The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1914-03-12

y ~ her trim trap
pings. from Mar
cia In her neat work dress
"A woman said Lucy. IN the COM
placent ssy that always irritated Mar
eia- lis as old as she looks"
Il have always been too bury doing
useful and necessary work" acknowl-
edged Marcia pointediy. Ito bother
much about my looks"
..sisut Il isn't necessary for you to do
80. Cousin Marcia: you might take life
as easy as I do. IL you would People
think It a pity that you have never
married
y do not know Why they should. es-
pecially.- Marcla's eyes flashed sud
denly. You have never married.
yourself Lacy
-'But that Is because have never
cared 10 do so. dear. have always
had an abundance OF rai.ors. II has
becn different with you. yoa know.
There did use 10 be talk that you and
Henri Howard would make match of
H. but never believed H. You are not
Henry's style"
Il never thought of such 4 thing As
marrying Henry Howsrd-or anyone
else denied Marcia crispiy.
-How fortunate that is.- Lucy spoke
with a malicious assumption OF sym
pathy. 4 may as well tell you.- she
confessed. that have about decided
to acesD; Henry
To accept Henry Marcia set her
newly iced cake pcrilously near the
edge OF the table Il did not know he
ever thSaght Of you.
NO. have never given him any en-
couragement. but I have long known
what could do n would. II has not
been easy to decide among % many
Narcia's snin OF disbelief passed un-
noticed. but the sight OF Henry's lone
illness makes him seem worthy OF the
sacrifice OF my frssdom. am going to
send him valentine ~ the most
Kracefui and romantic wAy Of letting
hin understand my ATTITUDES
A vsientines Marcia finished her
work as II in q dream
Then. unexpectedly. she laughed out
with unwonted sAyety. -If one vaIen-
tine is good two ought to Be better. ]
think Ill send Henry q valentine my
SELF
Amusement filied the prosaic soul OF
Henry Howard when he found the con-
tents OF the big envelope to be q val
entine- As he considered II. his Sc
date. middie-aged heart began to warm
unaecountabiy.
Now. that's real thoughtful OF Lucy.
I'm sure. haven't had valentine in
so many years Id forgotten how II
IL l. a..
youth as Lucy has
II was late In the afternoon before
he remembered TO look at the other
letter he lad received In the same
mail After he had read it. he sat for
long time looking meditatively At the
windows OF the next house.
Il believe I'll go over-she's never
asked me before to dine with her. and
Marcia IL q master cook. IL believe
III tell her what | mean to do. too.
she's got . pretty sensible head. Mar
cia has
II = woman n no older than she
looks. Marcia had certainly lost \ good
ten years OF her age when she greeted
Henry Howard In her immaculate front
hall.
Aho tA&lrs ttG r8tas N rh4t - '" Y
been cheating myself out of for the
last fifteen years. ind II rather lone
ly in my big house. Marcia"
Yea" answered Marcia demurely.
pouring the coffee.
I've been thinking lately that I
have been foolish TO live alone so long
DO you suppose anyone could be In
duced to have an old fellow like me7"
-Oh. yes." Marcia smiled across the
eentcrpiece.
WIN you. Marria.'' He could hard
" credit the fact that his ears heard
Henry Howard asking any woman to
marry him
The next instant he had gone round
the table and gathered her cold fingers
into his warm. strons hands. Why. I
love you. Marcia. I've wanted you all
the time and did not know Il: would
you believe . man could be 20 foolish
and blindrs
"Yee.- whispered Marcia. 7 have
been. too. until today"
Upon this Interesting tableau the
door opened Unexpectedly. and Lucy
Stoddard stood transfixcd.
Come In. Lacy called the man
heartily. You shall be the first to con-
gratulate mo. II was your valenN ne
that set mo thinking how lonely I real
ly WAS but dkcd Marcia's valentine
best: painted hearts and printed
verseo may be satisfactory to roman
tic young fellows. but notkinE appeals
to ~ older fellows like . good din
ners-
n any look Of chaErtr clouded tAe
sprightly fnce In the doorway II was
Instantly oo1ceaisd by an overwholea'