The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1907-02-22
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the twilight her mother explained that
she was not quite ready yet and said
that q girl friend had come to town
quite Unexpectedly and that she and
Kate had forgotten time in their chat
terlng.
OF course the least he could do was
to offer to exchange the stanhope for
q surrey and ask the guest and Rose to
60 too.
The guest stayed two weeks. and
during that time, though he tried num-
berless times, Phil did not get to see
Kate alone. He waited as patiently
as he could-there seemed to be moth.
ing else for him to do-and hoped she
would see the self sacrificing depth Of
his affection.
He had always known all the Hamp-
tons and had been a frequent caller at
the home. The Judge liked him and
his politics, which he talked to the
poor fellow at all seasons. The moth
er admitted him to the family sitting
room and darned the family stockings
In his presence. The small brother,
Jimmy, admitted that, Phil was his
equal. Advantageous US was this fam
lily friendship in some ways, it was as
disadvantageous in others. If by any
accident he called and found Kate ap-
parently alone something always hap
pened. The telephone rang and some
me wanted to come owe for a few
minutes, or some presumptuous fool
stopped III to see Rose and stayed to
talk to Kate.
Phil grew sick at heart, and Kate
began to seem a little cool and digni-
fed. He felt that he must speak soon
or forfeit the girls love. She was too
proud to help him a bit. One evening
he rang her up and asked If he might
see her alone. He had something very
particular to tell her, he explained.
Having gone so far, he swore by all
that was holy that he would not leave
the girl that night until he had. pro-
posed and had had an answer. IF the
whole family comes in and stands
around in a circle they can't stop me
this time" he said. I'll propose to
Kate, and If they don't like it they
can move. I won't"
Kate met him at the door and usll-
cred him into the big library, where II
great fire was burning on the hearth,
It was warm and pleasant after the
walk in the frosty air, and he settled
himself in the judges big armchair
with a sigh of relief. Kate explained
nervously that her father was out OF
town and then seemed to wait Tor
something. Phil cleared his throat.
SKATE" he began and wondered just
what he should say next. Why was 1t
SO hard when a fellow had thought of
nothing else for weeks?
"Yes?" said Kate encouragingly, and
then the front door slammed and In a
moment more the Judge entered the H.
brary. He greeted the young man 20
daily, sat down IN the opposite side
of the hearth and began to talk poll
tics. And her Mrs. Hampton came in
to see what was the matter, She had
heard the front door slam and had
thought the Judge out of town for the
night. In half an hour Rose ran in
from making a call in the neighbor-
hood and sat down to toast her toes at
the fire.
They all talked comfortably, and no
one seemed to notice that Philips
laugh was strained or that the flush
on Rates cheek was more than the
usual healthy glow. Then the door
was pushed open cautiously. and little
Jim appeared in his pajamas.
"What are you all having such Il
good time about?" he whined as he
climbed into his fathers lap. "You
always leave me out"
Phil's endurance reached it's limit
right there. He rose, with his square
jaw set.
1--WE won't leave you out this time,
Jimmy" he said. "We won't leave
anybody out. Call In the kitten.
pleased" And then he turned to Kate.
who seemed paralyzed as she realized
what he vas going to do.
"Kate," he said. "for weeks and
weeks I've been trying every day to
get you where I could tell you that I
love you and ask you to be my wife. !
haven't succeeded for various reasons,
90 I'll have to do it right here, with
applause from the gallery. Will you.
Kate?" He was standing over her
now. and they held the tableau. The
tears were running down her face. but
she could not take her eyes from his.
When he dropped on n knee beside
the chair the family walked from its
dream and departed on tiptoe. the
judge dragging the reluctant Jimmy
by the ear.
l"Will you, KateY' begged Philip.
And then they both burst into peals of
laughter. which were heard in the
dining room by the discounted fam
ily.
But there Is good reason to believe
that she did, for the Judge has been
heard to say that he considers his SON
in-law the bravest man in the world.
Quito oordid.
There was a burglar in the room.
The beautiful young lady sleeping
there was awakened by the dash of his
lantern.
LET us come to an understanding"
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