The Carlisle independent., 1906-08-09
THE IDEAL DOROTHY.
BY GEORGE HORTON. Author of "Lik5 Another Eelen."

He was down in the Washington City Directory as "A. Quintner, clerk War Department" and that brief bi- ography gave a very correct estimate of his relative importance in the com munity, He was one of several thou sands in similar positions who left their houses at a certain hour in the morning. performed various duties and returned at fixed hour at night.
 He was bachelor, was A. Quintner, 45 years of age, retiring and timid, with brown hair, slightly silvered at the temples, a florid complexion, and shaggy eyebrows. He was big man, he dressed neatly, his manners were grave and polite, and he walked with the aid of a corkscrew Manzanita cane.
 A. Quintner had never married be- cause of an ideal.
 In early youth he had supposedly found the incarnation of that ideal; tall, fair woman, with a form as grace fui as the stem of lily, low, broad forehead, arching eyebrows, an oval face, serious, truthful, tender eyes. Ex- quisite refinement seemed to emanate from her like perfume, while gentle ness and angelic goodness looked from her level, fearless glance, and spoke in every tone of her low, soft voice. This woman lied to him, played with his heart as a cat with mouse, and married a disgusting old millionaire, whose very touch was contamination. Her husband died after few years and the widow made it very plain to A. Quinter that he might share the dead mans millions with her, but he pre- ferred to remain simply 'clk." in the war department.
 But he did not lost faith in his ideal, as we shall see
 One morning, as he was proceeding to his desk in the department, he looked suddenly into the face and eyes of woman who so reminded him of his youthful love that he nearly dropped his corkscrew cane in his agi- tation. He turned and gaZed after her. Yes, there was the same graceful form, reminding him of the stem of lily, swaying in a gentle breeze, the same massive coil of amber hair.
 Can it be-" he mused But no She is 40 by now, ard this is young woman, the same age that she was then"
 He called this woman, too, Dorothy, even though he did not know her name | and had no desire to learn it. It seemed improbable to him that fxrxC olO 1o1 0ol other and his ideal-this Dorothy and the Dorothy of long ago-should both | be ignoble
 This opinion was confirmed the next morning when he observed her from his window bringing several bundles from the corner grocery evidently pro- vision for the family breakfast The early air had touched her cheek with freshness, and there was joyous light in her eyes, which he concluded were grey.
 After a week, A. Quintner began to feel that he had something to come home to nights. He was no longer en- vious of his two associates, one a fat, the other a thin old man, both bald, | who shared his office AS the hands of the clock crept around the dial to- wards half-past four, he also glanced impatiently at them. They-the two old men-were hungry for a sight of their wives and babies, while he per haps might get glimpse of Her. Fail ing that, he should at least experience the sweet influence of her proximity. for she was sure to be in during the evening.
 Now, he enjoyed lowing acquaint- ance with the servant next door, a wo- man of about 40, with one colorless eye and a Socratic nose.
 He stopped and talked several times with Annie, holding his hat politely in his hand, out of difference for her, whose servant Annie was; and as he talked, his voice grew tender and he exhibited hesitation and embarrass- nent. When he was actually in con- versation with Annie his purpose seemed preposterous for he realized that he had stopped the woman simply because she was her servant. He saw nothing incongruous in so much physical ugliness serving so much beauty. It seemed to him rather the fate of women of Annie's appear ance to perform menial tasks for one upon whose face and figure God had set the seal Of Queen.
 There can be no such thing as sen timent in the heart of a poor creature like this servant he reflected. Tn the ideal woman, beauty of soul. refined and delicate feelings, are associated with physical beauty. The latter is the visible and tangibie expression of the former I can -al1k with Annie witfou.