Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-05-29
MRS. HAROLD stage.
,opyrixh. 800 and 1891 b, Rossr, bonner. Son.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.


ana yet believed impossible was the
case: the child had not realized the
situation. However. II was toe late
TO draw back now: she might gloss
inc matter over II IL came to the
worst. but she had better open the
chiids eyes a little. What did you
suppose was the meaning Of all Mr..
Pages attention-his flowers. his con.
slant preference for your society?"
Il knew he liked me. of course"
Liked your That Is rather .
vague term. my dear. Didn't II ever
occur to you that he liked you very
much better than any one eise?"
I'm afraid that I didn't think much
about what he meant" she answered,
desolately. I've been acting wrongly.
Aunt Emma II was pleasant going
On and on. and didn't realize. oh.
yes. I've been very wrong"
Nonsense. What is there wrong
about IL! You may have been n little
obtusc. perhaps. but youii know an.
other time. or rather hcnccforth. for
maybe there won't be another time.
You mustn't mind me. dear" she add.
ed. noticing that Eleanor writhcd mt
the innucndo: I'm only teasing. Il
Is very likely his own fault II you
didn't know. Men are often 80 fear.
fully commonplace In their speech
even when their actions seem de-
voted"
Eleanor said. with fcrvor. after n
moments silence:
Il am very much Obliged to you.
Aunt Emma"
For opening your cycsy You arc
entirely welcome. Il occurred to me
that II was Just possible you might
not be realizing tho full Significance
OF what such Intentions ordinarily i'm.
ply. II In apt To bc shock to girl
II man Offers himself without hnv.
ins made his intentions pretty clear
clear beforehand. and In such cases
shc sometimes says things she would
rot say II rhc had been more or less
prepared. though no Girl Is ever quite
prepared"
Emma spoke calmly. She was dis.
ttrbcd by Eicanor's manner, and yet
she Judged that her shrinking from
the Idea OF being seriously sought In
marriage proceeded from the novelty
of II. and that time would effect n
change. II was advisable to give her
m accurate glimpse OF the truth. and
yet veil II sufficiently not to offend
OF disgust her mnidcniy instincts. She
hoped she had accomplished this. and
accordingly she was little prepared
for the reply she now received.
Il think. Aunt Emma. the sooner I
get To work the better. I ought TO
have done so BEFORE she continued.
NJ Mrs. Stass Eaxcd Mt her In blank
bcwildcrmcnt. but I was having such
n pleasant timc let myself drift
along"
Work Eleanor I don't under.
stand you
you know ! have always meant
To be teacher. Uncle Harold per-
suaded mo TO come East with him
on account Of the boys. but now that
they arc established mt school, and I
have had all the rest need. I should
like to try TO get some pupils. or n
situation In college"
Eleanor. what do you mcan?'
Il have my own living to make.
Aunt Emma
Mrs. S,agg broke into n nervous
laugh.
Are you getting tired of us SO
soon. my dear? feared that We
should not be able long to compete
with the attractions of the wild and
woolly West"
III I can do equally well here. I
should prefer to remain rather than
60 West: but I imagine that there are
more opportunities In some of the
smaller new Western colleges or aca.
denies for the kind OF position 1
would rather have"
Eleanor. are you crazy? Do you
realize what you are saying? Pupils!
A position in college! And all be-
cause suggested that young man
might be in love with you! gave
you credit for more sense"
Emma rocked her chair with offend.
ed dignity that found vent for its
pcnt.up annoyance in another scornful
laugh. Could the child possibly he in
earnest? 1t was too ridiculous: and
yet there she sat. with her hands
ClHSpeu UelOTe HtT. anu an lHtcnse
expression which might betoken any.
thing.
mo. Aunt Emma, Mr.. Page had
nothing to do with 1t, except that II It
had not been for him I should very
likely have begun to make some In
quiries before we came to Beverly, as
to my chances of finding employment.
ought to have done so. brt, as have
already said, I was weak enough to
put 1t of little longer. am pro.
posing merely to carry out the plan
have had in mind nll along-my life.
work.
Emma looked at her curiously.
You are talking gibberish. Do you
not consider it part of a woman's life
work TO be well married?"
"If II so happens. certainly"
$50 hapens!' One would think
were referring to the bite of mad
dog. | am older than you, Eleanor,
and have seen the world. There is
nc more foolish, not to say unnatural.
attitude for woman to assume. than
to set her face against marriage. A
self.chosen old maid is a pitiable per-
SON.
81 have no wish to be an old maid"
l. H.