Danville intelligencer. [volume] (Danville, Pa.) 1859-1907, 1904-11-25
The Weakness
OF an Amazon

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 it is the unexpected that al
ways happens. He sat down carefully,
having achieved calm that implied
that hers was the generally recognized
method of answering a proposal.
hy-er-for the same reason that
other men have asked you to marry
them, I 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
II have known you so short time
could not be aware Of that. l should
never have believed 1t 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
failed?' softly.
She leaned back in her easy chair
and grasped its arms with Il nervous,
awkward movement. Barnard noticed
the strong, white hands, larger than
his by far.
'Do men ever love n woman that
weighs 1876 pounds?' she asked bitterly.
II have known one man that accom-
plished the feat" He smiled in her
eyes encouragingiy.
zone couldn't feel an inclination to
hold hand of that size. It's uncom-
Portable in 6& glove She held the
offending member before him as IL she
could cheerfully have amputated the
left one and have overtaken the right
with similar fate before they COM
municated to each other any knowl-
edge of their various doings.
"The man l mentioned feels a trou-
blesome inclination to hold that very
hand" he laughed.
"You are old enough to have acQulr-
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. A woman Of thirty five likes to
feel young even by comparison"
I'm sure I'll never object to COM
PARSONS in our family. If 1t pleases
you Wen turn down Mr.. Shakespeare )
opinion concerning them"
"In all my thirty-fve years. she
began.
you seem proud to enumerate them.
You might knock off five without any
one suspectlng," eying her with the
air of an expert.
"Simple honesty shouldn't be caught
embeazling," she smiled. with sense
Of good comradeship. Her hands re
laXed from their grip on the chair and
fell more comfortably upon her lap.
Didn't the other three think IT
would be rather nlce?" He looked
meaningly at the hand nearest him.
81 don't think anybody ever wanted
to-" she answered simply. 81 look too
much like the sturdy oak and have re-
ceivcd 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. don't like
my masculine manner-I hate it," We
hemently-"but it gives better effect
than If | tried to be kittenish A hun
dred and ninety-five pound kitten
would run such a serious risk of being
mistaken for giddy elephant"
"PrcciSply" 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, them he commenced.
"Oh, one of them was widower and
said it was so expensive having all the
| sewing done out for four children"
He frowned sympathetically.
"The second wanted partner to
| help run boarding school,"
He nodded.
"The third was preacher and
thought 1t was not good for man to
live alone. He didn't seem to think
dyspeptic tendencies and an INSULT.
| cient income obstacles to prevent his
| finding a companion with all ease. In
fact, his manner was full of assurance
that | would iump at the chance. None
of them, nobody in all my life, ever
really cared for me Fhey 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 lust as affectionate and tender
| hearted as If I were little and dainty
| her lip ouiyered-"and-I