The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-14
IEP MOORES
COURTSHIP
BY w. J. hampton

len Moore was in love Win tne
girl. That was as plain as ehe hos
on his face, which was ABOUT NY
plainest that ever a man stuck lnto
handkerchief But he was nor - Inv
manner born, and. although ne ie"ie',
no man, he had been mortally ara
Of women as far back as he could re-
member.
That was the reason he had been
counting Mollie Stewart FOR heaiH
two years and had arrived nowhere
much. But a girl, and a pretty o.
at that, won't stand for everlasting
procrastination, whatever she may
think of the man, and Jep began u
observe that Mollie was having more
gentlemen company than he liked 10
see around so often. He didn't care
say anything, but he proposed TO 90
something, and that Immediately
Which was why he hitched MS
horse at her gate that evening ana
pounded up the walk to the porch
where she sat all alone waiting lor
him. He had informed her by tele-
phone that he was due to arrive at
that hour, and there he was, prompt
1t was the first time he had ever
been so definite. and Molly was feel
ing hopeful. She admired Jep, not
because he was beautiful, but be-
cause he was good. Some girls dom
think that way about men, but Mollle
Stewart had sense.
She welcomed Jep cheerfully ana
told him to come in and take chair
Jep had his courage screwed up I'LL
he was feeling frisky, and he de
clined the chair An empty ham
mock swung across the porch-end
and he thought he would try that He
had seen pictures of summer girls and
young men and hammocks, but he
had never tried one. This seemed to
be the very time, SO into it he woN-.
Mollie didn't laugh when he tnm.
bled out of it backward She helped
him to his feet and Jeps courage all
oozed away. He sat down in chair
as meek as Moses. Molie changed
the subject.
Jep spoke of the weather Mollie
was just as much interested in the
weather as she was in telephones.
But Jep was uneasy.
The hour was purple twilight and
twilight and two are a powerful com
bination when the man knows how to
work it. The silver moon was rising
DER the hills, and it caught Jep's
eye.
Say Molie," he said with sudden
energy, what would you do if you
was the moon and | was the SUM-"
1t was not quite the fattering way
to put it, but .Jep was awkward and
all he thought of was the moon was
mighty pretty just then, and so was
Mollie.
Really. don't know, Jep" she re.
piled, perplexed by the unexpected in
quiry.
Cant you guess?"
"Of coarse | cant. | couldn't be the
moon, could L."
You could be the moon as easy
as | could be the sun. couldn't you?"
81 suppose So
well, just let's s'pose we was
them; then WHAT"
Mollie studied moment and the
feminine in her asserted itself.
well, | suppose, Jep." she said,
laughing lightly, IF | was the moon
and you We're the sun I'd go away
when you come"
Jep hadn't thought where the con.
versation would lead and he was
wholly upset by her answer He sat
| speechless.
But I'm not the moon. Jep," she
added quickly. because you see
didn't go away when you come"
Jep gulped and pulled himself to.
gether. He got up and came over to
her side.
"Dern the sun and the moon, Mol.
lie.' he said, hitching his neck up
through his collar so he could get
more air; 81 didn't come over here IN
talk astronomy. What | come fer
was to know why the dickens YOU
don't marry me-"
Mollie was not agitated. 1t was
not her first proposal. though it was
different. She looked up at him and
smiled. Jep began to feel wobbly in
+, the knees.
We'll, Jep," she replied. "if can
give you one good reason will YOU for.
| give me?"
This sounded like Sunday school
talk. and Jep felt the seriousness Of i,
"Of course. will Mollie. but"-he
hesitated
The reason is. Jep,' she interrupt.
ed, that you never asked me"
After that it was so plain that even
Jep could grasp the situation. which
he did. including Mollie.- Home Tife