Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1884-11-08
AT SIXTY-FIVE.
Major Weatherbeam's Proposal
and Discontinue.

: Sixty-five is not very old. No, in
deed. MY.
If one is still straight, with a servicea-
BILE eye and tolerable hearing, in adj
dition to well-filled pocket-book, why,
what is sixty-fve?
To count sixty-iive distinct summers,
and sixty-five mellow autumns, that
browse into peaceful winters and
awaken in refreshing springs, is a great
privilege Think of the accumulation
of ideas and experiences, of friends and
memories. A rare age, surely, to be en-
joyed in spite of rheumatic twinges.
Major Weatherbeam, buttoning his
elegant fall overcoat about him as he
strobe down the avenue under the
maples, was sure he would not give his
ripe perfection for the callow and taste
less experience of the past. He smiled
mp at the bright foliage, and knocked
the head off a struggling aster in his
complacency. He found dime for a
little boy peeping, wide-eyed into a
Ecandy-shop, and stood still to watch the
urchin as he bolted for the door, and
nodded in good fellowship to woman
who watched with him amused. The
Majors little terrier followed, for once,
, quite unrebuked, and turned with him
up broad macadamized street at the
right. The firm stride traversed two
blocks quickly, and paused before
brown stone mansion, with a pine-dotted
lawn in front. One naturally puffs a
little at the end of long walk, whether
one is sixty-five or not. and if by nature
discreet, pauses. awhile to regain the
breath before venturing to call on
aadies. Any tidy man will dust his
clothes little with his handkerchief,
and twist his mustache trifie when he
wishes to look well. The Major presses
the bell beside the stately door, and
stands erect. A little pause follows, in
which he listens to the wind running
the gamut of elfin melody in those
grouped pines; then the heavy doors
unfold; salute no younger man could
initiate; an inquiry, and closed doors
again, with the Major inside. The
mansion is divided in quarters by two
huge halls, and wide fireplace gives
forth glorious radiation of heat and
light over the statues and frescoed
walls. The Major seats himself before
the blaze, and counts the tiles and de-
ciphers the inscriptions about the man.
tel. There is rustic of silk skirts, and
a tap of feet on the oak stairs. The
Major rises, with sudden rush of
blood to the head-not apoplectic, sure
ly-and salutes the red-draped figure
through the interstices of the balustrade.
He handed the lady down the last
steps and led her across the hall, while
a green parrot hoped at her heels.
Miss Margery" voice was like
viofoncello-''It is not usual for bust
ness-man like myself to call on lady
of an afternoon"
Therefore, sir, is the honor all the
greater" posing one toe on the fender
to aid her balance in the high-seated
leather chair.
Therefore is the need great, my dear
young lady!"
f'Oh! ha! ha! hal" in musical STAG
cato from the high-back chair. At sixty
five one is too dignified to like such a
laugh in connection with ones self.
Eyes, Miss Wheatcroft, felt could
not, in justice to you or myself, remain
aonger without confessing to you my at
titude towards you.
ooh, how kind of you, " very sincerely.
81 looked looked for you all day yes
tcrday, sir"-a little hurriedly, with the
red deepening about the dimples.
The Majors head gave an involuntary
Jerk. Girls were, once, more decorous.
His deceased Julia Ann Nould never
have shown such impulsiveness. Yet it
must be confessed twas extremely fiat
tering; and then, good heaven, what
eyes! The apoplectic symptoms re-
turned.
" Miss Margery, how gracious of you
TO say so. I'm sure l never hoped
Yes, and was making all sorts of
plans for us two. Poll, come down!
Major, she's trying to pull your hair!
Look out, sir: she'll scratch you! Here,
give her to me! There, Miss Poll, you
sit on my chair. You can't pull my
hair, because don't reach up high
enough-ha! ha! ha--eh, Major?" her
teeth cleaning out in the glow from the
cedar fire. Yes, was thinking, you
see, how proud l should be of you. You
pre- so tall, and--now, don't mind, for
I'm going to fatter you all the rest OF
your days-and so handsome! And
how proud / hoped you would be OF
mel" "a half-rising attitude on the
part of the Major, who is forgetting de-
'corum, and how girls were forty years
ago.)
"Oh, Major, you are finding the blaze
POO hot. How stupid of me to let you
roast in that manner. Here, let me put
mp the screen. Isn't it pretty one9 l
embroidered it myself See, it repre-
tents an italian princess under an lex