The Democratic advocate., 1908-02-07
FRIDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY I, 1905
Selett Stnrp.
A VERY BOLD MAN

cried.
And as for him, his teeth chattered, he
turned as red as a peony, dropped his
handkerchief, picked it up: and wiped the
perspiration from his brow.
''Now you," she said with openest ad-
miration, ''you re not bashful.' -
"No-o," he gulped.
"No," she cried, "you're great, bold
thing, and there are times when I'm afraid
of you. Oh, you p
And she shook her index finger at him
and chidingly shook her head.
eyes" he said, "I-I know | am. !"
''Now you take some men, she briskly
continued, ''they make girl tired. They
sit away off in corner and they look scared
to death"
She moved to the end of the tete-a- tete
and gave him an encouraging look as he
sat over in his corner-a look that said
"a-hem p
sThat's right" he murmured.
He dropped his handkerchief again,
coughed, picked it up, dropped his eye
glasses, picked them up, and feebly mois-
tened his lips.
"Of course" he said, ''there are some
. men who aren't up in such things. They
don't know how to pick up the family
album and ask whose picture this is? But
you-you know p
She pointed her finger at him again,
lowered her head and looked at him 70.
guishly through her eye lashes.
eyes," he quavered, 'you're right,
do"
"There's an old family album on the
center table, she briskly mentioned.
eyes. II was looking at it the other
night while I was waiting for you.
She smothered sigh, got up, fetched
the album and sat down again.
"Did you see this picture p she asked.
(Which one?'' he inquired, over in his
corner.
s'This one p she cried.
els it the old man with the dogs p
"No, it isn't.
els it the lady in the crinoline p
"No, SIR
(Which one is it, then p
Cant you come see p
Swallowing hard he went over to see and
she made room for him in such an ostenta
tious way that down he sat beside her.
"Why !" he said in some surprise, ''it
is the old man with the dog
"No," she said, turning the page, 81
didn't mean that one I meant this one
"Whyr' he cried again, ''that's thu
lady in the crinoline.
She gave him look and turned anothe
page. "Can't you wait until get to it?
she reproached him.
"I beg your pardon" said he.
ooh, that's all right
"Tm awfully sorry" said he.
"Oh, don't mention ii.
81 hope you won't think 1 was inten
tionally rude
"Oh, not at all, Mr.. Hoppergrass. All,
here it is p
They looked at it together.
"That's my grandfather and grand
mother the day they were married. -
He dropped his eyeglasses; she helped
him pick them up; and then they looked al
the picture again.
"Yes, sir," she said; "bride and bride
groom. Think of that; bride and bride
groom p
He thought of it.
"You can see the pattern of the lace or
the bonnet if you look close" she said
They looked very close.
II wonder,' she said, ''tee-hee-I
wonder--tee-hee--if you llnever be bride.
groom, Mr.. Hoppergrass !"
"No one would have me, he stammered.
"Why, Mr.. Hoppergrass Don't you
say that |"
"But they wouldn't I'm so shy
and nervous
She caught his eyeglasses as they fell
and gently put them back upon his nose.
"Don't SAY that, shepleaded. ''Don' t
say that no one would have you, Mr.. Hop
pergrass Why, IL"
And as he gently took her hand and
gently let her kiss him, she paused first a
moment to exclaim-
"Oh, you bold, bold man p