The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1908-10-02
Che Leap
Year
Rv VIRGINIA BLAIR.
By VIRGINIA BLAH
Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
VOP' Literary Press.

NJ have often wondered why you
,,,o,t marry" said Bobbie Hayes diff
fdenty.
The professor leaned on the porch
II ond looked over his rose garden
,.ro the frefies starred the night
with gold.
nporsuse love a little lady who
,..,n,t love me-" he said dreamily,
sand I'll have no other.
nObw Bobbie gasped as one who has
,,ma Unexpectedly upon a romance.
Tbore was a moments silence, out OF
-rbich Bobbie questioned curiously,
r1ov do you know she doesn't love
YOU: oo
Tho professor laughed. "She lets me
,oo that am her good friend, her COM
r,dp but nothing more
Iook here, professor, l don't believe
vou've asked her, not outright, you
know" Bobbie accused.
mo | haven't" the professor admit
ted
~ thought So" Bobbie stated. 81
tpov how modest you are. You'd new
or believe any one cared If they didn't
hell YOU. Now l had to-why, profess
or | lust 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 thought
YOU were about the best thing I'd
found in college"
The boys voice was husky with deep
feeling, and the professor held out his
hand to him.
Dear lad!' he said.
"And since I've been coming I have
found out how lonely you are and
well. think you ought to marry, pro-
fessOr."
Alas" said the older man, eff it
we're as easy as it soundsr'
1T is easy said Bobbie cocksured-
y. "Tve-l've had some experience
with girls, professor.
The professor chuckled. more than
have had in all my forty years, Bob
bic"
And I've learned" Bobbie asserted
sOlemnly, that when a man wants to
marry girl he's got to let her know
that he cares awfully."
But she knows that l care,' the pro-
fess0r said.
Have you told herr" Bobbie de-
handed
Not 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 1 have
never looked at another woman"
Bobbie sat up straight. ooh, look
here" be said Unexpectedly. "You
won't mind if guess who it is?'
Il don't believe" the professor hest
tated, that we ought to bring her
name into it,
Yes, we ought" Bobbie insisted,
when it means your happiness and
hers. Isn't it Miss Merriman?"
How did you guess?" the professor
demanded.
Nobody else grows such old fash
Nled hundred leaved roses as you, and
when went up to Miss Merriman's
room the other night to borrow a book
there was bunch of them on her
table"
She is very fond of roses" the pro-
lessor murmured.
"Of your roses Bobbie amended.
u have no reason to believe that she
cares more for my roses than for any
other said the professor.
We'll, I'll bet she Does" Bobbie az
sued, I'll bet she's got a lot of them
pressed in the Bible or her favorite
book of poetry"
Inc professor rose. 81 hardly think
like to bring her name into this dis
CUSTOM" he said again quietly, and
AFTER that he and Bobbie walked in the
sataen arm in arm, and they talked
VI books and Of men, but not of Miss
Merriman.
Inc next afternoon Bobbie called on
tne little teacher.
want to know if you'll chaperon
S.ne OF the summer schoolgirls to a
pVnc at High Rock" was his excuse
~ Du' iater III the evening he mentioned
Tue professor. II don't think he's look
lug WE'LL he said.
| nave noticed it." said Miss Merri
lian anxiously. IT believe he is work
ing too hard"
IL isn't that" said Bobbie. Hes
- - ioVe' Miss Merriman, and the girl
~, ,"teS Tor is treating him very cruei-
.h MISS Merriman turned pale. oh
s que SAID family, "does-does he care
tor Some one?"
:, ,eS bobbie stated, land he ougIi'
H.. ue married. He is lonely, very
'iy' am sure if the woman he
'r could know she would say YES
NM aln Sre she would" Miss Merl
man agreed.
and uaVe wondered" Bobbie began
vs u stopped, eff you could find out
Aa Sae is-women have such intu-
MUS .us about things, and you and the
RI .n are such old friends"
sp. Ut paipitated Miss Merriman.
sh ~ not bit of detective, Bobbic.
aT, uan,t know how to look for her"
Ms vel ~, I'll give you tip" said Bob
Nnh lou find the lady he sends his
n roses to; she's the one"
Inn. nc was looking at her with round.
con. ent eyes, and he saw the color
"e pack into her cheeks. He saw