The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-02-15
The Mon Of Her Choice
BY W. J. Hampton.


pont of years, but in point of occupancy.
although he was not as young as he was
when lie passed his tiftieth birthday. He
roomed on the floor that Mary had the
care of, and after years acquaintance
with her he had decided in his own mind
that She was very nice girl.
b One Sunday when she was fixing nm
his room, which was the only time She
ever saw him there, he began talking to
her
u DO you know, Mary" he said, with
evident sincerity, that you are the pref
'tiest girl in the hotel?"
q Yes, sir replied Mary.
"A Mr.. Doan was somewhat staggered by
This unexpected frankncss.
4 "Oh, you do, do you?" he responded, a
littlc nettled.
Il Il ought TO-" she replied. Every man
j have seen in this hotel has told me so
Except you. and now you have, so they
cant all be telling storics.'
4 This explanation did not quite suit Mr..
Doan, but Mary was quick witted and he
let il go as she put it.
Il presume" he said apologeticallv.
81 ought to have told you so before, he
cause | have known it ever since the fist
day | saw you, but you seemed to me to
b. lady, and | did not want you to
think that | was not Il gentleman"
And am a lady. Mr.. Doan. as my
mother was, and stil is, but am a lady
H. distress, as the story tcllcrS have it.
Nv years ago my father died, leaving
h. nothing but little home away out in
thc suburbs, where my mother and NV
Brother live. lie never was rich. but he
Nas gentleman, and when he left us so
Iuur somebody had to do something. and
took this place. 1t was the only thing
] could do for wages right from the start.
aud We needed something to live on. My
Brother found place in store and be-
tween MS we manage to live"
81 You're as good Il girl as you are pref
3ty' said Mr.. Doan, "and | must 90 out
anl see that mother of yours"
So be did. too, and came back with a
4very agreeable impression of the sweet
5o,d lady Of 90 that he had met.
"Al3rE,' he said on the following Sun
Hday, "hoW would you like for me to be
you father"
"You are quite old enough to he" she
8said sharply, but you are not old enough
8to be my mothers husband, if that is
swhat You are leading up to"
~ don't know ahout tbat =" bo I,r,rboa
IA woman'S heart is always young"
but Mary did not like the subject and
@wcat ont without continuing the CONVEX
&sauon. Half an hour later as she was
Hcawyjn@ a roll of quilts across the hall
in front of the elevator, into which Mr..
& loan had just stepped. that always I'M
n and started down thr shaft far tho hot
N tom. seven floors below. Mary know
t what was coming. or going rather and
3 with scream She dashed tho roll ~
&Quits into the open door. Tho caro- had
N only slight start and the ouilts wore
~ caught ana wrJpod in hntwoon No aoar
~ ana the elevator roof and the downward
q movement STONED with = noise ike .
who'd tal,in,, r,Ii',,,. lI.a II,
.dronppd in = faint. Mr.. Doan almost haJ
a spa~m in the elevator. where no was
#boXcd M. the elevator how come rnnnino
4lyer a message. someLodv nrnod in =
fre alarm and the whole nl,co WINS II, an
.uDroar The ircman wnro rnstroinod From,
&tumuinr tbn hosn an Mr. nom AMI hrs;nl
themselves ri~,i,,, ti,,,lo, j., tia
&shar, below the cage ia cntcb II v.Lon
.athc quilts were Withdrawn and nrosonl X,
Mr Dosn o,no down. io,,u' , m"' anu p.es'ii,S
walked out scared almost whitn I'M
SpanrIs no%t n9orn;nn I hnI In,'' ne
x about it. with y largo nicturo Of Nory
and big headlines about Tho boroism If =
chambcrmaid If bonnnrod an E,ido,.
and on SUNDAY Mary was NJ bor nnst
augin N'bo, ~ ~. -. !
,o 70 ''.,;. " ren Nlr' DUi'h saw hef' he ana
had sent 10 her housn al. - bout his boyinc
Called TO SEQ her witbont seeing bo,.
Mary" he said in tho matfor Of fact
WAY Of n man If 40 "vou sovod nv lea
and want to do something 70 show NV
apprpciation of II >,
"Oh, Mr.. Dom" sbo almost nloodod
"don't say onvtbinp about II didn,t
do ANYTHING"
you saved my life Isn't that any.
Nthing? If is to mo if il isn,t to Won -
81 would have done inst tha same for
N Tom"
Tom was the elevator how
well, | am going to offer Won some-
Thing a Kid like Tom conIdn,t offer Won
and that is the heart and the hand of an
elderly man"
You mean YOU want TO marry me for
savipo ,o,,,. Iirao,, - --e
nletaly J Iout meg asked Mary COM
~. u"Aeu'
Itatnd NJ. ~ hal5' hesl-
~ i,,. D9 ,ha
no,.,,;a ?ust the same thlhg' ana can
6rtai, =, WI Doan' salu Mary reso-
pnd = gu are rlch ana l am poor
Far ,,.Lo %ouiu pe just us IL l saved you