The Washington times., 1907-09-22

AOld on Slepnens nc Sdlo, OfluB-
ing himself up with q Jerk. Steady.
old man, you are no. running a mar
rage bureau"-"and / can truthfully
say that she IS the IDEAL OF Womanli-
ness. and there is something about her
that compels. rather than exacts, re-
spsct wherever she goes.
Now. u guess that Will Be enough.
and he hurriedly re-read his letter.
and then Laughed outright 'One
would think / was recommending
cook But oh, that most important OF
all things-I forgot her description"
and he wrote: "She has about reached
the adorable age OF forty: she has
brown hair and gray oyes. and we.Ehs
ABOUT 40 pounds The informatiOc I
an giving you Is gratis, but X - at
the same time Masonic. Now. on you
buttons, keep this to yourself
Yours very truly,
STEPHEN WHITEHEAD"
Stephen folded the letter. thrust II
In an envelope, sealed and stamped #.
then dropped It IN the yawning neil
bag before he went to bed and. az 81
he had performed task that he might
regret. he locked the bag and sirens tn.
ened his resolution against thinl.inE,
better OF It by morning.
one week later, Stephen was dis
tributing the Weste mail and he
came upon a letter addressed 20 Miss
Dora Richards. which bore the Mon
tana post mark and the blood rushed
20 his face in a torrent. Suppose
she should discover and resent his
aid In this rough and ready court
ship. and ne found himself slipping
the letter into a pile of his own
mail until he should have a chance
to sfudv mo cbfroo-rorb- Dortao,
there we're q number OF men already
waiting for the distribution OF the mail,
snd yes. there WAS one OF her pupils
with his eye on her box, so he must
comply with the rules Of the service.
snd he put her letter into its box
Anyhow he would be relieved OF the
embarrassment OF giving her the letter
personally. and before the day was
over he was glad II happened so. For
tunately for his peace OF mind a
snowstorm hsd swept the valley that
at last eliminated into a blizzard, and
nearly two wsekS had passed without
the school tsacher's calling at the
Office for her mai
Meanwhile be did not admit that he
was IN love. nor eld he consciously
realize that he was 90 strangely IN
terested; but he was aware that he
longed for companionship now more
than at any time OF HIS life and found
an excuse for this dangerous state by
the presence Of a very bad cold that
threatened a heavy sickness unless
Properly treated: Nevertheless. the
Montana episode was much IN his
mind. and suddenly the question pre-
sented Itself. Why not try for my
seiff' Then his other self Immediately
replied, There is nc fool Ike an old
fool
after that night. his mind was a
O3Aak for many weeks for the store
was not opeEed on the following
morning and ae did not answer 90
their loud Hello when the mel III
bors called him. The doctor mo-
nOunced his case severe one Of pneu-
inonia and trained nurse was called
from the city. Stephen had many
friends. and one and all volunteered
their services, but "a was a precarious
case and one that required skilled and
tender care 70 bring through
However. his neighbors were assid-
uous in their calls and untirinR in
their Efforts 20 be Of use TO the man
who had so often and willingly been
the first 70 volunteer Ike service to
them and theirs. But the BIRDS were
twitterfng in the oouzhs OF spring be-
fore he was allowed to see any OF his
anxious friends.
Those long weeks had wrought fear
fui havoc with Stephens appearances.
hts grazing hair had turned quite
white and hts high cheek bones gave
undue prominence 70 TIE pallor Of his
face And 50 thought Miss Richards
when she first saw the invalid. His
bedroom opened Immediately OF Of his
ONCE, and he had been sitting up for
a week before she ventured 70 knock
az HIS door.
He started out OF his reveric.
Come in," he cried.
{hen feeling that the mere invita-
ton TO enter =as too unceremonious
he quickly rosc. laid down his paper
and went TO the door. Before he could
reach IT. the school teacher opened it
and stood upon the threshold.
He was plainly embarrassed.
But she was amused and enjoyed his
discontinue and began quite readily
Mr.. whitehead. the last time I saw
yor. you told me that you enjoyed my
visit and tonight I am here TO heve
you turn the tables. wonder If you
are well enough to be bothered?
want advice and as II Is this time one