The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-10-22
RANLEY'S
COURTSHIP

OF all the Young men who had eve
boarded with her mother he gazeC
at her the most soulfully and remem
bered her the most frequently with
candy and flowers.
These tributes were not bestowed
in person, but were left at the door oi
the dark back parlor, which Leila and
her mother used as a sleeping room
It was something OF disappointment
to her when she first realized that the
delightfully."- mysterious boxes were the
gifts Of the exceedingly plain Ranley
for neither his appearance nor his
manner was in the least romantic.
Leila had her sentimental dreams, but
the comfortable reality of the sweets
and posies made up for the shy, halt.
ing speech and awkward presence of
her admirer, so she accepted his at
tentions with almost as much grace
and coquetry as If Ranley had been
the embodiment OF her girlish ideals.
One evening as Leila was about to
join the group OF boarders who were
trying In almost suffocated silence to
get breath Of air on the front steps
she was stopped in the hall by Ranley.
With one impulse the boarders
ceased tanning as they heard him say:
Mis- L-Leila, m-may l s-speak to you
alone a m-minute in the p-parlor?"
1T has come" Kissed the motherly
boarder to the vacation school teacher
by her side. Il knew he'd propose this
week."
It's about time" giggled the young
girl stenographer, who had often
looked enviously at the bouquets with
which Leila decorated her simple dim
ity frocks.
Pray hush" admonished the mid.
dle-aged man who prided himself upon
his courtly manner. Our talk is de
trop. We must not interrupt the
course of loves young dream"
His fellow boarders shifted at his
words. but sympathized with his de-
sire not to interfere with the forth
coming declaration, so they sat silent,
while Ranley, behind the open
screened windows, coughed and
cleared his throat with a preliminary
solemnity which brought the bushes
to Leila's cheeks and raised the ex-
pectation OF the boarders to fever
heat.
Miss LrLeila, you-you must have
n-noticed m-my attentions to y-you,"
he stammered.
Yes" murmured Leila, almost in
but the boarders somehow |
knew what she was saying.
I w-wRnted TO t-tell you, to a-ask |
y-you-that is, 1t m-means Hot to
me. W-will you-oh, Miss Leila, l |
hesitate to ask you, b-but-" He
struggled and coughed and then, with |
a supreme effort, continued, I've got
q c-cold. VIII you make me a minus.
tard plaster?"
The boarders gasped. The motherly
boarder. who was the first to regain
her composure, exclaimed: well, /
never in all my born days!"
The insurance clerk said: me, too"
For week or so there was no
-iceable coolness in Leila manner to-
ward Ranley. He, however, kept up
campaign of chocolates and carna-
ions that melted her heart. One
light the young girl stenographer
iptoed out to the front steps where
he boarders as usual had assembled
md announced in a stage whisper to
he insurance clerk: He's taken her
nto the parlor again."
I'VE don't wish to eavesdrop, OF
ourse," remarked the middle-ag
nan, "but it is only polite to main
ain silence"
The mild chatter accordingly ceased
nd the deprecating voice Of Ranley
Vas heard humbly begging leave ito !
ell M-Miss L-Leila something"
I'm sure I'll be glad to hear any
hing you have to say" bravely helped
ella.
"W-well, II thought y-youd like to
now" A pause. yes, saw your
cook washing the d-dog in
le dish pan"
The boarders looked at each other
Iankly and the middle-aged man sur
rised them by saying: well, upon
ly word, l fear it's all off," 4
The next night, however, when the {
arty adjourned from the dining-room Il
} the front steps the excitement was F
gh. f :,
Il saw 1t the minute she sat down
the table" said the motherly =
oarder In boastful tone.
How could you help it?" asked the al
ication school teacher, tartly. "She Il
ok every opportunity to wave her NJ
Ind in our faces. think a large dia-
ond is iashy and vulgar, myself"
But how did it ever happen?" o.
ked the insurance clerk "Ranley b'
ust have been going some since last az
ght." n
Don't forget that this is leap year" n
marked the young girl stenographer.
Just then Ranley and Leila ap-
AIRED, looking conscious but happy. n'
lnley said: 'Y-you are all s-such
good Friends I w-want to t.tell y-vou "A,