The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-01-23

said, Il had them matched TO my
thatch. and ! think they'll match
yours. And since. In the words of the
great Herbert Spencer. things that
match the same thing match each 9th
er--! What do you say?-Barnes."
up. ST. love you. | feel like a
damn fool saying It, but heaven knows
it's true"
p. p. s.-Sun love you. It's easier
the second time"
IN. B.--l love you-got the habit
now and can't stop writing it.-B."
Well. ! had to keep calm and attend
to business, but / was seething inside
like a Seidlitz powder. Every few
minutes I'd reread the letter under the
edge OF the stand, and the more | read
it the more excited / got When
woman's gone past thirty before she
gets her first love letter, she isn't
sure whether to thank providence or
the man. but she's pretty sure to make
a fool of herself.
Thoburn came to the news stand on
his way out with the ice-cutting gang
to the pond.
Last call to the dining car, Minnie" 8"
he said. "'Will you-won't you-will
you-wont you-will you join the
! dancer"
81 haven't any reason for changing
my plans" retorted. 81 promised the
old doctor to stick by the place. and
I'm sticking
"As the man said when he sat down
on the fly paper. You're going by your
heart Minnie, and not by your head
and in this toss, heads win"
But with my new puffs on the back Of
/ my head, and my letter in my pocket,
| wasn't easy to discourage. Thoburn
shouldered his pick and, headed by
Doctor Barnes, the ice-cutters started
out in single file. AS they passed Doc
tor Barnes glanced at me, and my
heart almost stopped.
DO they-is it a match?" he asked,
with his eyes on mine.
couldn't speak, but nodded yes"
and all that afternoon l could see the
wonderful smile that lit up his face
as he went out.
Miss Cobb stopped at the news stand
on her way to the gymnasium. She
was homely woman at any time, and
in her boomers she looked like a
soup.bone. She padded over to the
counter in her gym shoes, and for
once she'd forgotten her legs.
May l speak to you. Minnie?" she
asked.
You mostly do" l said. There
isn't a new rule about speaking is
| there?"
This is important, Minnie" she
said rolling her eyes around as she
always did when she was excited. I'm
in such state Of ex-I see you bought
the puffs! Perhaps you will lend them
to me II we arrange for a country
! dance"
I'm not lending them," l said firm
| ly. 1t would have been like lending
an engagement ring, to my mind.
Miss Cobb was not offended She went
at once to what had brought her, and
bent over the counter.
Minnie, you love Miss Jennings
almost like daughter, don't your"
Like a sister, Miss Cobb" | said.
I'm not feeble yet"
well, you wouldn't want to see her
deceived"
Il wouldn't have it," answered.
Then what do you call this?" She
put a small package on the counter,
and stared at me over it. There's
treachery here, black treachery." She
pointed one long thin foretinger at the
bundle.
What is it? A bomb" | asked,
stepping back, More than once it had
occurred to me that having royalty
around sometimes meant dynamite.
Miss Cobb showed her teeth.
"Yes, bomb" she said. Minnie,
last night, when the Summers woman
was out, goodness knows where,
Blanche Moody and I went through
her room. We did not find my precious
missives from Mr.. Jones, but we did
find these, Minnie tied around with a
pink stocking. Minnie, have felt 1t
all along. Mr. Oskar Won invalid is the
prince himself"
"No!"
"Yes. And more than that, he is
making desperate love to Miss Sum-
mers. Three of those letters were
written in one day! Why, even Mr.
Jones"
"The wretch" I cried. l was sud
denly savage Miss Cobb was reach
ing out for the bundle. | snatched 1t
from her.
GIVE me those letters instantly" :"
she cried shrilly. But l marched from
behind the counter and over to the
fireplace.
Never" | said, and put the package
on the log. When they were safely
blazing, / turned and looked at Miss
Cobb.
I'D put my hand right beside those
letters to save Miss Patty a heart
ache" ! said, "and you know it."
You're a fool" She was raging.
You'll let her marry him and have
the heartaches afterward."
"She won't marry him." l snapped,
and walked away with my chin up,
leaving her staring
But wasn't so sure as pretended
to be. Mr.. Won invalid and Mr.. Jen-
nings had been closeted together most
of the morning, and Mr. Won invalid
was whistling as he started out for the
military walk. 1t seemed as if the
very thing that had given Mr.. Pierce
his chance to make good had i'm
proved Mr.. Jennings disposition
enough to remove the last barrier to
Miss Jennings wedding with some
body else.