The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1906-08-18

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tography gave a very correct estimate
OF his relative importance in the com
muniiy, He was one OF several thou
sands IN similar positions who left
their houses at certain hour ia the
morning, performed various duties and
returned as a fixed hour at night
tie was bachelor, was A. Quinires,
IS years OF age. retiring and tlmid.
with Drown hair. slightly silvered at
the temples. a norld complexion. and
shaggy eyebrows. lie was a big man.
be dressed neady, his manners we're
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; a
TALL fair woman. with a form as grace
ful as the stem Of a lily. a low, broad
forehead, arching eyebrows, an oval
face, seriou7 truthful. tender eyes. Elk
/ luisite refinement seemed TO emanate
from her like perfume, while gentle
/ less and angelic goodness looked from
her level, fearless glance, and spoke in
every tone of her low. soft voice.
This woman he'd 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 a 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 elk 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 u the department. he
looked suddenly into the face and eyes
Of Ne'uan who SO reminded him Of
his youthful love that he nearly
dropped his corkscrew cane in his as
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 be2" he mused. but no
She is 80 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 It.
1t seemed improbable to him that
two persons so closely resembling each
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 a joyous light
in her eyes, which he concluded were
grey.
After a week. A. Quintner began to
feel that he had something 10 come
home to nights. He was no longer en-
yious of his two associates, one 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 sight Of
their wives ami babies, while he per-
haps might gets glimpse OF Her. Fall
ing that. he should at least experience
the sweet influence Of her proximity.
for she was sure to be in during the
evening
Now, be enjoyed a bowing acquaint-
ance with the servant next door. a wo-
man of about 40. with one colorless
eye and a socratc 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-
Aent When he was actually in con
yersation with Annie his purpose
seemed preposterous for he realized
that he had stopped the woman simply
because she was her servant
lie saw nothing incongruous In so
much physical ugliness serving so
much beauty Il seemed to him rather
the fate OF women OF Apuie's appear
anee 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
iiinent in the heart of poor creature
like this servant" he reflected. In the
ideal woman. beauty Of soul, refined
and delicate feelings. are associated
with physical beauty. The latter Is the
visible ami 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 O dozen Of en- said Annie.
one day. "and she wouldn't have any
one OF EN-. not if he was the last man
on earth She'll turn 'em an away some
day, when her ewn true love comes az
rldin up 10 the door"
Cheap literature" reflected A.
Quinmer, as he walked on. puts many
silly ideas into the heads Of the unen-
lghiened."
But Annie's remark brought new
element into his dreams and caused
them to include the time when she
should suddenly discover that She had
lost interest In the others, and should
I enend an of her EVENINGS with him