The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1903-12-25
5 HE CO oURrED.

ner name. Picture to yourself WON
an nifty years Of age. tall and thin, heI
gray hair drawn 20 tightly away from
her face that her bead on one side wal
quite bald, and Il was an unsolved
mystery how her chisnon repnainetl n
place, half held a. 1t was. Her cheek
bones were prominent, her eyes q
washed out biue, and looking at her
In the most friendly way you would
fail to and one attra ctive feature.
And yet the woman was in love and
had been for the last four yeArs. More
than that, she was deeply in love, and
% much so that she could not conceal
II, but conducted her courtship for
naturally she was the suitor--in the
most open, barefaccd manner, and BY
20 doing had quickly made herself the
talk Of the village.
This village, where she had been poor
and had lived all her life without once
stepping her foot outside it's bounda-
ries. was pretty little New England
one. consisting, as II usual, Of main
street, on either side Of which the cot-
tases were building slowly up toward
the church. Near the parsonage they
stood little closer together, as IL they
wanted to receive all the benefit possi-
ble from their proximity to the minis-
ter's habitation. Dorothy's house stood
= little by itself. quite at the end Of the
long street, and was one of the most
prosperous looking cottages in the
whole place. for she was well to do.
Nevertheless she kept on the even
tenor Of her way and pursued the be-
loved object with unremitting atten-
tions A ridiculous sight they were
together (for occasionally on some
trivial pretext or other Dorothy would
walk short distance with him), but
~ Mrs. Bangs, her nearest neiGhbor.
said: "A tall woman always manages
to be with the short man. It must be
to make the average come out right"
Mrs. Bangs also had a great deal to
cay about the difference in their ages,
but she always ended by remarking:
well, 1t does seem to be the style
nowadays for women to marry men
young enough to be their sons. They
must Ike to bring up children" But
even these unneighborly remarks fail
ed to make any impression on Miss
Allen.
One taste they had IN common. They
were both extremely fond Of cats, and
as Dorothy was the happy owner Of
four you might frequently see these
two people. SO much talked about In
the village. admiring the pussies 40
they ate their meat in charming con-
cord. But often. regret to say, his
fatal propensity to tease her pets, to
pull their tails or do some other thing
that she was sure hurt them threat
ened to make discord between Miss
Allen and the worthy object of her
maiden affections. But as yet bar
mony reigned supreme.
But the love affair did not flourish,
although .shs, was continually tempting
him with all sorts of sweetmeats (men,
they say, are fond or good cooking,;
but, although the dainty viands were
enjoyed, he would hasten away across
the street to where a younger, fairer
maiden dwelt, and once he even went
so far as to share some candied orange
peel with her. But true love overlooks
such lapses, and Dorothy did not quite
lose all hope.
After time, as should be natural,
but is not always the case, he began to
reciprocate and show In many little \
ways that SO much love and affection
upon him had had their effect,
and Dorothy said to herself. II knew 1t
would come around all right II I only
had the patience to wait" The first
that she had OF his change
Of heart was one morning when she
was In her garden tying up her sweet
peas. He, by the way, 10 quite nat
uralist, and although a. yet his name
is but little known one can easily- see
that he has career before him; yet |
when he approached Dorothy. with d
most mischievous look ON his face, she
ought to have taken into account the
difference in their ages and been warn
ed. You see, however, 1t was his first
visit, and her head was 20 !
full of pleasure at the thought that SHE
opened her hand and shut
ner eyes NJ MS request, whereupon he |
placed therein large. brown
The next minute the four cats who
had been acting as chaperons at this
interesting meeting scattered like so
many feathers, fairly blown away by
The ear piercing scream that issued
from Miss Dorothy's throat. for that
maiden Of fifty years gathered up her
petticoats and fed In utter -dismay
She could not even bear the sight Of
,aterpillaf. and have one put direct
y into her hand was too much for her
nerves.
Since there has been marked cool
less between them. Naturally people
made EXCUSES for him Qhey generally
10 for q. ynan, you, know) and said. he
vas 80 young that he didn't know any