Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1904-08-20
A NOVEL COURTSHIP

OS

man. Christmas comes but once a year
make the most of it."
Van Story turned and grasped his
friends hand.
There may be something in it, old
chap" he said. AT any rate. 1 thank
you. And now 1 must be Off"
Van Story, when he arrived at the
Pinkton mansion, was agreeably sur
prised to find that the crowd had d.
minished-there had been an after
noon tea, and this was the tail end
of it
''It was very good of you to come,
even if you are late" she said. "You
don't do this sort of thing very often,
do your"
Not any oftener''-Van Story was
going to add, than 1 can help" but
stopped himself for an instant. Then
he thought it better to be strictly hon
est and so he added-"than 1 can help.
1 hate this sort of thing" he contin-
ued, looking her frankly IN her blue
eyes, because, you know, it's SO I'M
satisfactory"
"Sir!" she pouted back, do you
mean to say that my tea is unsatisfac-
tory?'
He nodded.
For me, 1 mean" he added. He
lowered his voice, although this was
hardly necessary, as three women on
their right-the left-overs-were dis
GUESSING the opera. "I shall never be
able to see you alone" he said.
what makes you think that?"
well, haven't l been trying to for
weeks?'
She smiled.
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try
again. BY the way, will you help us
trim the church tomorrow night?"
That's manual labor"
81 know it, and that's what 1 want
you for. If you don't like teas, you
surely will enjoy trimming a church
That will give you something to do. ]
know you are strong. because you used
to play football, and besides, you loob
strong"
do I-really7 So does hired
man."
She pouted again.
"Now, 1 intended that for a compIi
ment, and it was horrid of you to turf
, it the other way. But you will come
, will you not? You know the church
the large old-fashioned brick that set.
off the avenue. The sexton will hav,
| the ladder, and the green's have al
1 been ordered"
Van Story smiled at her enthusiasm
"Who's going to be there?" he asked
l Let me see. They've placed me IL
] charge of the affair, you know, be
cause 1 really felt ought to do some
thing this year, and there will be fou
e others to help-the superintendent, MI
l Pumpton; the infants Bible elias
i teacher, Mr.. Huddle; the assistant or
n ganist, Mr.. Wringer, and Vestrymal
t Springer-that makes six in all, doesn'
it-counting us in?"
+ Van Story arose.
That's four too many" he said, a
t he held her hand. Don't you thin
s so?"
y She flushed slightly.
YES" she said softly. "But-you'
e be there, won't you? Surely?'
+ I'll be there" he replied. "TC
l. morrow night at eight"
l. AS he walked back down the avenu
8 Van Story almost shouted to himself |
It the exuberance of his new though
8 Here at last was his opportunity, afte
t, so much waiting-after the long day
u spent in hoping against hope that tn
o next time he might stand face TO fac
II with this beautiful girl and tell he
how much he loved her-here, at las
?. was his chance. He hastily repeate
q over the names Of the church trimmin
l. party that he might not forget then
e He would go to the sexton. find the
8, addresses, and the rest was easy.
That individual was at his hom
r reading the afternoon paper, which /
If put down apologetically as Van Stor
g entered.
d az am from Miss Pinkton, abo,