The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1907-02-13
AbSentminded
Miss Amy
BY LouiSe y. Strong
Copyright, 1906, by G. II. Sutcliffe
BY LoIiSe y. Strong

'There are worse things than being
an old maid," Miss Amy Colver said
serenely.
"Oh, Miss AMY didn't meant
never think OF you as being thatP' the
girl stammered.
"She isn't such a. very old maid Z"
Mrs Wridgely smiled. "And she says
truly there are worse things-such az
having blind husband on your hands,
which would have been her fate If
she'd married Henry Scott. as she
came near doing once"
"She wouldn't think so If she were
his wife! She'd loye him all the more
for the affiiction. know | should. If
WILLIE Blnshing hotly. Elsie ran
from the room.
Mrs. WridgeIy laughed. but with a
keen glance at her sister. who murmuT-
vigorously. Then presently she asked,
did you say that Henry Scott was
blindY'
That's what Kate wrote The doc
tors think his eyes were ruined. and
no wonder. running into that fire SO.
Inflammation set in. He may never
see again. It's a good thing he has no
family. He's pretty well off, but he'll
need all he's got. He'll never work
again, and his business will soon go to
ruin, with hired help managing it,"
Amy said nothing. Mrs. WrIdgeIy
regarded her preoccupied face with a
slight frown. then closed the subject
by remarking briskly:
'Well. fortunately, Henry Scott is
nothing to us. ran over to see what
you're going TO wear to the reception,
Amy"
''The same as usual. suppose. If
60" --...
IF you gor' Mrs. Wridgeiy almost
shrleked. when you know the affair
Is complimentary to you! OF course
you'll go! And you must wear your
cream silk. I'll send Ruth to dress
you. And. Amy. want to take the
waist and have the sleeves shortened.
You have such pretty arms. TIL run
up and get it,
Judge Hale and wife will be there"
she resumed. returning to the porch
with the waist
BE where?" Amy questioned vague
g.
well. If you aren't enough to- Be
at the reception, of course, and Sena-
tor Ellsworth, too; he got back this
morning. Mrs. Reed was so afraid
they would not be here. think I'll
dress early and come over myself,
Amy, or like as not you'll appear in
that everlasting black! or course You
are full of your new book, but you
owe something to your friends. Do
put it out of your mind for this even
Ing. I'll be over early"
I'm glad it's out about Henry
Scott" Mrs. Wridgely communed with |
herself. I've been some afraid of the
effect on her. but l guess she's for
gotten that old affair, and I mentioned |
the senator on purpose to turn her |
thoughts. l wish 1 dare speak plain
ly to her about Senator Ellsworth. If |
she were only a little more like other
folks! But then. suppose. he would
not find her so attractive"
Mrs. Wridgely had constituted her
self first aid to Senator Ellsworth a
few months before, when chance en-
abled her to extract a letter from
Amy's mail which was plainly from
Henry Scott. She felt justified Amy
would be spared mental disturbance,
and. anyway, the letter was probably
only congratulatory note on the sue
cess of her book, such as she received
constantly. Mrs. Wridgely's hopes con-
corning the senator were new then, and
the brilliancy Of the possible position
for her sister Amy excused anything.
Amy had been provokilgly unappre-
.iative Of this advantageous opportu-
1ity, as she had been of many others,
which was perhaps to be expected Of
people who wrote books.
Amy sat alone bordering over her
overs peculiar silence. Was 1t due to
jealousy of her success? She had glo-
'ified in his magnificent conduct when
he papers had told Of bis plunging
gain and again into the burning
wreck, rescuing women and children,
md to her love, that folly and es-
could not kill, was added
ZERO worship. She had sat silent un-
Ter the news Of his calamity with I
ontrol that treasured bar aiGtaE. bnt