The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-09-02
THE EVENING STORY
The Leap Year Lady.
(By Virginia. Rlair1

Il have often wondered WHY Won
didn't marry" said Bobbie Hayes, diff
fldently.
The professor leaned on the porch
rail and looked out over his rose gar
den. where the firehies starred the
night with gold.
Because I love little lady who
doesn't love me-" he said, dreamily,
and I'll have no other"
Oh" Bobbie gasped. as one who has
come unexpectedly upon a romance.
There was a moments silence, out of
which Bobbie questioned curiously,
How do you know she doesn't love
your
The professor laughed. "She let's me
see that am her good friend her COM
rade-but nothing more"
Look here, professor, I don't believe
you've asked her, not outright, you
know" Bobbie accused.
NO, haven't the professor admit
Il thought so,'' Bobbie stated 'I
know how modest you are You'd never
believe any one cared-if they didn't
tell you. Now I had to-why, profess
sor, just had to hang around you
after class, and come over here and
bore you and beg you to go places with
me, before you'd believe that thought
you We're 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 ladp' he said.
And since I've been coming 1 have
found out how lonely you are, and
well, think you ought to marry, pro-
| fessor."
Alas" said the older man, "if it
were as easy as it soundsr
1T is easy" said. Bobbie cocksuredIy.
| 1VG-lV0 had soma experience With
| girls, professor"
| The professor chuckled. More than
I have had in all my forty years, Bob
| bic"
! "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 awfuIly."
But she knows that care" the pro-
| fessor said.
Have you told herr" 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 I have
never looked at another woman"
Bobbfe sat up straight. "Oh, look
here" he said, unexpectedly: you
won't mind if I guess who it is?"
ct don't believe" the professor hes
itated, that we ought to bring her
name into it,
Yes We ought" Bobbie insisted.
when it means your happiness and
hers. Isn'nt it Miss Merriman?''
"How did you guess? '' the professor
demanded.
Nobody else grows such old-fash-
ioned hundred-leaved roses as you,
mans room the other night to borrow
a 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.
81 have no reason to believe that she
cares more for my roses than for any
other" said the professor.
''Wel1. I'll bet she does Bobbie ar
gued. I'LL bet she's got lot of them
pressed in the Bible-or her favorite
book of poetry"
The professor rose. ST hardly think
I like to bring her name into this dis
CUSTOM" he said. 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.
ct want to know if you'll chaperone
some of the summer school girls to a
picnic at High Rock" was his excuse.
But later in the evening he mentioned
the professor. ct don't think he's
looking WE'LL he said.
"T have noticed it, said Miss Merri-
man, anxiously; IT believe he is work
ing too hard"
SIT isn't that" said Bobbie. Hes
in love- Miss Merriam, and the girl he
cares for is treating him very cruelty. p"
Miss Merriam turned pale. ooh, y
she said family, "does-does he care
| for some one?"
eyes" Bobbie stated, land he ought
| to be married He is lonely, very lone
| loves
could know she would say yes.
'I am sure she would" Miss Merri-
man agreed.
IT have wondered Bobbie began and
| stopped eff you could find out who she
| is-women have such intuitions about
| things, and you and the professor are
such old friends
| "But-'' palpftated Miss Merriman,
| Pm not a 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 Its
! crown of shining hair. He saw the
| radience of her eyes.
| Are YOU sure?" 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 year," gasped Miss Merriman.
| YES Bobbie stated. And it's her
chance. The professor is such dear
| old piece of humility that he doesn' t
| think she can love him, and he's afraid
| 70 ask her. because he feels that it
might make her unhappy to refuse him.
| Buf he's certain that she wouldn't ac-
| cept.' ,..
| @Oh. wouldn't she?" breathed Miss
1 Merrin1an. -.
| "And-and you tell her." Bobbie con-
| timed that he's the best ever"
s1Of course he u.s." said Miss Merri-
man. "haven't I known him all my
.@weu. I'VE only known him since 1