Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-02-14
HER C0UBTSHIP.

The ono pretty thing al out her was her
name. Picture to yOlfself woman 80
years Of age, tall and thin, her gray hair
drawn so tightly away from her face that
her head on one side was quite bald, and it
was an unsolved mystery how her chignon
remained in place, half held as it was Her
cheek bones were prominent, her eyes a
washed out blue, and looking at her il the
most friendly way you would fail to find
one attractive feature.
And yet the woman was in love and had
been for the last four years. More than
that, she was deeply in love, and so much
so that she could not conceal it, but con-
Quoted her courtship-for naturally she
was the suitoT-in the most open, bErciaced
manner, and by so doing bad quickly made
herself the talk OF the village.
This village, where she had been poor
and had lived all her life without oncestep-
ping her foot outside its boundaries, was q
pretty little New England one, consisting,
us is usual, of a main street, on either side
Of which the cottages were buildiug slowly
up toward The church. Near the parsonage
they stood a little closer together, as il they
wanted to receive all the benefit possible
from their proximity to the ministers hab-
itation. Dorothy's house stood a little by
itself, quite at the end OF the long street.
and was one Of the most prosperous looking
cottages in the whole place, for she was well
to do, and that fact only increased the won
der that Mt that time Of life aud comforta-
bly, Off rs she was a lave affair would ever
be considered.
Nevertheless she kept on the even tenor
of her way and pursued the beloved object
with unremitting attentions. A ridiculous
sight they were together (for occasionally
ON some trivial preteSt or other Dorothy
would walk u short distance with himj
but us Mrs. Bangs, her nearest neighbor,
said "A tall woman always manages TO he
with the short man 1t must be to make
the average come ont right" Mrs. Bangs
also had grent deal TO say about the dif.
ference in their ages, but she always ended
by remarking; "Well IL does seem to be the
style nowadays for women to marry men
young enough to be their sons They must
like to bring up children" But even these
unntighborly remarks failed to make any
impression on Miss Allen.
One taste they had in common. They
were both extremely fond OF cats, and IA
Dorothy was the happy owner Of four YOU
might frequently sec these two people, so
much talked about in tho village. admir-
ing the pussics as they ate their meat in
charming concord But often, | regret to
say, his fatal propensity to tease her pets,
to pull their tails or do some other thing
that She was sure hurt them threatened to
make discord between Miss Allen and the
worthy object OF her maiden affections.
But rs yet harmony relgned supreme
But the love affair did not flourish, al
though she was continually tempting him
with all sorts of sweetmeats (men, they
say, are fond OF good cooking: but. al
though the dainty vands We're enioyed. be
would hasten away across the street tn
where younger, fairer maiden dvelt. and
once he even went so far as to Share some
candied orange peel with her. But true
love overlooks such lapses, and Dorothy
did not quite lose all hope.
After time, as should be natural, but il
not always the case he began to reciprD.
cate and show In many little ways that 50
much love and affection lavished upon him
mad had their effect, and Dorothy said TO
herself, u knew it would come around all
rlght II only had patience to waltz The
nrst lhtlmatiun that she had of his change
OF hcart was one morning when she was in
her garden tying up her sweet peas. He,
oy the way, Is quite n naturalist, and al
though as yet his name is but little known
one can easily see thpt he has a career be.
Iore MN; yet when he approached Dorothy,
WIN most mischievous look on his face,
she ought to have taken into nocount the
difference in their ages and been warned
lou see, however, II was his first unsolicit.
ed visit aud her head was so full of MEMS.
ure at the thought that she confidently
opened her hand aud shut her ewes Mt his
request, wheroupOn he wickedly placed
therein large brown caterpillar
The next minute the four cats who had
neen acting us chRperons at this interest.
ing meeting scattered like so many feathers.
larry blown away by the ear niercine
scream That issued from Mrs. Dornthy's
throat Tor that maiden of 20 years gathered
up ner petticoats and fed in utter dlsfnay
one could not even bear the sight of II cater.
ilat' ana TO have one put directly into her
hnnd was TOO much for her nerves
since there has been marked coolness
DstWesh them, Naturally people made ex-
euses Tor him (they generally do for a man.
you know and said he was so Young that
ne didn't know any better. But leave il
70 you II Mr.. Sack Carter, exactly 8 year,
DID, having won the mature affections even
though unwittingly) Of Miss Dorothy Al. |
len' aged exactly 80, should not have mora
respect FOR her feelings, to say nothing Of |
considering carefully the solid benefits.
sueh as Gibraltar, csndied orange peel and |
preserved ginger, that he might and did, h |
ton. 80 VI .'u'
:, oup when woman conducts the court |
sup trouble generally en- ues, and jack |
quickly transferred his young and there. |
,ose hckle affections permanently TO tho
youhg woman across the street, while Dor. |
o'ny has one cnnsolation-that her cats can /
nc! now eat their meals undisturbed. boston
Transcript.
Are you the proprietor Of this rastan
AN, SAID the man who had waited f0i |
us order until be became sleepy.
..lles- sir. What can ! do for youy |
leu can give me some information
, waht 70 know whether Won have told th,
~ T. 4l'yr 70 stay away so that you can brin
IN 49, q nii, for lodging against me. '--Wash
6ose- Come. Fig. have smoke
,,sg-l'll die first.
mi Oh. Vel. every man 10 us liking
M ~ i3 smoking before / die --Bosto