Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1909-05-14
THE TRAGEDY
OF BEING
INVENT T-ElCHT.
BIZ STUART B. STONE.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.

twenty-sIght
The colonel had proposed Just eigb
times to Miss Edwina Lincoln. his de
lightful little scampergrace of ,
wealthy ward. whereas Mr.. Thomas
being all OF twenty-eight and extreme
ly serious, would never have dreamed
OF the thing.
The colonel began the business when
Miss Edwina began to stick up he,
chestnut hair. as do young ladies when
they attain delectable sixteen. The
colonel. though fifty-five at the time
had nothing to his credit In the way
OF discovery, invention or production,
but. then, the colonel did not stop for
little thing like that.
Il know I'm old"- explained Colo
ne, John Andrew, and Miss Edwina
Interrupted:
YOU'RE not-you're not oldr' she
cried In heated denial, for they Were
comrades of years and had enjoyed
many great times together.
Then" said the colonel, optimistic
as Old King Cole, you will have me.
Edwina. when you are little older?"
Edwina laughed and half cried, In
formed the colonel that he was u dear
old classmate OF Methuselah aud end.
ed up by kissing him, while he pattel,
the newly heaped lady hair. After
that Edwina sought out Master Thorn
as. pottering about his maze OF q
mathematical theory.
How old are you, Tom?" she asked,
though she knew like A 3 c.
"Twenty-three," answered Tom So
berly as he went on figuring. Given
ty-three." he repeated, with solemn
look at Edwina. perched upon a table
OF messed formulate. Getting older
every day. Edwlna. and nothing to
show for the years" He gloomed at
her like Jupiter displeased, and she
went out and dimmed her big brown
eyes with tears.
The colonel continued to entertain
the fondest. rose tinted hopes, which
possible. Miss Edwina persisted In be-
coming more entrancingly lovely day
by day. Tom went on working over
stupid figures. And when Edwina, ra-
diant and beaming with the glory OF
another year cast behind with the de-
spised gildings Of childhood, came to
announce her seventeenth birthday the
colonel proposed again. He couldn't
help it--dear soul. Edwina tweaked
his nose. pulled him an ethereal little
kiss and scampered from the room.
HBy the eternalr' murmured Colonel
John Andrew when she left him with
his hands still In the attitude of dra-
matte pleading. Now. wouldn't she
and ] make pair OF high steppers
in the beauty show on the avenue of
evenings Then he tiptoed over TO
an old trunk and looked for q long
while at the picture OF kindly. faded
lady In locket.
Edwina had gone to the library.
where she Iolled upon a desk covered
with gay equations I'm algebra.
'"Tom," she asked softly, did You
know / was seventeen
Tom nodded. Yes, know, Ed
wilma. I'm keeping track Of these
things"
Tom she persisted. and he ceased
his calculations and turned his dark,
solemn eyes on her.
Tom" she asked, "are you ever
DO you expect ever to get marrIedT"
Tom blushed and turned away TO his
papers. II am twenty-four, Edwina,"
he declared In slightly trembling tones.
and l have achieved nothing. How
could think Of
He stopped at that. and E,.wina slip.
ped up to her pinkish Loudoir and
wept softly for perhaps FIVE minutes.
when Edwina ripened into u charm
ing eighteen and after the colonel's
third fervent proposal the light in her
brown eyes. the gold brown CLINT of
her hair and the note OF her clear
'oung voice became q topic here and
there. and wooers could no longer be
held back from the threshold.
The colonel eyed them balefully, then
slapped them on their ANung backs
and adjured the best MAN to win.
Master Tom. with the tragedy OF TWEEN.
'y-hye. six and seven bowling his hand.
'oms curly head. worked with his
aoxious mathematics and worried over
ne respective merits of Edwins,a
army or signing Romeo chaps.
And Edwina coquetted, mercifully
Is possible. with the whole idolatrous
'and, refusing Colonel John Andrew
- orten as twenty times q month and |
xtending delicious sympathy to Mas.
er Tom In his struggle with Old Time
he scytheman.
VI course the time had come uuha,
inwina became all OF twepty-one and
mistress OF a really re-
pee'aDie fortune. The event was sig.
aiized by masterful proposal on the
art or the colonel and by little sDlt.
pat or an interview between Edwina
no Tom In the dull library. Master
ON was twenty -eight-twenty-eig
lind you. he had declared. with a
Ign. and Edwina, slamming the door.
that he acted as II he We're
hundred and twenty-elght. And
ON. much puzzled, allowed precious
lathematical thought to evaporate
nile he sought out Colonel John An
rev.
1T Is about Edwina's future" began
ON. "She is twenty-one now. and
N worried"
''Oh. don't worry!' exploded the
'ionel II never die In my life. and
'ok at me-" And the colonel noted in
ne mirror how kindly the scythe bear
really had been to him.
But she will necessarily be marry
", continued Master Tom.
"of course" Colonel John Andrew
rquiesced softly. while a mellow glow {
ime Into his good. hale eyes.
'Ihere's young Shipley." suggested
ON.