Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1921-06-30

I've bored you awfuIy!' he exclaimed
eontritely
mo, indeed-I'm awfully Interested.
Do tell me some more" And Collins
did
Three weeks later the situation was
unchanged. That Is, il was unchanged
as far as Mr. Hawkins govt was con-
cerned but there was a decided change
in the affairs of Edward Collins.
Formerly he had spent his even
ings reading or wandering over the
grounds alone; but now he seemed to
haunt certain spots, 1t was a peculiar
fact that Miss Eyangeline Hawkins
was nearly always near those spots.
| He was also given TO incoming about.
and Mr.. Hawkins found some cause
| for complaint in inattention. 1t might
have been noticed, in addition, that
he cherished withered rose in
drawer of hrs dresser. This rose had
been worn by Miss Eyangeline Haw-
kins at q small dance given at the
house one weekend. She had dropped
| 1t and he had picked it up All these
signs, of course, mean nothing in par
| ticular
And then one day he lost his note
book and Miss Eyangelne Hawkins
found It.
An hour after he had discovered his
loss he came upon her in little sum-
mer house in the garden. She was
reading somethins-his notebook With
a sign Of relief he approached She
rose and smiled at nina little I'M
certainly. Here's your book she
/ said
Thank you!" He was relieved that
/ she had found it.
what neat shorthand you make y
she said
He blushed crimson Tive had
good deal of practice"
Did you know" she said idly, II
went to school once and learned
stenography? | thought I'd be useful.
can still read it,
| The red in his face deepened
'Let me read some of yOurS-I've
been looking il over and | can read ii
! very WELL She was turning the pages
as she spoke He became conscious
Of Wild desire to grab the book from
her hands and flee; but he remained
rooted to the spot.
Here" she said. Dear Sir-Your
letter Of the 10Th received love her.
In reply would say that-she is the
sweetest girl in the world We are
unable to make any other terms than
those stated in our last communica-
tiou-O OF course | have no chance. but
maybe
lie found his voice, please Miss
Hawkins, don't torment me- l
shouldn't have done it, I know
haven't any right-but I couldn't help
it-won't YOU give me the book"
She handed him the book, and he
left her without a word
That night as he prepared for bed
he glanced once more over the pages
where, in neat curves and angles, were
the damning words that had made him
hopeless for all time. He stared at
them duly as he read sentence after
sentence, Hawkins's terse business
English interspersed with the thought
Of his OWNS he thOught-secret
heart. And then his heart gave a bound
and began beating madly; for at the
bottom of a page, in characters quite
unlike his own, new line had been
scrawled He translated it breathlessly.
"Why say you have no chance? You
never asked me-"
$50 you've been making love to my
daughter behind my back, eh?' Old
Man Hawkins glared at his blushing
secretary
well, sir-she-didn't seem to
mind"
"Oh, she didn't! Well, how do you
know | won't?"
The balted Collins could only gulp
and stammer But into the room burst
Miss Evangeline Hawkins, all radiant
and happy and overwhelming.
Daddy you're not to pretend that
you're angry when you're not You
know you told ME"
Flush up!" roared Old Man Haw-
kinds. But the mischief was done Col
Inns turned on him. do you mean to
tell me that you've been soaring me to
death all this time for nothing? I'll
never be afraid of you againw
"There it Isl Run along, children,
run along. You've found me out and
I've lost the best private secretary I /
ever had, butt seem TO have gained
an excellent sonin-law."