The Topeka state journal., 1905-10-26
TEE EVENING yTOR r


Under Difficulties.
Bert MarpIow is considerably better
than even the average nice young man,
but he has one gEaring fault which mas
played havoc with his success in Ife-
he always chooses the wrong time 70 DO
things.
Therefore. if was quite in the natural
order o. affairs that he should choose
exactly the wrong day in the whole 565
on which to settle his fate with Louise
Dimmoek. He had always expected
that some day he and Louise would be
married. for. as he very logically rea-
soned, no girl.8 unless she liked a man
well enough to marry him eventually,
would let him dog her footsteps dairy
for two years to the practical exclusion
of other masculine admirers. Loutse
had done this and had not appeared 70
consider herself martyred.
So it was that A1arDlow cheerfuiiy
rang the bell os the new apartment,
into which the DimmOcks had JusL
moved. He knew they were not selelsu, 1l's'..
but his innocent trust saw no reason
for their not being glad to receive MN
because of this fact. He had nlade "
his mind to ask Louise to marry hlin
and, from his point of view. the settlass
to the scene were entirely unesseAtidi
"Oh, it's you is it?'' was the gTeeIlns
he received when he was let IN : usl II II
time to hand me the w1re-on liiS pOA a.
your elbow. -.
From the top of a stepladder the tady
of his dreams smiled down at nm. Eue 5sQ
it was merely a conventIonally l1oiAtss
smile, for she was weighing the hefIls u u
two pictures, and besides, was cohsclo@ Jus us
OF a dusty and streaked glngflall ~ dLssS
and tumbled hair. One can not neip se Lloee z
toilets simultaneously And II IS dAllos
ing to be caught by a young man espe-
cially well dressed in brand new SUIT
even if he be an old acqualnIalIlce- -
I'D ask votI to sit down. she went on,
s'if there was any particular place 70 SIT ST.
The chairs are fun of curtains and things
and the barrels and boxes. are fun or e1-
ceIsior Tt sticks, you know, and II "ould
be a pity =.
ter In the least. Don't let me interrupt
Il won't" agreed Miss Dinmock. Win
disconcerting candor. y on can tslA II Lilt5 :
when get the picture az 1he E4esAAe
height and that will be a help.
''Oh. veryi' agreed Marplow apsenlAy-
Something was wrong somewhere IL
did not seem exactly within human pos
sibility for any man, no matter now much
in love, gracefully and mutually 70 ask
a girl to wed him when she Was drdpfA
on top of a ladder and he was aWkWarqa- q
ly disposed against the wall, trying 70
look as though he enjoyed It however s +,
it never occurred to him to postpone the
undertaking.
Louise he began. huslxily; 80.
1'fn?" queried Louise, with g plctufS
Ma Sarpiow took a fresh start 'It's. been
some time" he led off, 'since I've
y
the ladder THAT is Just perfect! Miss
Dimmock cried, sliding down to the f1ooT
and putting her head on one side. Don on |
you like that water color, BerIz Inc
greens and white shade in so with
Finer agreed MarDloW-
She glanced at him in some puzzIemenf
for. vaguely she felt he was not his usual
self fFIave you headache2" she asked,
selecting another picture And Will you
move the ladder over there, pleaseZ
The ladder was placed at the desired
spot in silence. MarploW'S lips grew tense.
Carefully busting off box, he sat down
rs it necessary for you to hang pictures
in such frantic haste and whole-souled DE-
votion?s he asked; somewhat acldiy-
why should I?'' inquired Miss Dim
mock in surprise. L d only have TO DO II
to you Just as well if I keep on Oh.
would you get me the hammer from the
He got the hammer. 'T came to see
you this afternoon. Louise" he began ard
grew confused ''I came to see you
80 I inferred. seeing that you are now
here Miss Dimm0ck 3nterposed, crIsply.
Whatever ails you today. Bert! Your
mind must be a thousand miles away
1T isn'ti'' objected Mr.. Marplow,
shortly and suIkily. 7 wanted to see you
especially, so I came.
Even to Miss Dimmocks abstraction
this sounded fatefuI and she sat down on
top of the stepladder, turning a little
pale What's What; epp ehappened1?' she asked
Nothing has happened yet explained
Marplow. GROSSLY. II just wanted you to
pay a little attention to me. came-I-
you make it so difficult way up there.
VIII you marry me, Louise?"
Good graciousl" cried Miss Dimmock.
wildly She dropped the hammer, which
just missed MarpIow's ear as he lodged
it why. Bert Marplow! Is that all!
You had me thinking something dreadful
had occurred
sAlIi'' stormed Marplow. making for
the door in warmth. IF that's how you
look at it
''Bert!'' she called as he touched the
hall door.
T He looked back In spite of the turnbled
hair and streaked dress she was pretty
as she leaned forward from the top of
the ladder. She was laughing softly
ANY other man would have known
better than to propose to a girl when she
knew she looked her very worst" she told
him "I thfnk-think I can see you if
/ vou'Tl come tomorrow. Chicago News