Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-01-09
THE OLD MAIDS
BALLOON ASCENSION

BY John H. RaftGy.

Denny began to make show" OF her,
self. From the modest responsibility of
neutral tints, cotton gowns and sailor
such a splendid radiance of millinery
and mode that all her neighbors won
dered. For Miss DENLY was an old
maid. She had accumulated a modest
fortune making dresses, and, being
fifty-two years old, as she admitted
with weazen smile, she had retired
permanently from business and settled
| down to a routine of tea drinking and
novel reading, relieved, if not 1llu-
| minated, by daily strolls in the park
and Sunday visit to church.
Homely? Not exactly, for she had
bright, busy little eyes, straight nose
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 of her romantic little heart, for
they were as small as a child's. In
QCSU, Wldl DuOSL d0IOuu0C0 lAC uCleS IL
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 Denby's little tootsies were in
cased in gray undressed kids, with-oh,
shocking!-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 a
man!
From that day the poor old dress
makers suddenly gloriied 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 fell
low.
"After her money, 1 guess" said
Mrs. Jenkins to Mrs. Jones over the
back fence.
mo fool like an old fool" winked
Mrs. Jones.
Some said it was "disgraceful," 9th
ers suspected that Miss DENLY was a
'little 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. GaEegAe2, and she
did it like this:
"Have another cup of tea before
you go, Mrs. Gallagher"
"Sure I've had seven"
"Just one more" Then she whis-
pered, "I've got a 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.
w udl your ScCISl,
Sure you amt going to move"
"Guess again." giggled the old maid.
''Not another new dress?
"Not that"
"Pll give up" admitted the other.
who enjoyed the deception.
ga wedding" gurgled Miss DENLY.
"But, mind now, it's a secret yet. I'm
going to invite him up-hee-hee, hee-
hee-e-and I want you to come and
chaperon me-
Mrs. Gallagher was staring open
mouthed.
"Sophronia Denbyr' she gasped.
married! You going to be marriedw
ITO the finest, handsomest, noblest,
richest-he's prince
"Ah, botherp'
"a Greek nobleman, Count Sardana-
palus."
"And what business is he inw
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 acc.-
dent while strolling near the beach.
He had found and restored to her
novel which she had left on a bench.
The casual acquaintance thus begun
had fiourished 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
count-my 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 seer them lurking behind the
bushes. and every time we part l am
In agony of fear lest something she uld
Defall him."
Mrs. Gallagher was staring now like
big bullfrog watching a red flannel
bait.
"Will you come up tomorrow night
and meet himY' she hears Miss DENLY
| say.
81 win," murmured the dumfounded
Mrs. Gallagher, backing toward the
door.
It was midnight when she had fin
ished her rounds of the fats, and at
the hour appointed for the counts ar
la & r. "a