Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-01
PROUD DOROTHY.


| Despite his tne quantities Culbertpn
was very modest fellow, and no word
of his love for Dorothy had ever passed
his lips. He was no coxcomb, and
though he was conscious of his ability to
self no quality to attract women. So
when the proud Miss Preston treated him
with even less consideration than she be-
slowed on her other admirers he accepted
it all as only what was due him and
went his way in silence.
| Meanwhile Dorothy Preston chafed
and groaned in spirit under the sting Of
wounded pride. She refused to see what
was patent to every one else-that Fred
Culbertson loved her-and only knew
that she had, after struggle, given her
| heart to a man who had never spoken an
affectionate word to her.
| 1t was after a ball one night that her
| position first came so strongly home to
her mind. She had long tired to deny to
herself this passion of her heart, but now
| it rose a strong, full blown love and
clamored to be heard. She clasped her
hands and with flushed face admitted to
herself that she loved Ned Culbertson.
SHANE, shame upon me-" she cried.
81 love him, and he has never given me
word and they call me proud too" Her
lips curled, and she half laughed.
'Well, will be proud. / will be too
proud to let it be known that ! have
given my heart unsought to a man
who
She did not finish the sentence. but the
blood famed up into her cheeks and over
her forehead, the tears came into her
eyes, and she clinched her hands sharply
together.
From that time on if Ned Culbertson
had any faint CLEANS of hope they must
have been entirely extinguished, for Dor
othy Preston's manners toward him were
a revelation of frigid disdain. Did she
touch his hand in the dance, it was
shrinkingly. as if she abhorred the slight
contact. Did she speak to him, it was
with such distant hauteur that his blood
froze. And so it continued until he was
in despair.
Alone in his Office one evening during
a busy week he was trying to finish some
complicated designs for the interior of
church which was soon to be erected.
Could one have peeped at him as he sat
with bent head over his work, drawing
hard at a cigar, one would have said that
he was all absorbed in the labor before
him.
But any such thought would have been
efficiently routed when he suddenly
sprang to his feet and, dashing his pencil
into a corner, exclaimed:
81 can't do it, confound it! I can't!
With that girls face before my eyes con-
stantly l am getting as incapable of
thought or performance as an imbecile.
And what does it all amount to? She
looks at me as if she would like to walk
over me, and when she speaks it's like
pouring ice water over my head. I can't
do anything this way. Rather than en-
Gure this suspense I would tell her and
have her freeze me with a glance or show
me the door. Maybe that would put me
on my feet anyhow and infuse little
spirit into me, if it were only the spirit
of resentment"
In his lucid moments Mr.. Edward Cul.
bertson was quick thinking and prompt
acting man, and in ten minutes he had
determined on plan of action. A note
left on the desk Of his first assistant told
that gentleman that his superior was sud-
denly called away and might not be back
for month and left the work Of the Of
fee in his hands. -s
He would see Miss Preston, tell his
story and then go away for a month to
forget.
When the plan was once settled upon,
it was but short work to hasten home,
pack satchel and then dress for the
proposed call.
When he entered the Preston drawing
room, he thought that Dorothy had never
looked so lovely to him before in all his
life.
He could hardly follow the common
places that introduced the conversation
for looking at her. And then, more like
the rude swain than the polished beau.
almost before the greetings were over he
had plunged Sin medias res"
The girl listened to him, speechless
with surprise, as he poured out his story
Of love. She could not check him, nor
did he give her time to say word.
''Miss Dorothy" he concluded after
telling his story, 81 cannot sufficiently
thank you for listening to me. l was a
madman to think that you would, but I
felt that must tell you how loved you.
/ do not ask for your answer, for l am
too sure what it will be. l suppose I'm
fool, but and there was tremor in his
voice-"I can't help it, you know. And
now goodby. 1--we got to catch that
1905 for-ah-I'm going away for little
while for change of scene and forgetful-
ness, as the novelists put it."
He smiled mirthlessly as mechanically
she gave him her hand, and before she
had recovered from the shock he had
gone. To woman sofa pillow is
very sympathetic article, and a certain
fowered silk one in Miss Dorothy Pres
toms room that night received her tears,
laughter and coherent words Of joy. Then
the same sofa pillow was pushed back
into its place in rather unfriendly man
ner, hardly consistent with the confidence
it had just received, as the proud Miss
Preston rose to her feet, exclaiming:
"He said the 1905. have time yetw
1t was just three minutes past 10 when
a woman approached Ned Culbertson at
the Grand Central station, where he was
pacing back and forth impatiently await
ing his train. She touched his shoulder.
Dorothy" he cried.
"Ned. don't go. II want you," and
then her voice broke. He led her quickly
away, for people were beginning to OBJ
serve them. And once without the sta
tion he kissed her and then put off her
clinging hands to tear up his ticket-ex-
fraye cant follopvi