Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1904-07-22
The Weakness
Of an Amazon

reason for wanting TO marry me-" she
asked in an aggressive tone that qua
yered into pathos.
Such an unexpected answer caused
Barnard to rise from his chair some
two or three inches before he remem-
bered that II is the unexpected that al
ways happens He sat down carefully.
having achieved q calm that implied
that hers was the generally recognized
method of answering a proposal.
"Why-er-for the same reason that
other men have asked you TO marry
them, | suppose because | ca more
for you than for any one else
The Others" she said slowly, haze
had various motives. There haven't
been so very many" she added. as if
constrained TO he honest.
Il have known you so short time
! could not be aware of that l should
never have believed il without your
assurance"
The hardness of her face relaxed
slightly, You are the fourth" she
said shortly.
'
failedE' softly
She leaned back in her easy chair
and grasped its arms with n nervous.
awkward movement Barnard noticed
the strong, white hands, larger than
his by far
DO men ever love woman that
weighs 195 pounds:" she asked bitterly
Il have known one man that accom-
plished the feat" He smiled in her
eyes encoura gingly.
"One couldn't feel an inclination to
hold hand of that size. It's uncom-
Portable in a Ga glove" She held the
offending member before him as if she
could cheerfully have amputated the
left one and have overtaken the right
with a similar fate before they com
municated 10 each other any knowl-
edge OF their various doings.
The man | mentioned feels a trou-
blesome inclination 10 hold that very
hand" he laughed.
You are old enough TO have acQuir-
ed better taste" she retorted censori-
ously. How old are you, by the way
Born exactly forty-nine years and
three months ago
Il don't object TO that" leniently.
at makes me feel somewhat better, |
think. \ woman of thirty-five likes to
feel young even by comparison
I'm sure III never object to com
PARSONS in our family. If it pleases
you well turn down Nj. Shakespeare
opinion concerning them"
in all my thirty-ive years. she
began.
You seem proud TO cnumeratc them.
You might knock off five without any
one suspecting," cying her with the
air of an expert
simple honesty shouldn't he caught
embezzling." she smiled. with Il sense
of good comradeship. Her hands re-
Taxed from their grip on the chair ana
fell more comfortably upon her lap.
Didn't the other three think il
would he rather nice?" He looked
meaningly at the hand nearest him.
Il don't think anybody ever wanted
to-" she answered simply. Il look too
much like the sturdy oak and have re-
ceived none of the tenderness that falls
TO the lot Of clinglng vines. OF course
there are storms from which the oak
might like 10 he sheltered. l don't like
my masculine manner-l hate it We
hemently-"buti it gives a better effect
than if tried TO be liittenish. A hun
dred and nnety-fve pound kitten
would run such a serious risk of being
mistaken for giddy elephant
Precisely" he agreed.
"But even feminine elephant might
long TO be admired occasionally and
loved"
Didn't the other three ever He
gently strokcd the firm. white hand.
They didn't want to- she bushed
furiouSly.
but why then he commenced
ooh. one of them was a widower and
said it was 80 expensive having all tue
sewing done out for four children
He frowned sympathetically.
THE second wanted partner TO
help run boarding school"
He nodded.
'Thc third was preacher and
thought it was not good for man TO
live alone. He didn't seem to think
dyspeptic tendencies and an INSULT
Gent income obstacles to prevent his
finding companion with all ease. In
fact. his manner was full Of assurance
that | would jump ut the chance. None
Of them, nobody in all my life. ever
really cared for me They only want
ed me to help them do something"
Her eyes were full of tears. 81
would like some one to love me as
they do the pretty little woman.
am Just as affectiOuate and tender
hearted as if ! were little and dainty
her lip quiycrcd -''and-1-want-to
be loved-and to be-like them" She
covered her face with her hands.
He sat down on the arm of the easy
chair with an air that was joyous and
youthful.
Dear little woman" lie said. icnor-
ing the fact that the shoulders shaken
by sobs were broad MS his own. 'thc
other three needed killing. would