The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-12-01
FREDERICKSBURG, VA. SATURDAY, DECEMBER I

RluB, anu lt lublnhtcu thhtf Poih"Pof
both Parmelia and Timothy were begin.
ming to feel. although Timothy was
too young aud too bashful to put this
feeling into so many words. Already
he was known as the 'bashful boy
round about"
When Parmelia had been dignifed
by long dresses and tucked mp" hair,
and Timothy's aspirations had taken
on the shape Of a tall. grey. "stoge'
pipe" hat, he became a regular caller
at the Dodd house
The genial face Of the village was
wreathed in smiles and Is expressed
itself freely in regard to Timothy
Prim's steady settin up ter PArmelia
DOdd "
The calling nights. according TO the
villages stereotyped fashions, were
Wednesdays and Sundays, and these
nights never failed 10 find Timothy
timidly knocking at the Dood door.
From eight TO half.psst nine they sat
in social intercourse. Timothy vaiuly
endeavoring to broaoh tue subject up
permost in his mind aud always falling
back in desperation upon the weather,
crops and other local topics.
80 ten years passed and gradually the
smile upon the villages face changed
to 4 frown at Timothy's bashful dal.
lance. Then came, as will come soon.
er or later in the affairs OF men, a
crisis. Prmelia had felt for some
time that a decisive state Of the pres
ent conditions was approaching.
For a month or more past Timothy
had increased his visits 10 four q week
instead Of two.
Easter was drawing near and Par.
melia felt intentively that this time Of
bursting life and joy would bring the
fatal Issue.
SO it was in preparation for the
half.looked. for event than because Of
,he coming season. that Parmelia pur.
chased Of Aunt Deborah Lovejoy, our
village milliner, a new bonnet, an al
most unprecedented Bit Of extrAvsgance
on her part, and had it trimmed in
green TO match her gown, with o
wreath Of delicate pinkrosebuds under
meath its brim.
PArmelia was now twenty eight. but
the bloom Of youth aud health was still
upon her cheek Jealousy even rSnkled
in the hearts OF the young village girls
when on Sunday she swept in all her
regal glory into Deaoon Dodd's high.
backed pew.
Timothy Prim opened his eyes in
wild astonishment at the vision pre-
sented and from Lis advantageous posi-
tion in the choir loft. let his eyes rest
upon it throughout the entire sermon.
Easter had come late that year. Sun
day had dAwned warm The sky over
head was without a cloud the fields
stretched out green aud rolling; the
birds sang in the trees; the hedgerows,
too, were in blossom and their fragrance
ladened the air with delicate perfume.
The day was most auspicious. There
is no doubt bat that the unre.
fined nature Of Timothy Pfim felt its
uplifting influence % be walked home
from the meetlng-house by Parmelia
Dodd's side.
They were. however, nearly halfway
home before he could bring himself to
the decisive point. Then he blunted
out-"Parmy He had never called
her ''Parmy" before. aud the very fact
of his now having done so made. him
blush furiously.
"Parmy," he again whispered. Then
most unromantio thing turned the
tide Of events. Suddenly upon the still
Sabbath air the village fire bell clashed
its jArring notes.
At the first stroke Of the belli limo
thy's face lost the perturbed expression
it had taken on II was even replaced
by one Of intense relief
"PArmy. "he again cried, but not with
the same lover.like tenderness as be-
fore-"PArmy. it's fire l'-aDd like
a flash of lightning he was gone. 1t is
said that for second Parmelia stood
stock.still watching the fast retreating
form, then, as it seemed the wisest
thing TO do, waited until her mother
and sister came mp and joined them on
their homeward way
As Mrs. Jobiah has iutimated. Tim j.
thy is q stsuDch believer in predestina-
tion. Parmelia, too, Is particularly or
thodox. She looked upon the outcome
of this Sabbath morningI as part Of
prearraoged plan of the Lord.
She did not even think Of rebelling.
but calmly resigned herself TO the inev.
liable fate Of spinsterhood there was
not the fainest gleam Of hope in ths
other direction.
Ever since she was five Timothy
/ Prim had been her most devoted ad
mirer. yet it had taken twensy.three
years to urge him forward TO deOisivs
step
Il is even likely that PArmelia In hel
resigned state Of mind, speculated
where she would be at she end Of
another twenty possibly where
"mosh and rust doth not corrupt. " ant
feArnInRs after marital bliss do moi