The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-06-05
Mr.. Oddie's Courtship.
BY sheela z. Braine.
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M R. MARKHAM ODDIE was model
lVI lodger, an old bachelor, and a
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 the
younger of two ladies who had recent
ly come to live in one of the houses OPP
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 road, and he hurried
after her with it. The smile with which
she received it went straight through
Mr.. 0ddie's somewhat an tiquated 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 hair
ought to have been. but now, alas, was
not. That bald spot had not troubled
him much up to that time; now he re-
garded it with mistrust.
Mr.. Oddie had 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 off.
and had no one dependent upon him;
the few relatives he possessed lived in
the shires.
Mr.. Oddie had remainedla 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 a
whole, quite unreservedly. But he had
never given his heart TO any one par
ticular woman, and his landlady looked
upon him as a fixture.
The returning of that apparently in
nocent looking parcel marked an epoch,
Life was never the same again 10 the
little old bachelor. He had not watched
Miss Hexham's gentle face and well.
developed but graceful figure for ten
days before he became convinced that
it was not good for corn dealer to live
alone.
IA man wanted softening influences
about him"-here he hurled piece o.
fried ham to the cat-''he needed gen
tie hand to guide and restrain him.
Mr.. Oddie at this point discovered tha
he had forgotten to wind his watch NJ
the night before.
The truth was, he was in love, ant
with young woman with whom he haC
never exchanged a syllable. he learned
her name from his landlady, an auster'
person, whose mind was set upon ;
curious form of religion, and who dir
not take much thought about frivolous
worldly matters.
Questioned discreetly by her ledger
this worthy but depressing person
could tell him little regarding the tw,
ladies who were now the object of sucl
tender interest to him. They were
Mrs. and Miss Hexham, SO she hat
heard, and Mrs. Hexham was eithe
deaf or dumb, or it might be both. TO
her daughter talked ON her fingers (
her, and she answered. back in the sam
way.
Mr.. Oddie's courtship was a very do
corous affair. In Spain, despite hi
years, he would doubtless have adopte
the role of an ''iron-eater," as til
youth who goes counting under hi
lady-love's balcony is styled.
But in sober, unromantis England
the sutton does not eat iron, or serenad
the queen of his heart on the guita
He has TO be properly introduced. an
the little corn dealer. knowing this n
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 ,
the wedge in. The mother and daugl
ter seemed to have very few friend
ard never went out, probably on a
count of Mrs. Dexham's affliction.
was hard upon the daughter. Mr.. Odd
thought. but he admired her all II
more for her self-sacrifice.
Miss IIexham became aware of b
devotion. of that Mr.. Oddie was CO.
WINGED. When they met-and be toe
care that they did meet pretty often
he ventured to raise his hat. and smil,
were exchanged. But there the alta
halted, TO the poor little mans frequel
despair. He could get no "forrader