersWeet ran into her sitting