The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-07-15
The Weakness 4
OF an Amazon

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 Il proposal
"Why- er-for the same reason that
other men have asked you to marry
them, 1 suppose-because | care more
for you than for any one else"
'rhe others" she said slowly, "hnye
had various motives. There haven't
been 50 very many" she added, as If
constrained to be honest.
Il have known you so short time
could not be aware of that | 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
faiIedY softly.
She leaned back in her easy chair
and graspcd its arms with nervous,
awkward movement. Barnard noticed
the strong, white hands, larger than
his by far.
do men ever love woman that
weighs 1915 pOundsW she asked bitterly
81 have known one man that accom-
pliShed the feat" He smiled in her
eyes encouraglngly.
"One couldn't feel an inclination to
hold hand of that size It's uncom-
Portable in Il 6& glove" She held the
offending member before him as If she
could cheerfully have amputated the
left one and have ovcrtaken the right
with Il similar fnte before they com
municatcd to each other any knOwl
edge of their various doings.
"Hhc man | mentioned feels trOu-
blesomc inclination to 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 wayY
Born exactly forty-nine years and
three months ago"
II don't object to that" leniently
1T makes me feel somewhat better, ]
think A woman Of thirty-f1ve likes to
feel young even by comparison"
I'm sure I'll never object to com
PARSONS in our family. If 1t pleases
you we'll turn down Mr.. Shukespeare's
opinion concerning them"
an all my thirty-hve years. she
began.
you seem proud to enumeratc 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 comradcship. Her hands re-
Taxed from their grip on the chair and
fell more comfortably upon her lap.
Didn't the other three think 1t
would be rather niceY 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 clngng 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 1t gives better effect
than if tried to be klttenish. A hun
dred and nincty-tive pound kitten
would run such II serious risk Of being
mistaken for Il giddy elephant"
Precisely" he agreed.
"But even feminine elephant might
long to be admired occasionally and
loved"
"Dldn't the other three ever He
gently stroked the firm. white hand.
'"They didn't want to- she blushed
furlously
"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 a boarding school"
He nodded.
"rhe 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
| cicnt income obstacles to prevent his
| finding 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 l
am lust MS affccti0uate and tender
hearted as if were little and dainty"
her lip quivered- 'nnd-I-want-to
be lovcd--and to be-likG 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-
ipQ the fact that the shoulders shaken
by sobs were broad as his own, the
other three needed killing l would
love to STAY them for you one by one,
but unfortunately there is a law
against 1t. l will content myself re-
Ioicmg TINT their lack of appreciation
left chance for the fourth one" He
snfoothed the hair gently from her
forehead. "The fourth man loves
you," he said, with Il 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
-. .....,I inAn lncllrni Hnnnnn. thn N.n-