The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-05-27
ADORE { RET|REDH.M.s.
BY Give ls,hbrldso and Gerald fitzgerald.


ror, squared his shoulders and twisted
up the ends Of his gray mustache,
when the sudden opening of the door
caused him to skip round with haste
that somewhat marred his dignity.
lsobel Flowerdew held out her
hand. 1T is many years since we
met she said, pleasantly, "and | am
pleased to greet an old friend
Il can only hope that time has
dealt as kindly with me as with you"
he replied.
Il think you are looking extremely
we'll"
Colonel Borem felt as though twen-
ty years had slipped away, as he fol-
lowed the slim figure into the dining
room. Then he had been in love
with Isobel-in love to the extent of
dancing and flirting and getting her
talked about, but the faint thoughts
he had cherished of marrying her had
never come to frution. The truth
was that he could not bring himself
to give up the luxuries which, as mar
ried, he would have to deny him
self-and, above all, the eclat of be-
ing bachelor, which to a vain man
is so dear. Then, some years past,
Colenel Borem had retired. First of
all he had spent his time travelling
on the Continent, vague thoughts of
marital bliss with a rich widow in his
mind, but though there were widows
and even girls ready to marry him
Cor any mani, they were not of the
style that he considered worthy.
To-day, his first meeting with Iso-
bel, he rejoiced in the fact that CATER
many weeks Of cautious thought) he
had decided to write to her. Evil
IDENTIFY, since the old days she had
come into money, and she was, if
possible, more charming now, with
her soft gray hair and low voice, than
in her buoyant youth.
Under the genial influence of an
excellently served lunch his feel
ings expanded to such an extent that
he resolved that at last he would raise
Isobel to the enviable position of Mrs |
Borem.
Seated once more in the delightful |
drawing room, he received a slight |
shock-Isobel lit cigarette! He de-
cided he would break her of the OBJ
noXious habit at an early date, then |
he cleared his throat and in few
well-chosen-words" (his view of it) =, |
he offered her his heart and hand and |
magnificent pension, plus one hun
dred a year, The well-chosen-
words" took nearly twenty minutes to
say, and she sat in silence, until he
waxed eloquent on the advantages
she would derive.
Then you think that an unmar-
ried woman is at great disadvantage
in the world?"
Undoubtedly, my dear Isobel, un-
doubtedy-there i a growing ten
dency in these days to eXaggerate the
value of freedom. In a girl, men ex-
cuse it, but when woman has
reached, ahem, a certain age, and is
not so-shall we say-so alluring to
the other sex, then it is inclined to
SAVIOR of the legend of the fox and the
grapes"
Are you not-just a little-se-
vere?" murmured Miss Flowerdew.
by no means. / only wish you to
realize your somewhat, ahem' I'M
enviable position, and to persuade you
to change it at an early date"
Il am truly sensible of the honor
you are doing me; would you mind
the drawbacks of the
single state for my --edification?"
Colonel Borem cleared his throat.
''You run the risk of being called an
old maid
But there is no such thing now;
we are bachelor women"
"Odious word! Dear Isobel, you
grieve me. To continue. You become
narrow for without the intellectual
companionship of man, and his wide
views of life, woman is bound to
become so, and to wither as a flower
without the Sun You are amused
at something?"
Not at all-pray go on"
You are of no Importance, no
social standing, you have to walk in
to dinner behind the veriest chit of
a girl who has husband, you have to
sit with your back to the horses in
your friends carriage, and you are
cooked upon by everybody as woman
who has failed in her quest-in fact,
q complete and utter failure"
Miss Flowerdew seemed somewhat
overcome, and her handkerchief was
much in evidence. Colonel Borem
patted her on the shoulder. There
perhaps I have been little
plain spoken, but it was for your