The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-01-22
coURTED-


her face that her head on one side was
mystery how her chignou remained IN
place. half held Us II was. Her check
bones were prominent. her eyes a
washed out blue, and looking at her
In the most friendly way you would
fail to find one attractive feature
And yet the woman was in love and
had een for the last four years. Nor,
than that she was deeply IN love. ard
30 much so that she could not conceal
Il. but conducted her courtshlp--for
naturally she was the suitor-in the
most open barefaced manner. and by
80 doing had quickly made herself the
talk Of tho village.
This village, whore she had been poor
and had lived all her life without once
stepping her foot outside ITS bounda.
ries, was a pretty little New England
one. consisting, as is usual. Of main
street. on either side Of which the cot
tages were building slowly up toward
the church. Near the parsonage they
stood little closer together as IL they
wanted TO receive all The benefit posi-.
bic from their proximity to the minis
ter's habation. 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 we'll to do
Nevertheless she kept OF the even
tenor Of hor way and pursued the be-
loved object with unremltting alton
tions ridiculous sight they were
together (for occasionally en- some
Trivial pretext or other Dorothy would
walk a short distance with him). but
ms Mrs Bangs, her nearest ncighbor.
said a tall woman always manages
to be with the short man. 1t must be
to make the average come out right"
Mrs. Bangs also had a great deal 10
say about the difference in their ages
but she always ended by remarking
"Wcll, Il does seem TO be the style
nowadays for women to marry men
yonng enough 10 be their sons. They
must like to bring M children" But
even these unneighbory remarks fail.
cd TO make amy 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 as
they ate their meat IN charming con
cord. But often. | regret TO say. his
fatal propensity 10 tease her pets, TO
pull their tails or do some other thing
that she was sure hurt them threat.
ened 10 make discord between Miss
Allen and the worthy object OF her
maiden affections But as yet har
mony reigned supreme.
But the love affair did not flourish
although she was continually tempting
him with all sorts OF sweetmeats men
they say. are fond Of good cookingl
but although the dainty winds were
enjoyed, he would hasten away across
the street to where younger, fuirer
maidNa dwelt. ana once he even went
so far as to share some candicG orange
peel with her But true love overlooks
such apses, and Dorothy did not quite
lose all hope
After a time, as should be natural.
but is not always the case. he began to
reciprocale and show in many little
ways that so much love and affection
lavishod upon him had had their effect.
aud Dorothy said 20 herself. II knew II
would come around all right II only
had the patience to wait" The first
intlmatlon 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 is quite a nat
urallst, and although as yet his name
is but little known one can easily see
that he has a career before ham; yet
when he approached Dorothy. with n
most mischievous look on his face. she
ought 10 have taken Into account the
difference IN their ages and heen warn
ed You see. however, II was his first
unsolicited visit. and her head was so
fun OF pleasure at the thought that she
confidently opened her hand and shut
her eyes M his request whereupon he
wickedly placed therein large. brown
caterpillar
The next minute the four cats who
had been acting as chaperons az 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 dfty years gathered up her
petticoats and fed In utter dismay.
She could not even bear the sight of q
caterpillar and TO have one put direct
ly into her hand was too much for her
nerves
Since there has been a marked cool
ness between them. Naturally people
made excuses for him (they generally
do for a man. you know and said he
was so young that he didn't know any
better But / leave It 10 you il Afr
Sack Carter exactly Eve years old, hav.
ing won the mature affections even
though unwtunglyl OF Miss Dorothy
Allen, aged exactly ffty, should not
hnta morn rosrnnt f,r -. f..tt.... =.