Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1909-02-05
RANL.EY'S
COUR TSHIP

that Ranley was in love with Leila.
She herself was very certain OF it, FOR
OF all the young men who had ever
boarded with her mother he gazed
at her the most soulfully and remem-
bered her the most frequently with
candy and flowers.
These tributes we're not bestowed
in person, but we're left at the door OF
the dark back parlor, which Leila and
her mother used as a sleeping room
II was something OF a 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 silly, halt
ing speech and awkward presence of
her admrer. so she accepted his at
tentions with almost as much grace
and couuetry as if Ranley had been
the embodiment of her girlish ideals
One evenirs 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 stGoped in the hall by Ranley.
With one impulse the boarders
ceased tanning as they heard him say:
"Mis Leila. m-may | s-speak to you
alone 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 Leila, you-you must shave
n-noticed m-my attentions to y-you,"
he stammered.
Yes" murmured Leila, almost in.
audibly, but the boarders somehow
knew what she was saying.
Il w-wanted to t-tell you, to a-ask
y-you-that is, it m-means a l-lot to
me. W-will you-oh, Miss Leila, I
hesitate to ask you, b-but-" He
struggled and coughed and then, with
a supreme effort, continued I've got
a 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: We'll, l
never in all my born days."
The insurance clerk said me, too"
For a week or so there was a no
ticeable GOODNESS in Leila manner to-
a campaign of chocolates and carna-
tions that melted her heart. One
night the young girl stenographer
tiptoed out to the front steps where
the boarders as usual had assembled
and announced in a stage whisper to
the insurance clerk: He's taken her
into the parlor again"
~
course" remarked the middle-aged
man. but it is only polite to main
tain silence"
The mild chatter accordingly ceased
and the deprecating voice of Ranley
was heard humbly begging leave TO
tell M-Miss Leila something"
I'm sure I'll be glad to hear any
thing you have to say" bravely helped
Leila
'W-well, III thought y-youd like to
know" A pause Yes, saw your
mothers cook washing the d-dog in
the dish pan"
The boarders looked at each other
blankly and the middle-aged man sur.
prised them by saying: We'll, upon
my word ! fear it's all off"
The next night, however, when the
party adjourned from the diningroom
to the front steps the excitement was
high
Il saw it the minute she sat down
at the table" said the motherly
boarder in boastful tone.
How could you help ito" asked tbs
vacation school teacher, tartly "She
took every opportunity to wave her
hand in our faces. / think large dia
mond is nashy and vulgar, myself"
But how did it ever happen y
asked the insurance clerk. "Ranley
must have been going some since last
night"
Don't forget that this is leap year.
remarked the young girl stenographer
Just then Ranley and Leila an
peared, looking conscious but happy
Ranley said: "Y-you are all s-sucf
ggood friends w-want TO t-teI y.yo,
t-that-" He looked hopelessly at tn,
L.