Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1904-07-21
The Weakness
OF an Amazon

two or three inches before he remem-
bered that 1t In 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 proposal.
why err for the same reason that
other men have asked you to marry
them, suppose because / care more
for you than for any one else"
.sIhc Others" she said slowly, "have
had various motives. There haven't
been so very many she added, as II
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.
"gyilI you tell me why the other three
failed?' softly.
She leaned back In her easy chair
and grasped its arms with nervous.
awkward movement Barnard noticed
the strong, white hands, larger than
his by far
"Do men ever love woman that
weighs 1875 pounds?' she asked bitterly.
Il have known one man that accom-
pllshed the feat lie smiled In her
eyes encouraglngly,
zone couldn't feel an inclination to
hold hand of that size. It's uncom-
Portable in 8M glove" She held the
offending member before him as IL she
could cheerfully have amputated the
left one and have oyertaken the right
with similar fate before they com
mnnicated to each other any knowl-
edge Of their various doings.
'.The man | mentioned feels a trou-
blesome inclination to hold that very
hand, he laughed.
You are old enough to have acquir-
ca better taste" she retorted censori-
otsIy. How old are you. by the way n
"Born exactly forty-nine years and
three months ago
Il don't object to that" leniently.
1T makes me feel somewhat better, /
think. A woman Of thirty-fiye likes to
feel young even by comparison
I'm sure I'll never object to com
PARSONS In our family. If it pleases
you Wen turn down Mr. Shakespeare's
opinion concerning Them
I'm all my thirty-fve years. she
began.
"You seem proud to enumerate them.
You might knock off five without any
one suspecting," eying her with the
air of nm expert.
simple honesty shouldn't be caught
embezzling,D she smiled, with a sense
of good comradeshlp. 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 he rather nicegn 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-
ceiycd 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 mannerI hate it" We
hCdtCbAA1 bUl IL SINC0 a DCttGI ClCCl
than liz tried to be kittenish. Al hun
dred and ninety-five pound kitten
would run such serious risk of being
mistaken for a giddy elephant"
Precisely he agreed.
.sBut even feminine elephant might
long to be admired occasionally and
loved
Didn't the other three ever He
gently stroked tile firm, white hand.
'They didn't want to-" she blushed
furiousIy
ssBut why, then he commenced.
"Oh, one of them was q widower and
said II 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 q preacher and
thought it was not good for man to
live alone. He didn't seem to think
dyspeptic 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. II
would ike some one to love me as
they do the pretty little woman
arm just as affectionate and tender
hearted as II were little and dainty
her lip Qnivered "and want Ito
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-
ing the fact that the shoulders shaken
by sobs were broad as his own, s.the
other three needed killing. | would
love to shay them for you one by one,
but unfortunately there is law
against iii viii content myself re-
joicing thar their lack OF appreciation
LEFT chance tor the fourth one. lie
smoothed the hair gently from Her
Iorehead The fourth man loves
Won" be said with simplicity Of
words strong Ia feeling
She slowly raised her head and look