The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-04
THE OLD MAID.

Thfrty-five and still single. When
was young, Frank Waldron came and saw
and conquered. We were not engaged
that is, Frank had not said in SO many
words, "Will you be my wifef'' and had
not referred him to papa. Sometimes I
thought of this, but a look into his dark
eyes and his reassuring smile charmed
away my every care Everybody said that
he was deeply In love with me but Sallie
Price, and she, just because she couldn't
get him herself, declared that she didn't
believe he cared one bit about me.
Frank came to me one day, with cloud
on his handsome face, and said
Fanny, am going away. You know
this village is too small to support two
physicians, and DIR. Philips who has been
here SO long, has all the best practice.
cannot stay and brave poverty. I must
seek my fortune elsewhere. If am sue
cessful, you shall hear from me; If not,
forget me-"
And then he left me, leaving only a
bunch of forgetmenots, which he had
brought in his hand. That was years ago.
have still a withered bunch of flowers,
but they tell me no tales of the donor.
Rumor said that had rejected him, and
that his pride would not allow him to stay
in the village, but Sallie Price only shrug
eed her shoulders and remarked, II told
you sol'' AS for myself, I kept my own
counsel. I was still young and had plenty
of offers, but somehow I didn't care to
marry.
Only last year I could have married
Jones, but Jerry is ugly and squints fear
fully, and 1 won't marry him. People
shan't say that Fanny Emmerson went
through the woods to pick up with
crooked stick at last / am not miserable,
if am an old maid and live alone. I
have enough to eat and to drink and to
wear and nobody to say to me, "You
c1,a1 han n7t hat fhQr
many a married woman can say.
Alice, my Oldest sister, who lives 90
miles away in the city, has just sent me
the following characteristic note by mail:
DEAR FANNY-As quick you receive this
put on your hat and shawl and come to
Fanny Chats my namesGke-I wish she had
been called Betsy or Susan) is very i'll with
some kind of infectious fever, and the doc
tor says that, without good care, she will die.
Now you are the only one that can take care
of her, and you must come. You know you
have no one depending on you. Don't stop to
pack; it won't make any difference about your
clothes Yours in haste, ALICE.
Humphl 1t wouldn't have made any
difference about me either, only I was
handy to have around in case of sickness.
After grumbling to myself for awhile
prepared myself and took the first train
for the city. AS I whirled along in the
steam cars I made up my mind that this
should be the last bit of nursing that I
should do But how to avoid it? might
sell out and go away to live, but that was
fallacy. knew that I could not exist
away from my kindred. might adopt
two or three orphans, but couldn't stand
their noise, and then how my pets-birds
and howers-would suffer. No, all these
schemes must be dismissed as impractical
BILE. Still was determined to rid myself
of the nursing, even if jumped out of the
frying pan into the fire, even if I was
ohIi TO dpfo
met me at the door and kissed me and said:
Dear Fanny, knew you would come"
But I responded ungraciously, for I al
most felt that had been betrayed by the
kiss of Judas. 1 found my niece very i'll
and Immediately put on my wrapper and
prepared for a hard battle. The Doctor
came and left his orders with me, for my
coming was a sign of relief for Alice. Her
duty will now merely consist in asking
after the condition of the sufferer.
The doctor had very pleasing voice. ]
scarcely glanced at him, for all doctors
are the same to me now. But think he
is tall and dark. I didn't notice the color
of his eyes, but don't think he will care
much about the opinion of the nurse.
The doctor has just been here. I looked
at him when he said Fanny was better, and
his eyes sent a sort of odd thrill through
me. He has got very beautiful eyes, not
at all like Jerry Jones, squirting ones.
Three weeks I nursed that girl while
she struggled between life and death.
But the crisis was passed safely. 1 was
SO tired that 1 lay down on the sofa and
fell fast asleep, and while sleeping I
dreamed that Frank had come back. How
odd I have scarcely thought of him for
years. What pity that people are awak-
ened from pleasant dreams and forced
back into the hard realities of life. I
awoke and heard Alice say, Poor thing,
she is tired outl" and the DOCTORS voice
responded: "Leave her to me. will take