The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-10-02
SUSANNA MORTON.

perience that Susanna Morton was
heartily tired of it was the evident and
continuous purpose of mankind to per
init her to remain Il spinster.
True she had been one so long it
would seem that she should have become
accustomed to it; but by some strange
fatality women-that is, the majority
OF women-never accept their lot in
this Christian spirit which has won for
them the endearing title of the gentler
sex.
And Susanna Morton had put up with
it just long as she was going to.
Four leap years had passed her by,
and she had submitted gracefully. but
each year less gracefully than she had
done the year previously, and there
were moments i'm the last of the four
when she became almost desperate.
Now that a fifth had come her mind was
made up. She would take the reins of
Cupid in her own hands and drive that
harum-Scarum little rascal in manner
TO suit herself. She knew her good
points, one of which was that she was
thirty-five years old or thereabouts,
and possessed a poise and balance no
man who was looking for real sensi-
regard. In addition to this she had
what men seldom disregard - a com
Portable fortune.
Ii was this fortune that had been the
real stumbling block in the matrimoni-
al path of Susanna, and not any lack of
attractive qualities in her possession,
for she was not homely, nor was she
anything but charming. The fortune.
Il. Il.
teenth birthday, had developed in her
fear that men sought her for her
money and not for herself. and, never
having fallen in love with any of her
courtiers she did not find ii difficult to
resist advances, believing, as she did.
that men were mercenary as a rule,
and that some day the one man in all
the world for her would appear and
claim her as his own.
However, he did not appear. and he
continued not to appear, until Susanna
had reached an age and firmness of
character, to put il mildly. when her for
tune would have to be at least doubled
to make her as attractive as she was at
twenty.
This knowledge had come to her
gradually. but was none the less force
fui on that account, and she was de
termined not to let this leap year pass
without results of a lasting character.
OF the men n her train there were
perhaps half Il dozen who were eligible.
and any one of whom would have made
a husband any woman could be proud
of. But they were merely friends: not
4 man-iack of them had ever suggested
such thing as matrimony to her. and
SO perverse is the nature of woman.
Among the half dozen was one who
found the greatest favor IN Susanna's
eyes, the others taking their positions
after him in regular Sradation, and this
one Susanna selected as her victim for
leap year, resolved to try all the others
in case of failure in the first instance.
Truly, Susanna was desperate spin
stcr.
And no less spry. for in the course of
his first call in the new year she began
her operations. But il was dread
full task, and the evening passed with
out a single step taken forward. The
effort had been made. however, and
courage always comes with effort.
When he came again she was so
wrought up over the work before her
that her eyes sparlsled and her checks
gloHcd in rosy color.
He was ten years older than she.
ard always assumed that hless-my-soul
style affected by elderly men.
oh, thank you. Mr.. Culver" she
| twitted, I'm sure YOU Cnly think So
| look Just as always look
OF course. Miss Susanna. only slight
| ly more So" lie smiled. but there was
| that iii the tone which had he ring of
! insinccrity, or at least superficial and
| society sincerity, which IS very nearly
the sane thing, and which made Su-
sanna despisa the fiattery of men that
so far had meant to her dissolution
of the continuity of her spinsterhood.
She was good -natured about it, how
| ever. and let Mr.. Culver go ON with what
| ever he had to say, for il there was any
| man who could make flatt"ry any more
| palatabie to her than any other man
| that man was Mr.. Culver. But ii was
| soon over, and when he had fixed him
self comfortably in an easy chair with
| which he was familiar he seemed to
| nave forgotten whether Susanna looked
| like fright or a fairy. and began talk
| ing about all sorts of things, as people
| do who talk for the mere sake of talk
| ing.
|, At all events, that's the way ii pre-
sented itself to Susanna, and she felt
the spirit of desperation slowly creeping
over her She took Il long breath for en-
couragcment, and tentatively turned
the subject IF conversation upon the
most recent wedding which had &C
CURED in their circle.
What pair of fools they were and
are" said Mr.. Culver, sentcntiously, "to
marry on nothing but his salary, and
that NOT big enough for two"
But they are happy" argued Susan
ma.
II suppose So" Mr.. Culver unwilling
Nv admitted; ''it takes fools to be hap
py: wise people know too much"
'.Are YOU wiser" questioned Susanna
nervousIy, for she felt that she wa:
launching herself at this point upon al
unknown sea
I'm old enough to be-" Mr. Culvel
! frankly responded, for Mr. Culver's ag'
was too well known to be denied. and too
great tn be hid under n bushel.
Isn't there something somewhere
about the old fools being the biggest? :?
laughed Susanna.
But I'm not so old as that, yet
"Ah.'' and her eyes twinkled. Il
yours a ease Of
Standing with reluctant feet,
Where the silly seasons meet2
Mr.. Culver assumed "A more serious al
and there was a smile on his face whcl
he reDIied: there was rather SHADOW