The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-03-07

don. lad II been another fellow.
On Saturday when he asked to take
her driving she assented with a prop
or slI0w OF reluctance. "She knolysr'
he thought when he called for her III
the twilight her mother explained that
shs was not quite ready yet and said
that girl friend had come to town
quite unexpectedly and that she and
Kate had forgotten time IN their chat
tering,
or course the least he could do was
to offer to exchange the stanhope Tor
a surrey aud ask the guest and Rose tn
go too
The guest stayed two weeks. ami
during that time. though be tried NUN
berless times, Phil did not get to 80,
Kate alone, He waited as patiently
as he cOuld-there seemed to be uU,ll.
ing else for him to do-and hopei ,!le
would see the self sacrificing depth OF
bis affection.
He had always known all the Hamp.
tous and had been frequent caller ut
the home. The Judge liked him and
his politics, which he talked 10 the
poor fellow at all seasons. The moth.
er admitted him TO the family sitting
room aud darned the family stockings
in his presence. The small brother.
Jimmy. admitted that Phil was his
eqnat. Advantageous as was this fam.
lily friendship in some ways, It was IA
dIsadyantageous in others. II by any
accident he called and found Kate ap.
parentIy alone something always hap.
pensd. The telephone rang and some
one wanted to come over for few
minutes. or some presumptuous fool
stopped In to see Rose and stayed TO
talk to Kats.
Pull grew sick at heart, and Kate
began to seem a, little cool and dign.
hed He felt that he must speak soon
or forfeit the girls love. She was too
proud to help him bit. One evening
he rang her up and asked II he might
see her alone. He had something very
particular TO tell her, he explained
Having gone 80 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 circle they can't stop me
this time" lie said. IN propose to
Kate. and IL they don't like it they
can move. wont"
Kate met him at the door and uSh
cred him into the big library, where II
great fire WAS burning on the hearth
1t was warm and pleasant after the
walk IN the frosty air. and he settled
himself in the judges big armchair
with sigh OF relief. Kate explained
Hervously that her father was out Of
town aud then seemed to wait for
something. Phil cleared his throat.
"kate." he began and wondered just
what ne should say next. Why was II
80 hard when a fellow had thought Of
nothing else for weeks?
yes said Kate encouragingly, and
then the front door slammed and IN Il
moment more the Judge entered the II
brary He greeted the young man cor
daily. sat down GU the opposite side
OF the hearth and began to talk poll
tics Ana then Mrs Hampton came IL
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 iuIif an hour Rose ran In
from making call In the neigh5or.
hood and sat down to toast her toes ii
the fire
They all talked comfortably. and no
one seemed IL notice that Philips
laugh was strained or that the flush
OF Hates cheek was more than the
usual healthy glow. Then the door
was pushed opeu cautiously, and little
Jim appeared in his pajamas
"Whnt are you all having such a
good time about" he whined as lie
climbed into his fathers lap. You
always leave me out"
Pulls endurance reached its limit
right there. He rose, with his square
jaw set.
I'VE won't leave you out this time.
Jimmy" he said I'VE won't leave
anybody out. Call In the kitten.
pIeaseg And then he turned to Kate.
who seemed paralyzed as she realized
what he was going to do.
"Kate." he said. for weeks aud
weeks I've been trying every day to
get you where could tell you that |
love you. and ask you to be my wife.
haven't succeeded for various reasons.
so I'll have to do 1t right here, with
| applause from the gallery. Will you.
1 Katei" He was standing over her
now. aud they held the tableau. The
tears were running down her face, but
she could not take her eyes from his.
When be dropped on one knee beside
the chair the family walked from It's
dream aud departed on tiptoe, the
Judge dragging the reluctant Jimmy
by the ear.
"Will you. Kateg' begged Philip
/ And then they both burst into peals Of
laughter which were heard in tue
diuiug room by the discounted fam
lily.