The Caldwell tribune., 1904-04-23

this leap year
Mr.. Alonzo Larkins stared apprehen
siYely out of his window, as IL he ex
pected to see his newly arrived neigh
bOr fitting up his porch steps In searcl
OF him with a lasso Instead he reall,
did see a small, inoffenaive-l looking
woman walking serenely from he
doorway toward her own front lawn
bearing a pot Of pansies and trowel
OF, course" he continued caustical
~, wants to make o good impression
Grst before she let's out at me. Well
ma'am, my heart 10 tough. But yol
axe neat little bundle" he added will
slight change in tone; trim as {
: sassafras whistle. That's right-le
that rufied-up pink contraption slide
on your head. Gum, what shiny brown
hairI And look at the little curl bob
bing over her of carp
Little Mrs. Bittersweet did not seen
ct all troubled by the orb Mr.. Larkins
deemed It expedient to keep focused
upon her. She trotted around abou,
her own business, paying little heed tc
the doings Of her bachelor neighbor
The drst time she met him plump and
square abe gave him a sweet, Indiffer,
emit 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; "in 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 known"
He looked anxiOusly into the mirror
as 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
Gelf-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, don't real
ly know as I'll run away"
Meantime Mrs. Bittersweet's atten-
tioa had been directed to Mr.. Larkins
BY her friend, Miss Podderly. .
He's the smartest man in Bibb-
Ville." 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 afraid
come woman'n marry him In spite of
himself. guess he's too bashful to
ask any one. But believe in my heart
hA
Polly, II you'd set your cap good and
strong"
"Set a flddlestick," rstorted Polly
Bittersweet, scornfully, "I'll never ser
my cap for any man."
"Well," said Miss Podderly, II wish
I had the opportunities you turn up
your nose at SO recklessly."
Mr.. Larkins finally grew decidedly
discontented and little puzzled
II don't understand you, ma 'am," he
admitted, in one of his mental apostro-
phes to the widow. II have SO far mod
ffled my Views as to give you every op-
portunfty to signify your wish to be-
come Mrs. Larkin, and vet you're as
cool and calm as a bale of snow. I'm |
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-that's |
about what Til do.''
When the allotted three weeks of |
grace had expired Mr.. Larkins, In des-
peration. executed his threat and re-
ceived plump "Nov'-the result OF |
Miss Podderly's championship and a |
streak of contrariness in the widows |
disposition.
He accepted the sentence with Wis
lble disappointment, but bore it with |
manly fortitude.
''I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, frank
", tearing sorry. I've taken more of
shine to you, somehow, than 1 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-don't. wouldn't
hurt your feelings for forty farms"
for the Widows heart all at once had
smitten her sharply and some subtle
pathos in Mr.. Larkins' simple accept
ance Of defeat caused her eyes to brim
with misty tears.
"I'm 30 so-soo-o sorry" she faltered,
blushing and sobbing, TT
"Don't mention it." implored Mr.
Larkins. "don't you be miserable or
blue about It But If you ahould-kind
Of change your mind. you know,
ma'am, just let me know, won't your
Mr. Larkins dove headlons 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-witted," said
she. under her breath. 81 dare saw
I've lost as good man as I'll ever !
meet, and all because Henrietta Pod
derry told me to run after him.
needn't have run after him, but 1 could
have thrown him away, and amt
half AZ smart as thought was. I'm
lonely and miserable. woo-oo-oo."
IRA Bittersweet ran Into her sitting