Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1901-11-28
! THE OLD MAIDS
; BALLOON ASCENSION
A Story of aged Lovemaking
BY John II. Raftery.

1
| that had not always been as red as
now and a cute mouth that puckered
up at the corner when she smiled. Her
| form was of the "ironing board" style
| that is. neither plump nor angular
| but her hands and feet were the chief
| pride Oi her romantic little heart for
| they were as small as child's. In
| deed, what most astounled the neigh
bors when they first began to notice
| the old maids transformation were the
marvellous shoes, slippers and gloves
she wore. For instance, the day Mrs.
| Gallagher followed her over to the park
| Miss Denbys little tootsies were in
cased in gray undressed kids, with-oh,
shocking g.-French heels. But that was
not what finally set the venomous
tongue of gossip to wagging.
Mrs Gallagher had actually caught
the old maid keeping tryst with n
man.
From that day the poor old dress
makers suddenly glorified wardrobe
was explained. Mrs. Gallagher had
watched her foregather with a hand
some, dark haired stranger and, lean
ing on his stalwart arm, stroll away
among the trees. 1t was evident that
Miss DENLY was in love and that her
suitor was a young and dashing fel-
low.
"After her money, | guess" said
Mrs. Jenkins to Mrs. Jones over the
back fence.
"No fool like an old fool" winked
Mrs. Jones.
Some said it was "disgraceful," 9th
ers suspected that Miss DENLY was q
'1ittle cracked" but they all became
very friendly with her, drank her tea,
admired her gowns and put themselves
in the way of becoming her confidants.
The good women even began to take
morning tramps in the park, and the
queer little dressmaker, walking with
her young suitor, was mortified and
puzzled at the frequency of these acci-
dental meetings.
Finally Miss DENLY decided to open
her heart to Mrs. Gallagher, and she
did it like this:
"Have another cup Of tea before
you go, Mrs. Gallagher"
"Sure I've had seven"
Gust one more" Then she whis-
pered, 'T've got secret for you"
Miss DENLY blushed and simpered
demurely as she poured the tea, and
her fat guest could hardly wait to
come at the long deferred mystery.
whats your secret, Sophronia?
Sure you amt going to move?"
"Guess again" glggled the old maid.
mot another new dressY
"Not that"
"I'n give up" admitted the other,
who enjoyed the deception.
"a weddingw gurgled Miss DENLY.
But, Eind now, it's secret yet. I'm
going to invite him up-hee-hee, hee-
hee-e-and | want you tc come and
chaperon me-
Mrs. Gallagher was staring open
mouthed.
"Sophronla DenbyP' she gasped.
married. You going to be married"
''To the finest, handsomest, noblest,
richest-he's prince
"Ah, botherw
"a Greek nobleman, Count Sardana-
paIus."
"And what business is he INF"
Business! Oh, dear, none! He's
nobleman; owns an island and all that
sort of thing"
The old maid seemed almost trans
figured with enthusiasm. She said she
had met her noble lover quite by acci-
dent while strolling near the beach.
He had found and restored to her
novel which she had left on bench.
The casual acquaintance thus begun
had fiourshed by reason of his Won
drous ardor and the fact that she walk
ed daily in the park. The count had
wooed and won her with the fierce
and swift gallantry of the old world"
Miss DENLY said, and she had resisted
him as long as her sympathetic heart
could withstand his eloquence.
Hes in Chicago to float loan for
the Greek government" she explained.
'As soon as Crete Is annexed the
country count"-a smile and blush
els to be absolute ruler of the island.
But he Is very anxious to depart, and
the wedding day must be fixed tomor-
row night. Turkish spies are constant
ly at his heels. There is hardly day
that he does not point one out to me-
| have seen them lurking behind the
bushes, and every time we part am
IN agony of fear lest something should
befall him."
Mrs. Gallagher was staring now like
a big bullfrog watching a red flannel
bait
"Will you come up tomorrow night
and meet himY she hears Miss DENLY
say.
81 WILL" murmured the dumfounded
Mrs. Gallagher. backing toward the
door.
1t was midnight when she had fin
ished her rounds of the flats. and at
the hour appointed for the counts ar
rival the population of the building
was on the front steps.
Sure enough, at s o'clock the hand
some foreigner came striding along
He paused a moment in front of Mss
Denby's entrance, looked up and down
the street and then sprang nimbly. up
the stairway.
Hc HutAtlluS olu uldlu, aSSlSleu
by Mrs Phclim Gallagher, received
him. To the latter he bowed with the
punctilious grace of a cavalier Of
France.
with your permission, madam" he
Baid, taking parcel from his pocket,
81 have brought mademoiselle little
gift. 1t is an heirloom in our family.
My ancestors captured II from King
Priam in the Trojan war"
He handed the package to the blush
ing Miss DENLY and kissed her tiny
hand as she bowed over it.
at is one @. the gold shoes from the
Trojan horse,' he resumed with rare
dignity. Each nail it set with a price
less diamond and
He was interrupted by little scream
from Sophronia. who had unwrapped
the parcel and found an old, rusty
horseshoe, very dirty, twisted and
worn. But the next moment she had
tapped his wrist with her fan and
laughed:
what a wag you are, count; forever