The Washington herald., 1914-01-15
Daily Short Story
SEEKING SUITORS.
Ry MoLLY M,MAsTER.
(cbpyrishf. lsiII

~
work along with him. He had early de-
yeloped the temperament Of an artist.
and IL was with no slight forebodings that
she watched his mind mature rapidly in
every direction save practicabiiity. He
remained a bland. visionary dream
child even to the age of three-and-
twenty.
vagaries and all. John Ford was
going to scale the ladder of fame. Any
one could see that. His early sketches
were rich with promise, and 1t was all
the more worrysome to Edna that he
should travel the road to fame so
badly equipped with worldly lore.
.'one would think you were living
I'm 'Grimms Fairy Tale days. rather
than the twentieth century, Edna
was wont to tell him. You cannot
carry me on to the Latin quarter in
Paris with you simply because you
want me-.
There's no harm in it." muttered
John petulantly. Because have
plenty of money and you have not is
| no reason why you should hang back
MY dear John" laughed Edna, y
am not hanging back because OF
monetary consideration. There is such
thing in the world as convention,
| though IL seems to have escaped your
notice. II i were your aunt or your
sister the arrangement would be ideal
L simply pine to go to Paris i could
/ have no end of fun while you were
painting under the great masters But
IL am not even your third cousin.
oh, Hang 1t all Edna-I need you.
That's all there is about it. Couldn't
you marry me?' He gazed joyfully
back at her as il he had hit upon 4
splendid solution of his difficulty.
| Marry you! Foolish boy. / do not
love you in that way" A peculiarly ten
der smile fitted across her eyes. And
you don't care for me-that way" Her
smile lightened. But why not spend
Ithese next few months before you go
to Paris in seeking a suitable wife for
you. You always have and always will
be far better of with a nice, sensible girl
to look out for you"
There are no nice girls in the world
but you" he affirmed. dosgedly.
Edna laughed There are many of
them-and We will find one for you this
season"
do without me-to guide he questioned
half seriously.
Perhaps l can find 4 suitable hus-
band" she suggested.
Ford looked quickly back at her. 'T
am not the least bit sure l want you TO
find any one he said.
Well, dear boy, il the worst comes
to the worst and We fail to find either
a girl for you or a man for me-perhaps
We could make a go OF it together. But
first 1 am going TO search among our
bellies for one that has a warm steady
tone: one that will lend beauty and
strength TO your life
During the following weeks Edna kept
a keen lookout for the right girl for John
She hoped, with little wistful feeling
about her heart. that when the girl did
= I .1e far
her own affection to center on 1t would
be desperately lonesome without a dream
child to guide.
John painted and sketched and was
happy. He was. as usual content to
exist in the realms of fancy. Edna
had always looked out for him and
protected him from worldly worry.
She would no doubt always do SO.
Ever and anon he found himself in
the company of girls whom he was
most evidently expected to interest
himself in Edna maneuvered cleverly,
watching for results. first with Nora
Bayes, then with Kitty Wood. later
with Sylvia Gordon, and at last in
desperation she tried the beautiful and
clever Grace Stuyyesant
Il cannot stand any OF them" cried
John; they one and all bore me to
extinction. Sylvia is mad on bridge:
Nora talks of nothing but cubists:
Kitty wonders why am not interested
in her poodle dog and Grace drags
me 10 afternoon teas" He laughed
weariIy. IF you fling any more girls
at my head, Edna, l will either fy
into a monastery or insist on your
marrying me-
Edna sighed. Il see. of course. that
none of these girls could make you
happy or help you in your career, but.
still" She gazed anxiously at his
irresponsible smile.
I'll tell you what We will do" he
suggested. We will walk up 10 our
topmost view from the hills this aft
| ernoon and talk things over. The
sun will be drifting down behind that
line of frs and the whole world will
be silent. I know you will feel tho
emotion of parting from me-uP there
Perhaps, it will make YOU decide to
marry me-
Edna was a triiP startled at Johns
plan. She had never supposed him
capable of celebrating on the outcome
of sensations stirred by the wonders
of nature.
She laughed off her fears.
| You would he winning me under falss
circumstance" she told him, and We
would regret-when there were no sun
sets and b.undiuS stillness-to quicken
our fancy. However. am willing that
John did not reply. lie was looking
down ut the peculiarly lovely modelling
, of Edna's hand. II had dropped care
llessly amonC the laces and ribbons she
was sewing en-. John did not know that
she was mending old garments that
MANY women would have thrown away,
nor did lie realize that the rug be-
meath Edna's feet was threadbare and
that there was not one item OF beauty
, in the room. Edna herself made all
things wonderful The little smile that
curved her lips was OF unutterabls
sweetness. There was contentment and
happiness in every breath from her
body. John fell into meditation and
strolled aimlessly about. picking up
odds and ends about the room.
Suddenly and without any kind OF
warning he dropped down on his knees
beside Edna and his lips pressed them
selves against the hand lying amidst
the laces and ribbons.
It's no use, he spoke rapidly in
voice that had all the depth and won
derment of a great passion. II cannot
go away next week without you I
want you more than anything in the
universe. I could not paint. or breathe
or dream-if you were sitting sewing
in any other mans house" He looked
straight into her eyes and the express
sion lying deep within them sent a
wave of happy trembling over Edna.
Il love you" he said simply.
Edna would have spoken but her
1,oica u-aS q truant voice. No sound