Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-09-19
Che Leap
Year Lady.
By VIRGINIA BLAIR.
By VIRGINIA BLAIR.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated
Literary lrrss.


rail aud looSed over his rose garden
where the ilrefiies starred the night
with gold
Because | love II little lady who
doesn't love me-" he said dreamily
land I'll have no other
oh Bobbie gaspcd rs one who has
come unexpectedly upon a romance.
There was moments silence. out OF
which Bobbie questioned curiously.
How do you know she doesn't love
you:'
The professor laughed she let's me
see that am her good friend. her com.
radc. but nothing more"
Look here. professor. don't believe
you've agkcd her. not outright. you
know" Robbie accused.
NO. l haven't" tile professor admit
ted.
81 thought so" Robbie stated IL
know how modest you are You'd new
er believe any one cared II they didn't
tell you Now. | had to why. profess
or. | just had 10 hang around you aft
er class and come over here and bore
you and beg you to 20 places with
me before you'd believe that | thought
you We're about the best thing Id
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 | have
found out how lonely you are and
Well. think you ought to marry. pro
fessur.
Alas" said the older man. If it
We're US easy as II sounds
1T is easy" said Bobbie cocksured-
ly. I've I've had some experience
with girls. professor
The professor chuckled More than
l have had In all my forty years. Bob
bic"
And I've learned" Bobble asserted
solemnly. that when man wants to
marry girl he's got to let her know
that he cares awfully"
But she knows that care. the pro-
fessor said
Have you told herr" Bobbie de-
handed
Not in words. was the response
but Robbie. hoy. I've sent her Il
bunch Of pink roses every day that
they bloom in my garden. and | have
never looked nj another woman.
Robbie sat up straight. "Oh. look
here, he said unexpectedly. You
won't mind II guess who II IS"
Il don't believe" the professor hest
tated. that We ought to bring her
name into &C."
Yes we ought" Bobbie insisted
''when II means your happiness and
hers. Isn't II Miss Merrimanf"
How did you guess" the professor
demanded
Nobody else grows such old fash
Toned hundred leaved roses as you. and
when | went up to Miss Merriman's
room the other night to borrow q book
there was bunch OF them on her
table"
''She is very fond Of roses. the pro-
fessor murmured
"Of your roses' Bobble amended.
II have no reason to believe that she
cares more for my roses than for any
other, said the professor
"Well. III bet she does. Bobble ar
gucd IN bet she's got lot OF them
pressed in the Bible or her favorite
book ~ 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 III the
garden arm In arm. and they talked
OF books and Of men. but not ~ MI
Merrlman.
The next afternoon Bobbie called on
the little teacher
II want to know II you'll chaperon
some ~ the summer schoolgirls "a Il
picnic at High Rock. was his excuse.
But later In the evening he mentioned
the professor Il don't think he's look
ing we'll" he said
II have noticed II" said Miss Merri.
man anxiously II believe he Is work
Ing too hard
1T Isn't that" said Robbie. "Hc's
In love Miss Merriman aud the girl
he cares for is treating him very cruel
IT,"
Miss Merriman turned pale "Oh "
she said family does does he care
Tor some onef''
Yes" Bobhie stated. "and he ought
10 De married He Is lonely. very
lonely. an sure II the woman be
loves could know she would say yes q"
II am sure She would" Miss Merri
man agreed.
IL nave wondered" Bobble bcgan
and stopped. ~ you could find out
who she is women have such intuI.
lions about things. and you ana tie
professor are such old friends"
But" palpitated Miss Merrlnan
I'm not a bit of detective. Bniblr
shouldn't know how 10 look FOR her g"