Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-03-27

anil, never having ia Hen in love
with any of her cOnrtiers, she did
not fad it difficult to resist ad
vances, believing, as she did; that
men were mercenary wretches as
a rule, and that some day the one
man in all the world for her would
appear and clam her as his own.
However, he did not appear, and
be continued not to appear, until
Slsanna had reached an age and
irmucss of character, TO PIT 1t |
mildly, when her Torture would |
have to be at least doubled to
make her as attractive as she was
at twenty.
This knowledge had come to her |
gradually, bat was none the less
fOrcetul on that account, and she
was determined not to let this leap
year pas4 without results of IA last.
ing character.
Ofthe men IN her train there |
were perhaps half dozen who
were eligible, and any one of
whom would have made husband
any woman could be proud Of. But
they were merely friend; not q
man jack OF them had ever Suggest
ed SUCH a thing as matIimOny to
her, and possibly, this was why |
she liked them. s. perverse Is the
nAtuie OF woman.
Among this half dozen was one
who fouud the greatest favor in
Sdsaana's eyes, the others taking
their positions after him in regI'
lar graduation, and this one Susan
ma selected as her victim for leap
year, resolved to try all the Others
IN case OF failure in the first ill.,
stance.
Truly, Susanna was desperate
spinster.
Aud no less spry. for in the
course of his first call IN the new
ear she began her operations
But it was dreadful task, and
the evening passed. without 4 sid.
gle step taken forward. Tie effort
had been made, however, and cOur
age always comes with effort.
Wnen be came again, she was so
wrought up over the work before
her that her eyes spalkled a2d her
cheeks glowed in rosy oolor.
why, bless my sonl, Miss Nus-
anna,' he slid, 'bow pretty yol
look this evening.
He was ten years older than she,
and always assumed that bless
my.soul style affected by elderly |
men.
'Oh, thank you, Mr.. Culver she
twltleFed. 1'm sure yon only
think so. l look just as | always
look
% course, Miss Susanna, eDly !
slightly more So he smiled, bat
there was that in the tone which |
had the ring of insincerlty, or at
least superficial and society SINGER
ity, which is very nearly the same
thing, and which made Susanna
despiSe the hAttely OF men that so
far had meant to near no dlSs0lu
ton of the continuity of her spiG-
sterhood.
She was good natured about it,
however, aud let Mr.. Cnlver go on
with whatever ne had to say, for
If there was any man who could
make 6attery any mora palatable
to her than any other man, IL was
Culver. But it was soon oyer, and
when he had fixed himself CON
t1rtably in an easv char with
which be was familiar he seemed
to have forgotten whether ) lsanna
10 ,ked like fright or fairy, and
hegan talking about all sorts OF
things, "a people do who talk for
mere sake of talking.
At all events, that's the way it
presented itself TO Susanna, and
she felt the spirit of desperation
slowly creeping over her. She took
a long breath for encouragement,
aud tentively turned the subject
of conversation upOn tue most
recent wedding which had occurred
in their circle.
What apair of tools they were
aud are,' said Mr. Culver, senteut
iously, 'tO marry on nothing bnt
his salary, and that not big
enough for two
Bat they are happy argued
Susanna.
Il suppose so, Mr.. Culver an.
willingly admitted; lit takes fools
to be happy; Wise people know too
much
Are you wiser questioned
Susanna, neryOusly, for she felt