Middletown transcript., 1907-01-19

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little giriish notes Her idea of
q lover had changed from her
girlish vision in silken hose and
velvet cloak but though size was
d clever and cultered woman now
people said q musical genius
she had no vaguest desire to
marry Jen.
But here was tiresome Jem as
much in love as ever, telling her
her picture had never left his
memory nor her image his heart.
Here he was laying himself and
his fortune at her feet So he
wrote now
Miss Bradwardine read the
letter with a scornful little smile.
How foolish Of Jem! When all.
the world knew she was welded
to her art
With a little toss of the golden
brown head she swept her dra-
peries up to her writing table,
and sent him the following note !:
DEAR JEM Yonr letter was
a painful surprise I thought
you had long ago forgotten that
old idea. / appreciate the honor
you do me, and thank you very
much for the compliment but
you must believe, now and all
ways, that for me there is only
one husband Art! My music
is all in all to me-all the woridi!
There is no love in my heart fof
anything else.
Let me be your friend. Come
to me one day with the story off
your happy love-with the pic
ture of the woman who will love,
and whom you love.
Love again, and be happy
Always your old friend,
DOROTHY BRADWARDINE. 4
Jem crushed the letter in his
strong hand and glared into the
fire. He did not ans Wer its and
for four wears he and Dorothy
did not meet.
Then he turned up suddenly
in town-handsome, successful,
bright, self-possessed getting
on in his professions safe,
steady man. a real good fellow,
popular and kindly. Dorothy
had rather to reconsider her view
of him.
Apparently, too, he went about
more. He went to concerts, he
asked her about her music, and
was very much interested Once
he thanked her for her letter
quite brightly aud happily.
All womez are not so wise as
you, nor so kind, he said, to tell
a fellow the truth plainly. | was
an idiot. The idea of with
that voice settling down into
humdrum matrimony with
stupid fellow like me! Burying
yourself in little country estate!
I should have seen you were Lot
marrying woman
Yes of course! Dorothy could
not understand how it was that
suddenly the day seemed not so
bright; that a ridiculous feeling,
and one she could not analyze,
seemed to dry up her throat.
I'm off, however, for the pres
ent, Jem said. When I come
back, you viii let me take you
and Aunt Patricia to Weybridge
in the automobile
The erect figure was gone,
leaving horrid blank behind it.
For a little she could not un-
derstand how she had SO much
spare and empty time on her
hands. Empty, too, with so much
new music to practice !!
She grew eager for the post
mans whistle, and she threw3the
letters aside when they came.
Aunt Patricia had never seen her
niece 50 restless and silent. She
even neglected the piano Then,
in a letter from an old friend
Miss Dorothy Bradwardine re-
ceived an electric shock.
The friend had written raptur- |
ously of husband. and home, and |
the three lovely children and |
she wound up with these start.
ling sentences
But there! How stupid I am /
I am simply a bore, I know
What can you know or care about |
domestic joys, you dear, blessed
little old maid Do you remem
ber saying you longed for the
time when you would be a real
veritable old maid when lovers
would cease from troubling, and /
the weary prima donna be att.
rests / suppose it's come now
And you just all belong to art
What did Miss Bradwardine
say as she flung this epistle into
the fire? Was itcould ii be
Bother art Surely impossible
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