The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1906-08-16
THE IDEAL |
DOROTHY
By GEORGE HORTON,
Author Of Like Another Helen.-
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowies)

ography gave 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 certain hour in the
morning, performed various duties and
returned at fixed hour at night.
He was bachelor, was A. Quintner,
As years of age, retiring and timid,
with brown hair, slightly silvered at
the temples, florid complexion, and
shaggy eyebrows. He was a big man,
he dressed neatly, his manners were
grave and polite. and he walked with
the aid of corkscrew Manzanita cane.
A. Quintner had never married be-
cause of an ideal
In early youth be had supposedly
found the incarnation of that ideal; a
tall, fair woman, with form as grace
ful as the stem of lily, a 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
hti itNtlf ltblltSo SidlNts anu SIOht III
every tone of her low, soft voice.
This woman lied to him, played with
his heart as a cat with a mouse, and
married a disgusting old millionaire.
whose very touch was contamination.
Her husband died after few years and
the widow made 1t very plain to A.
Quinter that he might share the dead
mans millions with her, but he pre-
ferred TO remain simply elk" In the
war department
But he did not lost faith in his ideal,
as we shall see.
One morning, as he was proceeding
20 his desk in the department, he
looked suddenly into the face and eyes
of a 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 a lily,
swaying in gentle breeze, the same
massive coil of amber hair.
Can IL be?" he mused. but no
She is 40 by now, and this is a 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 IL.
II seemed improbable 10 him that
two persons so closely resembling each
other and his ideal-this Dorothy and
tha Dorotbv of LONG oro-e ebouId hott,
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 a joyous light
dn her eyes, which he concluded were
grey. p I. I, = ~
After a week, A. Quintner began t6
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. ---s'rs.- . 49,
Now, he enjoyed a bowing aoquaint-
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-
ment. 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. Il seemed 10 him rather
the fate of women of Annie's appear
ance 10 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 poor creature
like this servant" he reflected. I'm the
ideal woman, beauty of soul, refined
and delicate feelings. are associated
with physical beauty. The latter Is the
visible and tangible expression of the
former. can talk with Annie without
her even suspecting my sentiments for
her mistress"
Soon suitors. or, in more convention
al language, men friends" began TO
appear next door
There's a dozen of EN-" said Annie
one day, "and she wouldn't have any
one of 'em, not If he was the last man
on earth. She'll turn 'em all away some
day, when her own true love comes a.
ridin' up to the door"
Cheap literature" reflected A
Quintner, as he walked off, puts many
silly ideas into the heads of the unen.
lightened."
But Annie's remark brought a new
element into his dreams and caused
them to include the time when She
should suddenly discover that She hac
lost interest in the others. and should
spend all of her evenings with him.
He shrank from actually making her