Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1910-05-13
THE WAY TO A
MANS HEART

John Bolles was what Is known as
a confirmed old bachelor, but, after
becoming regular visitor at the de-
| lightful suburban home of the lovely
| Gr1dley girls, presided over by their
widowed mother, 1t gradually grew
plain to Bolles that the life offered
by the hotels and clubs did not salts
| fly the homing instincts of the human
| heart
The girls were beauties, and love
| Of beauty was one of Bolles' weak
| points.
He was fortunate enough to bask in
the good graces Of Mrs. Gridley,
| splendid woman from whom the
daughters inherited their good looks
A rich bachelor of good family,
good habits and good breeding. who
tells sufficiently pitifull story of the
monotony of hotel cooking and the
loneliness of taking ones meals with
only newspaper for a companion, is
sure to appeal to the sympathies of
some home maker, and Bolles became
privileged family friend, at liberty to
drop in at meals and join the home
circle informally. Mrs. Gridley was
An ideal hostess, and withal she knew
how to cook and personally superin-
tended the culinary details of her
household. Bolles was something of
an epicure, and the viands which ap-
peared on Mrs. Gridley's table ex-
celled anything his favorite club had
to offer.
In consideration of these hospitali-
ties Bolles feted the girls at exclusive
clubs and indulged them in motor
rides and operas. The younger men
couldn't keep up with him in these
matters, and, in spite of inevitable riv-
airy, he felt that he had a reasonable
chance with the Gridley girls. His
sense of honor restrained him from
paying marked attention to any one
of these young maidens without first
obtaining their mothers sanction, and
he intended, as soon as his wavering
fancy could fix itself, to ask the ma.
ternal permission to press his suit for
the maid of his choice. But, owing to
the capricious distribution among the
three of the especial points of beauty
mentioned as appealing most strongly
to his susceptibilities, he found 1t ex-
tremely difficult to locate his heart.
Sally's eyes played havoc with his
soul, and he framed a little speech to
be delivered to Mrs. Gridley at an op-
perfume moment. 1t began in this
| wise:
Mrs. Gridley. have a most i'm
portant question to ask. Do you think
Sally could learn to care for me?"
He went so far as to deliver the
first part of this address, with some
nervousness. The mother dropped
her white lids and, as he was gather
ing courage to put the question, his
artistic eye was begulled by the sweet
ness of her mouth and the clear line
of her chin, and his shallow heart
straightway turned to Jane, who had
that same mouth and chin In its per-
fection. In his sudden indecision, and
being obliged to conclude his remark,
he asked. May have your recipe for
mincemeat for my sister in Buffalo?"
On still another occasion, when,
with dry tongue he had tried to con-
fess to her his love for Ruth. the lady
turned the clear, green-gray eyes of
Sally full upon him, and he was lost
again and ridiculously begged to be
allowed to partake Of baked beans
with the family on the coming Satur-
day evening. He knew she must have
thought him a fearful gourmand to be
so affected by the prospects of plate
of beans, but that was the only sub
stitute his panic-stricken intellect
could make.
In desperation he resolved to begin
all over again, with Sally as his
hearts desire.
One evening at the Gridley's, after
dinner which fingered in his mem.
ory, Mrs. Gridley and Bolles were sit
ting alone by the cheerful library fire.
The girls had gone skating with rol-
licking crowd. Their mother was en-
gagged with bit Of needlework be-
meath the softly shaded lamp, and her
guest was absently regarding her. He
was wondering if she could make a
chicken pie like that which even now
beguiled his memory. He was sure
she could not. Suddenly he became
aware that he was earnestly studying
| the face Of his hostess as she bent
over her sewing. For the first time he
seemed to see her with an identity OF
her own, instead of beautiful COM
posite of her daughters. The sudden
revelation that came to him caused
| the blood to leave his head with a
queer cooling of process, and he felt
| strange calmness and clearness of
vision. Then the blood came leaping
back and his heart began to pound.
Mrs. Gridley." he began In agita-
ton. Dear Mrs. Gridley, at last
| know what / want"
Il think can guess" she laughed.
and Bolles noted a tinge Of bitterness
| in the laugh. You want to help us