Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-05-26
HER ROMANCE.

WINDOW or her bedroom and held the
little handglass before her and look
ed into it. She was not pleased with
what she saw and her face grew longer
1t was not an old face or an ugly
face, but some of it's youth and beauty
had left it. There were a few lines at
the corners of the eyes. The cheeks
had promise of hollows. There were
four or five gray hairs in the beautiful
brown hair.
I'm getting old and I'm getting
ugly" said the candid observer of her.
self. 81 have nothing before me but old
maidenhood or Mr.. Dow. l wonder
whether l shall come at last to prefer
ing Mr.. Dow"
She sighed, put the hand-glass down
upon the bureau and felt greatly dis
posed TO weep-not from pure vanity,
but because she wanted some one to
love, longed to be the centre of fam.
lily, the chosen of some true heart-a
wife, mother. Ever since she had
left school she had boarded-her means
scarcely warranted housekeeping, even
if her advisers had not thought her too
young at first. She always chose a
fashionable place and had nice room
She had all she needed and a margin
for amusement, books and music, but
shire was tired of the listless groups and
dull middle-aged men who fill boarding
houses. Society amuses but does not
satisfy the heart. She was quite ready
to be wooed and won, but wooers did
not come. Men paid her attention, but
at thirty no man had offered himself
but old Mr.. Dow.
Mr.. Dow was rich. Mr.. Dow was old.
Mr.. Dow had fine opinion of himself
as a successful merchant, retired with
a fortune. He had a general idea that
the inhabitants of this world were di-
vided into two classes-those who
dealt in white goods" who were the
salt of the earth and of great import
ance to it's existence; and those who
did not, and were therefore utterly in
significant. He despised all profession
al people but ministers" and patron
lied them, and never read any part of
his daily paper but the advertising por-
tons, the great sacrifices" and "clos-
ing-out-at- half-price" columns. He had
however, fallen in love with Miss Cliff
ton, and when she had respectfully de-
clined him with thanks he had Incl
dentally remarked that he wished her
to understand that he was always
ready to make an offer. He did not
particularly want to marry, but when
ever she was willing he disired to mar
ry her.
A little note to that effect lay where
May Clifton could reach it without eff
fort. She took it in her hand and look
ed it over. Would it not be better to be
the wife of fine looking old gentle
man, who told her how anxious he was
that she should be so, than nobody'S
wife?
AS yet no man had touched her heart
81 have never had romance" she
sighed. 81 never shall. If l marry Mr.
Dow I shall have husband, a family
connection, though his first wife's chill.
dren are all married and about as ole
as I am. Perhaps at least l can fee
as girls do to their fathers. l think III
try it."
She changed her seat for the chair
near her desk, took her pen in her hand
drew paper toward her and began:
Dear Mr.. Dow: +"
Then there came tap on the dool
and servant entered with an unsealei
letter and card bearing the name al
bert Rowan" May glanced at the let
ter-one of introduction-bade the cir
say she would "be down in moment
and glanced over the note. 1t was iron
friend who now lived miles away,
young widow who had been very dea
to the girl some years before, wo
man just three years her own senior
It began:
Dear May: You have often hear
me speak of Cousin BERTHE when W
| were together. He will bring this t
you, and as he is a stranger in Ne'
York hope you will be as nice as 20
know who to be to him. He is just tn
dearest friend l have, and l have talk
ed to him SO much about you that 70
are only strangers in name. Your loV
| ing LYDIA"
"The boy she went to school with
| who taught her to ride and skate-of
| yes, 1 remember" said May. 9TH
boy who went to the far West soon al
| ter she was married and always sell
her a present on her birthday"
| She smiled and ran downstairs, hal
expecting to meet youth with tn
down upon his cheeks. A bearded ma
arose and bowed to her. Time does nc
stand still for boy-cousins any NOR
| than for other folks. But the bearde
man was frank, outspoken, pleasan
manly-a very western man. The
were friends at once.
Cousin Lydia always told me
should think of you exactly as sh
thinks he said, in parting, after Ion
and most questionable call. Il do
May went upstairs and tore int
pieces the sheet on which she had wri
ten Dear Mr.. Dow" and wrote anotht
note telling Lydia that she was charm
ed with her favorite cousin and promi
ing to be his cicerone, guide and frien
and found herself in excellent spirits.
Thus began the pleasantest period
her life Albert Rowan was continue
ly dropping in, now to call, now to tai
her with him to see or hear somethin
she was the only person he knew in Il
city, he said, and he hated to go alon
Besides, you promised Cousin Lyd
to take care of me-" he would add. 81
saw plays and heart lectures in b
company and heard all the celebrate
. preachers.
Not a pianiste or singer but tn
: listened to, sitting side by side. Not
Gne picture but they saw. She to-