The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-16

chair, and the stranger raised his hat
and took his departure. The girl lost
interest In her book almost at once.
why, he should have handed me
his card-of course he should!" was
exclaimed after little rendering;
ask OF the colOred cook:
Nanny, did you ever hear of
nine-legged grasshopper?"
go away chill" was the reply.
but did your"
NO, nor anybody else. What
would . hopper be doin' wild five ex-
ira legs? He amt no fulo. he amt"
but did you ever hear OF a red
robin? 20
'.Befo' de Lawd. no. no mo- dan
body has been maxim . Joke on YOU"
why should he-why should he?"
unused Miss Oracle as she returned to
the veranda.
It was one of the aldermen of the
town who said to his wife and daugh-
ter q month later:
II have got to know Mr.. Bennett of
the reservoir works well enough to
pronounce him a fine young man. He
isn't very busy just now, and think
It would be very nice to have a few
at dinner and let him get acquainted"
why. father" answered the daugh-
society,"
He has surely been q very busy
man up to now"
But his misfortunes."
What misfortunes?''
why, he u deaf and dumb!''
''So's your granny! I wish I could
hear and talk as well as he does.
Where on earth did you get hold OF
such a yarn as that?"
| 'aThe girls have been talking about
| it for weeks"
l he nj vnnthAW q r.
range about that dinner right away.
I'm in want OF a son-in-law just like
Mr.. Bennett"
1t was to be a dinner for twelve,
and the name Of Miss Oracle led. She
was told that she was likely to meet
a stranger to Hillsdale. and no more.
By this time Mr.. Bennett had discOv-
cred that Judge Brewster owned the
fine residence which he had passed a
score of times; that the judge had a
good-looking daughter to whom it was
more than likely he had played the
dummy" Had the alderman limited
that she would be at the dinner the
young man would have invented 9
dozen excuses to decline the invita-
ton.
The alderman's daughter hadn't
d quite let go of the idea that Mr.. Ben.
nett was deaf and dumb. but she had
to when he arrived and began to talk
Ills nearing was REMARKABLY Keen
and he had a very pleasant voice.
Then she stood before him, and the
|aderman's daughter made the intro
duction.
Then there was a look of puzzle
ment-another OF recognition-an(
Miss Oracle sweetly queried:
Have you pad and pencil will
you?"
Sorry to say, I haven't" was tn,
answer.
You should always carry them.
wanted to ask you il it hurt yer,
much when you recovered your voic
and hearing?"
mot $3.50 very much
did you begin to look for q nine
legged grasshopper at once?"
mot at once; but very soon.''
AFTER that. did you have the goo,
fortune to capture a red robin ?''
mo. but I'm still hopeful"
Mr.. Bennett" began the girl. a
she drew herself up with great dis,
nifty. = z-tTs tig:--7 fsssl. s=ii' - g
. .'Oh. but on the street car with .,
young lady one day q few weeks ag
you said you were inclined to take
humorous view Of my misfortune"
!; For a minute she chung to her dig
nifty, and then she smiled and said
I'VE will both take that view Of it!
The Hillsdale reservoir was fin
ished long since, but it was only
few months ago that Miss Brewste
became Mrs. Bennett.-(Copyrigh
1915. by the Mcclure Newspaper Syn
} dicate.)