Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1888-04-18
Never Too Late. or, An Old Maids
Wooing.

MISS SlLuphlnS nhu ldllcu III iSNS
with her lodger. there was no use de-
nying It. She was no longer young,
but there were times when she felt,
dear old soul, that man in the house
would be great protection,
Mr.. Jenkins was a ret red leather
merchant Just turned fifty. a fine
looking man and one who wore such
an artistic wig that you would never
have imagined but that it really be-
longed to his head. He, too, felt a
growing love for Miss Slmpkins, and
one day he came straight 10 the point.
1t has struck me, " he said, THAT
person OF your charms never married.
Were you ever In lover"
mo, never" she answered; then,
suddenly correcting herself, That is,
mPau--I think''-
Don't say that" said jeremiah,
who, by several dexterous and mys-
terious twists. had managed To draw
his chair alongside that OF Miss Simp-
kins-''don't say that. Is there not
one person you could find a warm
place in your heart forPr
"He-es-no, no, l meanl" she re-
piled, in confusion.
But too late. In less than a mo
ment she was in the embrace of her
ardent lover.
AT first she resisted.
"How dare you, Mr.. Jenkinsp" she
cried
But IN another instant she had raised
her arms to place them around Jerry's
neck.
But-oh, resistless fate!-instead of
placing her arms around his neck her
fingers grazed his ears and touched the
spring of the inimitable wig.
The next moment her lover had
dashed madly from the room overcome
by the fact that his lady love should
have discovered his unfortunate
scarcity of hair. Miss Simpkins
tainted.
Poor Jenkins had sought consolation
with his friend Harry Dakins, at May
brook Villa, fifty miles away, over
come with shame. He was really in
love with the little old maid and he
now believed she would never forgive
him.
Miss Simpkins, dear soul, soon re-
covered, and thought only of finding
her lover and making it ali up again.
The servant announced to her in an
swer to an inquiry, that Mr.. jenkins
had disappeared from the house, bag
and baggage,
When Miss Simpkins heard this news
she went up to her room and wept.
Y Hes, the old maid who had not cried in
years found solace IN tears, She had
been allowed to sip from the cup of
happiness, when II was rudely dashed
from her lips.
But the grief outwardly quickly van
ished; OF the grief inwardIy we deal not
with.
Her mind was now bent upon re-
Covering her lost lover; and she invented
a plan which seemed most likely TO
succeed. 1t was this: She knew Mr..
Jenkins was politician and was IL
the habit of reading the Times. Now
Miss Simpklns distinctly remembered
noticing the advertisements in the
front columns, IN which some people
cDrresponded, and others, who had
lost or runaway friends, desired or en-
ticed the N to come home upon seeing
the advertisement.
aiss Slmpkin's plan was to adver-
tise for his (Mr. Jenkn's) return in
the manner stated. Without hesita-
ting or losing any time Miss Martha
went direct TO the office OF the Times
and handed in her advertisement
The second morning after it appeared
ia print.
How anxiously she waited for some
kind of answerl She expected every
moment TO see telegram saying he
was on his way to rejoin her. But no;
the day passed YEARLY, and nothing
was heard of Mr.. Jenkins.
Thus q fortnight passed Miss
Simpkins had now almost given up
forever the idea of her seeing him
and har friandg fhat
''she seemed quite an altered person
since her lodger left"
AS for Mr.. Jenkins, despite the
good-natured efforts of his friends, he
seemed always downcasU and IN
happy.
Whatever IS the matter with you,
Jerry?" Harry would ask. -'Can you
not confide iu me, your Oldest friendl''
But Mr., Jenkins would only shake
bis head.
In his anxiety he had entirely for
goIten his favorite newspaper. One
day, however, he bethought him of il,
and at once dispatched a servant 10
buy one.
Lisllessly he turned the pages over
till presently he found himself glanc-
ing at the front columns.
Suddenly lie gave conyulsive start.
Read that paragraph aloud" he
exclaimed, ''then l shall be assured
that am not madl''
Wonderlngly Harry took up the paper
and read:
DEAR J-H: Return at once to
your afflicted Martha No offence
taken. NJ. ;.
Harry" said Mr.. Jenkins, after
pause, you have learnt my secret.''
In a pretty cottage, situated upon
the estate of Harry Dakins, dwells an
honest, genial couple-Mr. and Mrs.
Jenkins. They are loved and re-
spected by all who know them aud are
''as happy as the day is long"