Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-09-24
The Little Old Maid


They called her "the Little Old
Maid"
But the words were never spoken In
the tone SO often adopted when an I'M
married woman of uncertain age is re-
ferred to as an "old maid" Rather,
the way they were said implied a feel
ing of affection-in a measure, of pity.
The phrase was generally uttered with
the infection of voice that we uncon-
sclously adopt when we speak Of one
afflicted or Of one for whose condition
we are sorry and with whom we sym
pathize, or of some exceptionally de
lightful child The Little Old Maid at
tracted everybody who came in contact
with her.
She Yves nearly 80; yet her features,
api the profusion of the silvery hair
coiled about the well-shaped head,
showed how beautiful she must have
been. Her eyes were lovely still, and
quite magnetic when she smiled. But
it was the strangely sweet expression
that lighted up her countenance when
she spoke which made her seem so IRE
sistible, and caused people of all class
es to feel instinctively that they must
come to love her. 1t was said that old
men In her own rank of life, and some
of much higher ranli-she was the
Younger daughter of IN English baro-
net. whose forefathers had come I'M
scathed through the Wars OF the Roses
often proposed marriage to her still ;
while effete young decadents. who
through dread of ridicJlle would in the
ordinary course have denied that a
woman no longer youthful could cast a
spell about them, admitted almost en-
Enthusiastically that the Little Old Maid
was "Quite exceptionally fascinating. y
Often people wondered why she had
never married Her contemporaries
could recall to mind the days when halt
London had. as they truly said. "raved
about her" There were some who sigh
ed when they tried TO guess approx
mately the number of proposals of mar.
rlage she must have received in those
brilliant days-those days when al
the world was yourg." Yet, though
partial to mems society. and with al
exceptionally keen sense of humor thai
perhaps rendered her company add
tionally attractive TO men, the Little
Old Maid had never, even In the mem
DRY OF her oldest and closest friends
met any man she would have wisheC
TO wed. II seemed remarkable, more
especially as every woman. the plain
est not excepted, is said TO meet one,
at least in her lifetime her true affini
", and that, failing - marry lin, sh'
ends by focusing her love upon some
less worthy object. The Little Ok
Maid, however. had no pet dog and NJ
pet cat and no pet bird 1t Is true thai
she loved all children with an Intensity
that in some unmarried women nigh
have seemed unnatural And children
almost at first sight, reciprocated he
affection
The Little Old Maid pushed back RI
chair from the antique escritoire a
which she had been writing letters
Then she rose. crossed the room. ant
touched the electric bell 1t was Al
afternoon In late autumn Outside, Il
onslow square. the fog seemed to b
thickealng, she noticed as she passe,
tie window.
John. what time Is itT' she asked
as toe rootman entered
He said 1t was half-past s.
Please wind the clock and then pos
these letters
When he had closed the door sh
went back to her writinr-table. An I'D
dressed envelope lay upon the blotter
Unlocking a little drawer, she tcol
from It two crisp banknotes folde'
them in sheet of paper. slipped ther
into the envelope. and then re-locke
the drawer. Next she lit a small re
candle that stood in a silver socket an
carefully sealed the envelope. Late
she walked slowly to the corner Of Or
SLOW Square. and posted the letter |
tia pillar-box there.