Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-09-12
HER LAST SUITOR.

BELINDA warren Was u uisHppolnOeu
| woman Her sole aim In life had been
marriage, and she had not attained to 1t.
And so 1t was she had reached the age OF
| As with wintry looking curls and lined
forehead and was still maiden lady.
There was one man OF her acquaintance,
| Sir Daniel Warrington, who was her par
ticular IDEAL and she did not yet despair
of enthralling him. True, he was 20 years
her junior, but that was nothing nova
days.
So she twisted her hair into wonderful
frisure and went to receive "dear Sir Dan.
lei whose interesting conversations were
such delight to her. He must stop to a
cozy cup Of tea.
And he pressed her hand and talked
about her niece, Miss Blanche Warren,
and asked how long she would be away
surely they would not stop after April, and
they were well into March now--and what
sort of place was CannesY
And when he got home and was turning
over the papers in his pocketbook he re-
membered the photograph Belinda had
given him, and he stuck 1t abscntly upside
down on his mantclpiece and drew back
the little silk curtains that covered por-
celain portrait on an easel and gazed into
the smiling face with rapturous admira'
tlOn,
She was such merry little coquette
She had put him off when no would have
spoken, gone away to the south without
even telling him she was going. And yet
who but himself could call the lovely blush
TO her cheeks and the light to her eyesp
so he hoped, and 30 he longod and went
again and again to see Belinda for any
scraps Of news she would give him. And
when she started for Cannes he went to see
her off, trying to make up his mind to send
Blanche u message and ending only in
pressing Belinda hand and asking for her
address.
But when she arrived ut their hotel she
found to her CONSERVATION they had loft
for Nice She arranged to staya few nights
at Cannes to get over the fatlgues of her
journey.
And 1t was well she did, for the morn
Ing she was leaving the post brought hor
u letter that made her hands tremble To
opcn. 1t was addressed to Miss Is. War
ron, " and she thought 1t was 80 affecting
of him to have remembered the initial of
her Christian name.
Yes, sIro enough, 1t was an offer of
marriage from Sir Daniel Warrington, and
sho smiled over tho exaggoration, You
seem to have boon away "a lifetime"
"You dear old thing What his namep
And what shall | wear ut tho wodding?"
exclaimed Blanche.
"But, Blanche, IL haven't accepted
him yet. Would you help mo write the
lettcrY'
That was delicious. And the merry girl
penned passionate answer, not delight
Ing solely In the fun of 1t, for u sudden
wistful feoling camo over hor that she
would like to have written herself like
that to
Now, thon, denr, for his namop'
But, with IN old maids love Of mys-
tory, Belinda caught up Branches letter
and went away to copy It,
Sir Daniel Warrington wondered at tho
crnmped, curious, old fashioned writing of
his beloved but he kissed tho living words
and began daily, hourly letter to hor.
Those cpistlcs were read aloud TO Blanche,
and she always ponned the answers,
Whom Warrington reached the hotel Mt
Nice, he found the Warrcns had gone for
an expedition, but Miss Blanche Warren
WINS IN
He sent up his card and waited In nery-
Gus anxiety, But she did not keep him
long In suspense The door opened, and
she came dancing toward him with bloom
ing checks aud sunny eyes and u glad wei
come IN her voice
How glorious Of You to come!' she
said ut last. II can't believe IL Is true,
but ! knew you loved me, only wanted
to provo 1t, and that's why wouldn't let
you speak that night, but | have wished
and wished and wished you had done SC"
"But, love, we have had our letters.
"Lctters What lettersH"
"rherc," he SAID with equal astonish
mcnt, taking u little bundle from his
breast pocket and putting them in her
hands
Sho gazcd stupidity at her Aunt Belin-
da 4 writing, recognizing hcr own sem
fences, and then sho burst into u mad
laugh
"Shc never would toll mo his name,
You--you have been making love TO Aunt
Belinda Oh what shall we dor
How they ever got over tho embarrass-
mcnt history does not relate, But poor
Belinda was said to have asked one favor
of Blnncho--thnt she might keep Sir Daniel
Warrington's love letters until after the
marriage.
"lt has been tho ono romance of my
lfe, :" shr said. "Noyer mind II 1t was all
u stupid mistake ON my part, l had tho
enjoyment while tho dolusion lasted. -
London News.