The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1903-07-01
Courtship by
Lightning ~ ~
BY OTHELLo F. ANDREWS

THERE was dead center in the lit
tie affair between Ada Stephen
son and George Jones. A negative and
nothing doing" Jones was positive
he would marry Ada, while the
thoughts of the latter were running
in dramatically opposite direction,
chiefly toward Edward Carroll. They
had been acquainted for-well, it mat
ters little how long, for the condition
would probably have been similar had
they known one another for a week or
for ten years.
"Why don't you marry Jones?"
asked Ada's sister Bessie one evening,
as they sat on the little porch in the
rear of their North side fiat.
Because l don't want to-" was the
womanly answer of the sister.
well, you may have reasons that
you don't air, but so far as | can see
think you are acting foolishly in treat
ing him so lightly"
Il don't love him, if that's any rea-
son."
The next day the girls received let
ter from their aunt in New York city
inviting them to visit her at her Long
Island summer home. The aunt's hus-
band was president of one of the big
railroads, and the letter contained
passes for the nieces. The opportunity
could not be ignored, and the girls
made hurried arrangements to go east
for two or three weeks. Some time
before George had gone to Boston to
assume charge, temporarily, of a
branch house he had established there.
When he heard of the girls contem-
plated trip east he made it imperative
that both, or Ada at least, should come
on to Boston and spend few days
with him and his mother, who was
with him.
When the train rumbled into Grand
Central station Aune Jennie was wait
ing for the girls.
well, girls, 1 hope your minds are
free of boys, so that ] may enjoy your
visit" said Aunt Jennie after dinner.
mine is as receptive as vacuum"
said Bessie. "But am not so sure
about Ada"
"Ah, 1 thought So" said the aunt.
"My question was leading one. And
who is, it now, Ada? Have you accept
ed George or Eddie, or have you given
both the go-by?"
81 haven't done anything, auntie. l
am in state of suspended decision.
Bessie never loses an opportunity to
bring up the subject. l don't believe
she will ever marry, but marriage is
ever in her mind-that is, marriage
for me-"
81 see," said Aune Jennie. "There
appears to be some differences be-
tween you over choice. What is the
contention, the color of eyes, the style
of beard or stature? These are usual
ly factors in girls choice of man.
a girl sometimes allows mans body
to overweight his brain. She will often
give a physical attraction precedence
over mental one. don't know any
thing about this case, but my advice is
to take the man who thinks, whether
he has green or red eyes. or whether
Re is five or seven feet tall. Allow the
man to furnish the thought-you may
need it-and the girl the love. This
will not bring you man bereft of
sentiment, for thought and affection
usually go together"
''By the way, auntie, how long does
1t require to 60 to Boston?" said Ada,
apparently ignoring the advice.
''You may go by rail in about six
hours. l think, and by water and rail
over night"
Before the subject could be pursued
further the bell rang to announce a
telegram for Miss Ada Stephenson"
when will you depart New York for
Boston? GEORGE"
amy answer?" queried the boy.
NO." said Ada.
Ada, with smile, tossed the mes
sage to her sister. At breakfast the
following morning she received an
other dispatch from George.
Kindly answer my telegram of last
night" were the contents.
Ada's face REDEEMED a trife as she
crushed the missive in her lap and dis
missed the messenger without a reply.
Late in the afternoon Ada found
time to write Il few words 10 the Bos-
ton lover, telling him she would prob
ably arrive in the Hub the next Satur-
Gay morning.
George and his mother met Ada at