The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-12
Mrs. En1Ory'S
BOarder
BY C. Marie Mott
tcopyrIght. By shortstorv pnh. co.


] saw him pass every day; not thai
] watched for him, but it's against hu
man nature that a woman should sit
at a window all day and never look
out Besides. It was winter and | was
watching the passers.by creep over
my slippery sidewalk with all prop
erty-holder's anxious solicitude for
their safety.
| was turning away when he ap
peared and sped over the ice without
the slightest fear. How we women
love couragel And he was not only
fearless, but handsome and we'll built
with Just such broad shoulders and
such an assured carriage as a frail
little spinster with her own way tC
make in the world most admires.
I'm sure a dressmaker ought to ap
preciate a fine figure, If any one can
To-day, sitting there Watching the ia.
miliar figure disappear in the dis
tance, j felt my heart flutter like q
girls, Well, well, the sensation was
strange and new; it was late, too late
perhaps, in coming--and yet it was
not all unpleasant.
As / took up my work sighed
Forty years Il had spent beneath this
roof, never repining at my lot, dull
and cheerless though it was, content
TO pass all my life rendering others
charming, that they might the more
readily gain the love It was my fate
always to have missed. had never
hoped 10 possess happiness. Why
should 1? i am no imbecile. No one
pauses in a garden. undecided wheth.
or TO pluck the glowing halfopen rose.
bud or the homely nignonette.
Hitherto / had been happy enough
in my coy home, content 10 have my
life history written in the words
Stitch, stitch, stitch" But to-day all
my woman's nature rose in passionate
protest against my loyeless, unloving
life. ] shuddered as | thought of the
long, lonely future.
With him. ! thought. life would
be worth the living True, he was
considerably younger than I, but'what
matter years when the heart is fresh?
But how could | win him? +
! am not what is called a strong
minded woman. have no longing TO
approach the polls. But | do think
there ought to be an amendment to
the constitution, giving women the
right-not to vote, but to propose
There are so many fine men declining
into forlorn, grabbed old bachelorhood
simply because they do not know
enough to ask some sweet women to
make them comfortable in homes OF
their own. Now, a woman knows by
instinct when-h ideal presents him
self, and wouldn't waste half a life.
time in coming to the point. My ideal
was late in coming, but now that he
had come | would let no foolish timid.
ity on my part blight the happiness
that might be ours. By few discreet
questions l discovered that he lived
with my next-door neighbor, Mrs. EN-.
ory; and / felt quite conscience-smit.
ten when remembered that | had not
called on her since she moved here,
fortnight ago. That very night | ran
in, and was glad that she insisted on
my staying to tea. All the time that
we talked / watched him furtively. He
was the only one of the boarders
whom she treated like n member Of
the family. He sat on a lounge before
the fire, and ! saw that he was even
handsomer than l had thought. His
large eyes we're full of tender melan.
choly. His hair was dark and silky,
and, though he had no mustache, his
whiskers gave character to face that
otherwise might have seemed almost
effeminate in its beauty. Even his 81.
lence prepossessed me in his favor.
myself am fonder of talking than of
listening. So my love grew Before
leaving, ! pressed Mrs Emory to call
soon and bring Tom with her. She saw
my deep interest, and, as | said good
by in the doorway, told me his full his
tory. After his family had been killed
in that dreadful river accident he had
made his home with her. He was per-
iectly Independent, but did not care
for that. Riches have no weight with
me. or any woman truly in love.
Next day, as he passed my window.
ht smiled such a pleased recognition
that sang over my work all the after.
noon. That very afternoon Mrs.
Brown told me they would drop in to
tea. / made great preparations A
younger woman would have spent all
the time before her mirror. did not.
thought l knew the effect of good
cookery on the affections of the other
sex. Well, / don't think there was
cozier room or a better table than
mine in the United States, We had
delightful time, the first of a pleas.
ant series. Soon Tom got into the
habit Of coming alone, Never shall
forget the night when he first kissed
me goodby or the hours when he
would sit with bis head on my shoul-.
der in the soft freight Don't DO
shocked; he knew nothing about so
ciety's cold formalitles, At length he
became mine. ] use the expression
advisedly, because he seemed so help.
less and confidlng, and vowed to
love, protect, and cherish him. The
obeying | meant should be furnished
by the other partner. did make him