The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-12-09

Il KNOW TT WAS A JOKE" HE RESUMED.
~. AS there happened to be no one in
the library at the time except Dicky
and herself, his attention was soon at
tracted by the aggressive scratching Of
her pen.
"Why don't you stop and amuse a
fellOw?" he urged, What are you
writing?"
"Oh, just writing" she replied airily,
her tone insinuating that there were
subjects beyond his comprehension.
ITO a man." he asked sulkily.
"a very charming man." she assured
him impressively Its rather an i'm
portant communication" she contin-
ued. Il wish you would look over this
page and see if it is too stilted"
Dicky took it up with relieved alac-
rity, but his face heightened visibly as
he read:
81 have decided that l will marry
you. 1 don't know why hesitated. If
you can get away from town for day
take the Ederton local for Mrs. Vim
berly's country place, and you can tell
me if you are glad I didn't keep you
waiting any longer"
Dicky handed it back and commenced
a study of the library fire.
81 don't see how any one could pos
sibly call that stilted," he growled.
Melissa signed the note, sealed it and
directed it to DR.. John Hartly.
Considering the fact that DR.. Hartly
was only very casual acquaintance
and had never asked Melissa to marry
him nor had she ever dreamed of his
asking her to do so, this literary
achievement might be regarded as rath
er theatrical.
She gathered up her writing mate
rails, slipped the letter into her writ
ing pad and started for the door. Stop
ping a minute to fluff up her brown
pompadour, she fixed reproachful eye
upon the object of her vengeance.
81 never would have thought, Dicky''
there were volumes Of surprise in her
voice-"that you would have cared any
thing at all for bonds" She went out
and shut the door rather decidedly.
AS she crossed the hall the letter slip
ped out and fell to the floor, making no
sound on the soft rug. She went up
stairs, unconscious Of her loss, smiling
in anticipation of the interview she
would have with Dicky when his re-
pentance had reached proper depth.
It was Melissa's theory, gained in her
twenty years, that men needed to be
taught lessons occasionally. When
Dicky had learned his lesson she would
acknowledge that she had not yet sent
the letter, but was keeping it for fur
Their consideration.
The foOtman, coming for the letter
bag a few minutes later, was uncon-
scious Of the inner workings Of Melis-
sa's mind. He picked up her letter and
posted it with the others.
Two evenings later the maid brought
Melissa DR.. Hartly's card. Il took him
to the library, miss. He said he could
only stay a few minutes and wanted
to see you alone"
Melissa went downstairs, her fore
head puckered into q wondering frown.
She could not imagine why DR.. Hartly
had come to Ederton to talk with her
about anything.
He came forward to meet her, and
she felt little constrained In her greet
ing Of this man of forty, who seemed
so different from Dicky and the 9TH
ers.
I'm SO glad you decided to marry
me-" he said cordially, his eyes twin
king. 81 hoped some woman would
some day. You see, have been so
busy-I rather neglected it,
Melissa qnsped with astonishment.
'Who said anything about my mar