Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-02-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Rr. Oddie'S COurtShip.
By sheela E. Braine. K
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

MI r. MARKHAM ODDIE was model
lVI lodger, an old bachelor, and
heart-whole man. That is to say, he
was all three until the dhy-consider-
ably past his fortieth birthday-that
special fate took him in hand, and
brought him face to face with thu
Younger of two ladies who had recent
ly come to live in one of the houses op'
pOsite.
They were evidently mother and
daughter; both were comely and the
last-named of the two had one of the
sweetest faces it had ever been Mr.
Oddie's luck to behold. She happened
to drop a small parcel whilst walking
along their mutual roadI and he hurried
after her with it. The smile with which
she received it went straight through
Mr.. Oddie's somewhat Anticipated waist
coat.
All the evening he thought Of that
smile. When he went to bed, he en-
deavored, with the aid of three candles
TO get an impartial view of that region
on the top of his head where the hall
ought TO have been, but now, alas, was
not. That bald spot had not troubled
him much up to that time; now he re-
carded it with mistrust.
Mr.. Oddie lad led an amiable, pune
tual. uneventful existence, going TO and
returning from the city every week day
with regularity and dispatch-the kind
of person who is never asked for his
season ticket. He was comfortably oil.
and had no one dependent upon him.
the few relatives he possessed lived IN
the shires.
Mr.. Oddie hadremainedIa bachelor all
these years possibly because nobody
had set to work to marry him. 1t was
not that he objected to women; on the
contrary, he admired the fair sex, as
whole, quite unreservedly. But he had
never given his heart to any one par
ticular woman, and his landlady looked
upon him as fixture.
The returning of that apparently in
nocent looking parcel marked an epoch
Life was never the same again to the
little old bachelor. He had not watched
Miss HeXham's gentle face and we'll
developed but graceful figure for ten
DAYS before he became convinced that
it was not good for q corn dealer to live
alone.
~ man wanted softening influences
about him"-here he hurled piece OF
fried ham to the cat-"he needed gen
tie hand to guide and restrain him.
Mr.. Oddie at this point discovered that
he had forgotten to wind his watch uT
the night before.
The truth was, he was in love, and
with a young woman with whom he had
never exchanged a syllable. He learned
her name from his landlady, an austere
person, whose mind was set upon a
curious form of religion, and who did
not take much thought about frivolous
worldly matters.
Questioned discreetly by her ledger
this worthy but depressing person
could tell him little regarding the two
ladies who were now the object of such
tender interest to him. They were
Mrs. and Miss HeXham, so she hac
heard, and Mrs. Hexham was either
deaf or dumb, or it might be both, fol
her daughter talked on her fingers tC
her. and she answered. back in the same
way.
MIR. Oddie's courtship was a very de
corous affair. In Spain, despite hi
wears. he would doubtless have adopted
the role of an "iron-eater," as tn
youth who goes counting under hi
lady-love's balcony is styled.
But in sober, unromantie England
the sutton does not eatiron, or serenad
the queen of his heart on the guitar
lie has to be properly introduced, AM
the little corn dealer, knowing this re
spectacle custom, would have give
anything for an introduction whic
would have allowed him to call an
establish friendly relations.
> The months passed, and still he coul
$ not get that thin but necessary end
7. the wedge in. The mother and daugf
- ter seemed to have very few friend
ard never went out, probably on az
count of Mrs. HeXhams affliction.
( was hard upon the daughter, Mr. Odd
thought, but he admired her all III
. more for her self-sacrihce.
\ Miss Hexham became aware OF b
+ devotion, of that Mr.. Oddie was col
WINGED. When they met-and he too
care that they did meet pretty often
v he ventured TO raise his hat, and smile
C were exchanged. But there the atfa
: halted, to the poor little mans frequel
despair. lie could get no "forrader
70 Once, when he attempted TO speal
Miss Hexham turned the color OF a re
: rose, and promptly hurried away.
> 81 have never been properly intI'
duced, that is why" was Mr.. Oddie
- anguished reflection. "She must hay
E. been exquisitely brought up; the yer
St pink of propriety."
something will have TO be done
. FRIED the poor man, desperately, on II
Of day that he went to the city without
+ tie and an unfeeling acquaintan'
|" ieered at him and inquired If his hv'
were out of order. His liver! Pens
the thought! 1t was his heart.
q lie decided at length that, like Lee
IN kiah, he would ask for a sign ITO
heaven. He would send the object
II, his alteration bouquet, an anonymo'
n \. bouquet of the choicest; she wou
surely guess from whom it came.
- she placed it in the window he wou
a. write to Mrs. Hexham, explain himst
H. and his intentions, and request pr
mission TO call.
= MIR. Oddie took a holiday the day |