Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-11-24
The Weakness
Of an Amazon

W Ould you OBJECT 10 telllng me your
reason for wanting TO marry me?" she
asked in an aggressive tone that qua
vered into pathos.
Such an unexpected answer caused
Barnard to rise from his chair some
two or three inches before he remem-
bered that 1t is the unexpected that al
ways happens. He sat down carefully,
having achieved a 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, 1 suppose-because l care more
for you than for any one else"
The Others" she said slowly, "have
had various motives. There haven't
been so very many" she added, as If
constrained to be honest.
Il have known you so short a time
| could not be aware of that | should
never have believed it without your
assurance"
The hardness of her face relaxed
slightly. You are the fourth" she
said shortly.
"Will you tell me why the other three
tailed2" softly
She leaned back in her easy chair
and grasped its arms with a nervous,
awkward movement Barnard noticed
the strong, white hands, larger than
his by far.
DO men ever love q woman that
weighs 1913 pounds?" she asked bitterly.
Il have known one man that accom-
plished the feat" He smiled in her
eyes encouragingly.
"One couldn't feel an inclination to
hold a hand Of that size. It's uncom-
Portable In a 6& 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 to each other any knowl-
edge OF their various doings.
Tho man | mentioned feels a trou-
blesome inclination to hold that very
hand" he laughed.
You are old enough to have acquir-
ed better taste" she retorted censorl-
ously. How old are you, by the way p
Born exactly forty years and
three months ago"
Il don't object to that" leniently
1T makes me feel somewhat better,
think. A woman Of thirty>tive likes to
feel young even by comparison"
I'm sure I'll never object to COM
perisons in our family. If 1t pleases
you well turn down Mr.. Shakespeare's
opinion concerning them"
I'm all my thirty-hve years. she
began.
You seem proud to enumerate them.
You might knock OFF five without any
one suspecting." eying her with the
air Of an expert
Simple honesty shouldn't be caught
embezzling," she smiled, with a sense
Of good comradeship Her hands re-
lnxed from their grip on the chair and
fell more comfortably upon her lap.
Didn't the other three think it
would be rather nicer" He looked
meaningly at the hand nearest him.
Il don't think anybody ever wanted
to-" she answered simply. II look too
much like the sturdy oak and have re-
ceived none of the tenderness that falls
TO the lot of clinging vines. OF course
there are storms from which the oak
might like to be sheltered. l don't like
my masculine Manner hate It," We
hementiy-"but II gives a better effect
than II tried to be kittenish. A hun
dred and ninety-f1ve pound kitten
would run such a serious risk OF being
mistaken for giddy elephant"
Precisely" he agreed.
"But even a feminine elephant might
long to be admired occasionally and
loved"
Didn't the other three ever He
gently stroked the firm, white hand.
They didn't want to-" she blushed
furiously.
but why. then he commenced.
"Oh, one OF them was a widower and
said it was so expensive having all the
sewing done out for four children"
He frowned sympathetcally
u0 bcCOHu HdHlcu u Pdi lllCl W
help run a boarding school,"
He nodded.
'"rhe third was preacher and
thought It was not good for man TO
live alone He didn't seem to think
dyspeptlc tendencies and an INSULT
Client income obstacles to prevent his
finding a companion with all ease In
fact, his manner was full Of assurance
that | would jump at 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 affectionate and tender
hearted as II l were little and dainty"
her lip quivered -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" he said, ignor-
by sobs were broad as his own, the
other three needed killing | would
love to slay them for you one by one,
but unfortunately there Is law
against II. | viii content myself re
joicing that their lack Of appreciation
left a chance for the fourth one" He
smoothed the hair gently from her
forehead. THE fourth man loves
you" he said. with n simplicity of
words strong in feeling.
She slowly raised her head and look
ed in his face. In her eyes was shin
Ing the same expression that men have
often seen in the eyes Of those more
favored women she envied The anna
zon sank into insignifcance; the wO-
man came into her own triumphantly.
Sweetheart he said.
TROY ALLISON.