Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-12-16
:ANeWYear'S
Resolution
. ID Caused a Year of Worry
and an Illness

Miss Sophie Allerton awoke on new
Years morning, yawned, looked at the
clock on the mantel and fell to think
ing New Years day meant more to
Miss Allerton than to most persons.
for 1t and her birthday fell together.
twenty-five years oldp' she said
"Just think of it-twenty-two! Why,
In three more years I'll be a quarter
Of a century old-and not married.!
Grandma was married at seventeen.
That's FIVE years younger than l. She
has told me often that father was
born when she was eighteen. And /.
miserable spinster. am two decades
and two years old and am not even
engaged"
Miss Allerton's soliloquy having run
itself out. so to speak. she ceased to
think coherently. permitting herself
TO ramble about disconnectedly. Then
her meditations took shape In the fol-
lowing resolution:
ION or before this day one year I
solemnly resolve that will be mar
Red. be the man l marry bright or
dull, long or short, fat or lean. rich or
poor"
II Miss Allerton had an intimate
friend among men II was John Hard
wick. John was twenty years her
senior and not the kind OF man that
she would think Of marrying, being q
plain business man. who had gone to
work when he was seventeen years old
Having never been TO college. he knew
nothing about mental or moral philoso-
ply, philology, biology or any other
ology. His main asset was horse sense.
He was so old fashioned that he con-
tinued a former practice OF making a
New Years call every year on the Al
lerton family. though II does not ap-
pear that he called elsewhere on that
day.
During the afternoon Of the day that
Sophie made her New Years resolution
John Hardwick made his New Years
call as usual. Mrs. Allerton happened
to be indisposed. and her daughter was
obliged to do the honors alone.
Another year rolled round" remark
ed Mr.. Hardwick by way OF opening
the conversation. but as cheerily as II
the announcement were one OF congrat,
ulation instead Of regret.
yes" replied Sophie. "and Pm one
year nearer to being an old maid"
IAN old maidi Why, you're nothing
but a chit 1t doesn't seem any time
at all that used to give you a doll
every Christmas"
Eyes. and those same dolls now line
the Dashboard Of my former playroom
IN the garnet. But. speaking Of old
maids, I'm going TO give you a conf
dence that ! shall bestow upon no one
else. / made resolution this morning
TO be married within the year"
Good graciousP' exclaimed John
Hardwick. catching his breath Whom
Will you marryY
That's the problem"
Have you any one In mindr'
NO one In particular. Besides, you
must remember that it's not to be sup
posed that l can take my pick"
John Hardwick sat thinking for a
few moments. then said. you'd better
recall that resolution"
why"
Because marriage Is matter or
fate. You can't control It"
81 will control It." said Sophie. set
ting her lips resolutely.
"Can help your
an what wayY
"well, you women know your own
sex better than we men do. and we
men know each other better than you
women know us. might warn you
against tying yourself up with a bad
man"
"And might suggest good one."
ooh, no; that would be going too far.
Even In warning you against bad one
! would probably get myself disliked
But would have the consolation OF
doing what could to save you from
harm"
There was a faint touch OF sadness
In this that set Miss Allerton to think
ing IN another direction.
"How selfish Of me" she said. 81
have forgotten that you may desire
home and those you may love as well
rs 1. Why have you never married.
Mr. Hardwick"
"well," he replied. with a smile.
perhaps because 1t never occurred to
me to fortify myself with New Years
resolution"
January passed away, and Miss Al
lerton bad made no further Roadway
than to select several young men about
her own age, some one Of whom she
might encourage to make love to her
February passed, and she had not con-
cluded which one Of them to encourage
March came In with a good deal Of
clustering faultfinding with herself for
having done nothing. April brought a
mild Irritation with a man two years
younger than herself. but before the
LIST Of May she had concluded that
there was nothing In him. When June
came and the pages Of the society jour
mails were filed with announcements
Of Forthcoming weddings and Miss Al
lerton remembered that she had not yet
even made a beginning In the keeping
Of her resolution she began to worry.
July and August she spent In the coun-
try, where she hoped she might meet
her fate, but there is always dearth
OF men at summer resorts except old
fellows who have retired, husbands
who spend week ends with their fam
lies, and boys.
This brought Miss Allerton to Sep
tember.
John Hardwick dropped In one even
ing after her return to the city and
asked casually how she was getting On
In the matter Of keeping her resolution.
Nothing doing" was the reply. The
lady seldom used slang. but this Seem
ed quite appropriate to the situation.
you have four months left" said
John.
But I've spent eight and haven't
even made beginning"
Marriages have taken place within
q few days after the frst meeting of
the contracting parties"
"Yes, and I'll warrant that Is per
cent Of such marriages are followed