The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-10-20
b,ve, Leap
Year Lady.
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR.
Copyrighted. 1905. by Associated.
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR.

| AdQC, LUZ AOtAAAG AA4OAOs
Look here, professor; don't believe
you've asked her, not outright, you
know" Bobbie accused. 2eH
mo, 1 haven't" the professor admit
ted.
"I thought So" Bobbie stated. II
know how modest you are. You'd new
err believe any one cared If they didn't
tell you Now, had te-why, profess
or. Just had to hang around you aft
or class and come over here and bore
you and beg you to go places with
me before you'd believe that l thought
you were about the best thing I'd
found In college" .a Flb
The boys voice was husky with deep
feeling, and the professor held out his
hand to him.
Dear ladF' he said. bass,
~And since I've been coming 1 have
found out how lonely you are and
well, think you ought to marry, pro-
feesor."
ALAS" said the older man, "if 1t
were as easy as 1t sounds!"
sit is easy" said Bobbie cocksured-
Iy. "rve-I've had some experience
with girls, professor"
The professor chuckled more than
I have had in all my forty years, Bob
bie.' v5 ~
"And I've learned Bobbie asserted
solemnly, that when a man wants to
marry a girl he's got to let her know
that he cares awfuly."
'But she knows that care" the pro-
fessor said.
Have you told herT Bobbie de-
manded.
mot In words" was the response,
''but, Bobbie, boy, I've sent her a
bunch of pink roses every day that
they bloom in my garden, and have
never looked at another woman"
Bobbie sat up straight. ooh, look
here" he said Unexpectedly. "You
won't mind If 1 guess who 1t isT'
81 don't believe" the professor hest
tated, that we ought to bring her
name into it."
Eyes, we ought" Bobbie insisted,
when it means your happiness and
hers. Isn't 1t Miss MerrimanT'
"How did you guess?" the professor
demanded
Nobody else grows such old fash
Toned hundred leayed roses as you, and
when went up to Miss. Merriman's
room the other night to borrow book
there was a bunch of them on her
table"
"She is very fond of roses" the pro-
fessor murmured.
"Of your roses" Bobbie amended.
II have no reason to believe that she
cares more for my roses than for any
other" said the professor.
'Well, I'll bet she does,Y Bobbie ar
gued. "I'n bet she's got lot of them
pressed in the Bible or her favorite
book of poetry"
The professor rose. II hardly think
| / like to bring her name into this dis
cussion," he said again quietly, and
after that he and Bobbie walked in the
garden arm in arm, and they talked
| Of books and of men, but not of Miss
Merriman.
The next afternoon Bobbie called on
| the little teacher
81 want to know If you'll chaperon
some of the summer schoolgirls to a
picnic at High Rock" was his excuse
But later in the evening he mentioned
| the professor. 81 don't think he's look
ing WE'LL he said
'I have noticed it," said Miss Merri-
man anxiously II believe he Is work
ing too hard"
ut isn't that" said Bobbie. "He's
In love, Miss Merriman, and the girl
be cares for is treating him very cruel
""
Miss Merriman turned pale. "Oh."
she said family, "does-does he care
for some one?'
"Yes,v Bobbie stated, 'and he ought
to be married. He is lonely. very
lonely l am sure If the woman he
loves could know she would say yes :"
81 am sure she would" Miss Merri
man agreed.
IT have wondered" Bobbie began
and stopped, '1f you could find out
who she is-women have such intui
tons about things, and you and the
professor are such old friends"
"But," palpitated Miss Merriman,
I'm not bit of detective, Bobbie.
shouldn't know how to look for her. :"
"Well, I'll give you a tip" said Bob
bic you find the lady he sends his
pink roses to; she's the one"
He was looking at her with round,
| innocent eyes, and he saw the color
come back into her cheeks. He saw
the uplift of her graceful head, with
It's crown Of shining hair. He saw the
radiance of her eyes
Are you sure7" she questioned.
Dead sure" said artful Bobbie
Look here" he went on. IF you
find out who it is, put her on to the
fact that it's leap year"
leap yearY' gasped Miss Merri-
man.
yes" Bobbie stated. And It's her
chance. The professor is such a dear
old piece of humility that he doesn't
think she can love him, and he's
afraid to ask her, because he feels
that it might make her unhappy to re-
fuse him. And he's certain that she
wouldn't accept"
"Oh, wouldn't sheT' breathed Miss
Merriman.
"And-and you tell her." Bobbie con.
tinued. "that he's the best ever"
"Of course he Is" said Miss Merri-
man. Haven't 1 known him all my
nfeT
'Well, I've only known him since
came to the summer school," said
Bobbie, "but I'll always be more of a
man for having met him"
They shook hands with enthusiasm,
and on the steps Bobbie paused to say,
Hes going to High Rock with u.s.
But Bobbie did not know all the
working of the feminine mind, for Miss
Merriman, instead Of bringing things
30 a crisis at the picnic, kept away
from the professor all day. giving him
only a vague smile now and then, IN
stead of her usual frank companion
ship, and as a consequence the profess
or went home in a state OF desperate
forlornness, and even the wise Bobbie
was alarmed and wished he had not
interfered
The next evening, however, just at
the edge Of twilight, as tlSe professor
wended his solitary way through the
paths Of his rose garden. the gate OPEN
ed and q slender figure In Waite came
A.o-~k