The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-02-03
Mrs, BitterSWeet'S Proposal

Peppers and pumpkinsl A widow
moved in right next door, and this leap
yaar.''
Mr.. Alonzo Larkins stared apprehen-
sively 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 a lasso. Instead he really
did see a small. inOffensive looking Wo-
man walking serenely from her door
way toward her own front lawn. bear
ing a pot OF pansies and a troweL
"Oh. of course" he continued caus-
/ tically, wants to make a good impress
sion first before she lets out at me-
Well, ma am. my heart is tough. But
you are neat little bundle he adeed
with a slight change in tone; trim as
4 sassafras whistle. That's right-let
that ruffled up pink contraption slide
off your head. Gum, what shiny brown
hair! And look al the little curl bob
bing over her off earl"
Little Mrs. Bittersweet did not seem
at all troubled BY the orb Mr.. Larkihs
deemed it expedient to keep focused
on 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 a sweet indiffer-
ent little neighborly Good morning,
which somehow excited his discomfort
and ir~.
crook about as much notice of me
as she would of brindle dog he COM
planned to himself; in fact, not as
/ much. She pets uD all the old stray
/ dogs and gives EN- bones. What's the
matter with ne I'd like to know?'
He looked anxiously into the mirror
| as he brushed his hair, He saw therein
| a good-looking and fairly good-natured
/ face, the chief defect of which was an
! expression tending toward self-cOnceit.
Nov. ma'am,' he observed decisive
/ ly, addressing the absent widow, you We
/ got to see me and appreciate me; then
/ if you choose to take advantage of leap
year privileges, 1 don't really know as
| I'll run away"
| Meantime Mrs. Bittersweet's attention
| had been directed to Mr.. Larkins by her
! friend, Miss Podderly.
He's the smartest man in Bibbville,
said she, and got everything in his
/ house a woman'S heart could wish, from
/ gas ranges to teaspoons, not to mention
scuds Of blue and white ware sauce
pans. But seems like he's afraid some
womanll marry him in spite of himself
I guess he's too bashful 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 fiddlestick," retOrted Polly Bit
/ tersWeet, ScOrnfully. iii never set my
cap for any man."
We'll" 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 apos-
trophies to the widow. 4 have so far
| modified my views as to give you every
opportunity to signify your wish to be-
come Mrs. Larkins, and yet you're as
cool and calm as bale of snow. I'm
not used to it, ma am, and 1 won't stand
it. 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
I'll do"
When the allotted three weeks of
grace had expired Mr.. Larkins. in des-
peration, executed his threat and re-
Miss Podderly's championship and
streak of contrariness in the widows
disposition.
He accepted the sentence with visible
disappointment, but bore it with manly
fortitude.
I'm sorry, ma am he said, frankly,
| tearing sorry. I've taken more of a
shine to you, somehow, than I 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. I wouldn't
hurt your feelings for forty FARMS for
| the widows heart all at once had smit-
ten her sharply and some subtle pathos
! in Mr.. Larkin's simple acceptance of
defeat caused her eyes to brim with
misty tears
| I'm so-soo-o sorry she faltered,
/ blushing and sobbing, T.
Don't mention it, inplored Mr.. Lar
kins, don't you be miserable or blue
about it. But if you should-kind of
change your mind, you know. ma am,
| just let me know, won't you?''
Mr.. Larkins dove headlong into his
garden patch and hoed vigorously to
distract his thoughts. and the widow
4 sat down on the edge of her porch and
swung. be- neat little foot dejectedly.
y do believe IN half-witted.'' said
/ she under her breath. II dare say I've
lost as good man as I'll ever meet.
and all because Henrietta Podderly told
me to run after him. I needn't have
run after him, but could have thrown
him away, and I amt half as smart
as I thought I was. I'm lonely and mis-
era Bile, woo-oo-00." Mrs. Bittersweet
ran into her sitting room and cried as
heartily as Mr.. Larkins hoed-
After that she smiled sunni1y when
| ever sl.S net lin. He smiled geniall-.-