Bridgeton pioneer., 1904-05-26
The Tissue
Paper Man
By WILLIAM H. OSBORNE
Copyright, 1903, by T. G. Mcclure

Iue malQ knOckeQ Sently upon MISS
Catherwood's door and handed in a
card. Miss Catherwood looked at it
and tossed 1t to the floor.
"Oh, the dickensv' she said frankly.
It will be seen at once that, although
Miss Catherwood was young lady of
beauty and charming personal charac-
teristics, she had decided opinions
about various things. One Of the
things was Mr.. Anthony Wadsworth,
who, as appeared, was waiting below
for an audience with her.
'sThe dickensw reiterated Miss Cath
erwood. II suppose shall have to see
him" Miss Catherwood's mother hap
pened to be within earshot.
"Who is itY' she inquired. She was
informed. "Dear me,'' said Miss Cath
erwood's mother, "why, Mr.. Anthony
Wadsworth has always appeared to
me to be very proper young man"
That's just the trouble, mother" re-
turned Miss Catherwood. "He's too
proper. He's too conventional. He's a
tissue paper man."
Dear me-" answered her mother,
'he-he doesn't look like tissue paper
man."
"Oh, know" petulantly responded
the young lady, II know. He's just
about the proper weight and proper
height, and his shoulders are just the
proper breadth. He's like a pattern--a
fashion plate. He's just unbearable."
Miss Catherwood's mother, who
could not quite reconcile her daugh-
ter's premises with her conclusion,
sighed. Her daughter swept out of the
room and went downstairs.
Mr.. Anthony Wadsworth rose as she
entered and bowed in quaint old
fashioned way. He was fiustered and
embarrassed, and there was good rea-
son for it, for Mr.. Anthony Wadsworth
was there for purpose, and his pur-
pose ultimately became apparent. He
was there to propose to Miss Gather
wood, and he proposed. He didn't do
It very well, and Miss Catherwood,
who had had a proposal or two be-
fore, as she listened to him made men
tai comparisons that were unfavorable
to this particular suitor
"Don'tdon't give me your answer
tonight" implored Mr.. Wadsworth, the
perspiration standing out upon his
brow. "Wait wait until tomorrow
night Take time'
Miss Catherwood, who would have
preferred to end it at once, assented.
She said with all the coldness she could
summon to her aid that she would
=. ho+ c1x
tomorrow night. And she had a rea-
son for it. She had an engagement
with Tommy Boggs for the next night,
and she intended to write short note
for Mr.. Wadsworth to receive when
he came. That would be the end Of
Mr.. Wadsworth.
Tommy Boggs, boisterous young
man whom she rather liked, was going
to do for her what no one had ever
done. He was going to take her down
to a big political rally in the Four
teenth ward down where she could
see politics as it really is. She looked
forward to it with pleasure. She liked
to learn about the real things that real
men did.
She started with Tommy about Z
O'clock in the evening in order to get
choice seat in the ladies' quarters.
She left the fatal note with her moth
er, with instructions to hand it to Mr..
Wadsworth. She told her mother
what it was. Her mother, who was
very tender hearted old lady, met
Mr.. Wadsworth at the door-he came
at O'clock sharp-and Mr.. Wads-
worth was SO downhearted when he
found that Miss Catherwood was out
that the old lady thought she would
keep the note to herself.
'I-I'll call tomorrow evening"" said
Mr.. Wadsworth tremulously. "She
probably forgot last night that she
had this-this engagement for tonight.
although I'll call tomorrow night"
Down in the Fourteenth ward, in
Catherwood were having the time Of
their lives. The campaign was in full
blast. Election was near at hand. Miss
Catherwood kept her eyes on the
speaker, and she listened to every
word he said.
isn't he finer" she exclaimed to
Tommy. TITS Just great to be man
like that, man who can sway men,"
There was burst Of applause from
something more than one-third of the
crowd as the man upon the platform
paused in his speech at the proper
place. He was paid campaign ora
tor. and he was good at that But there
was just bit Of dissatisfaction visi-
BILE upon the faces Of the crowd. A
man near Miss Catherwood moved
about uneasily.
Jaw, -" he said, why don't they
bring on the alderman? What the
the use o. thisY'
Another man nudged him. 1.-THE al
derman," he explained, "ain't a-goin'
to be on hand tonight"
As be spoke stout man entered
from behind the scenes and stepped up
toward the front of the stage. He
was cheered loudly.
'.That must be the alderman" whis-
rnrof5 Miss Cetherwood fo Tommv