The Glenwood post., 1914-04-11

cia in her neat work dress.
"A woman" said Lacy, in the CON-
placent way that always irritated Mar
cia. lis as old - she looks"
Il have always beea too busy doing
useful and necessary work" acknowl-
edged Marcia poines1ay. TO bother
much about my looks"
But II isn't nsoseaasy for you TO 10
20. Cousin Marcia: ysa night Take hfe
- easy ~ I %. II yos voslA. People
think 1t pity that yos have never
married"
Il do not know Why they should. -,
pscially." MaFeia's s0os lasAsA ss1-
denly. You have nsvss Married,
yourself. Lucy"
But that 10 bsea.ss I have never
cared to do %. dear. I have always
had an abundance Of saitors. 1t has
been different with yoa. you know.
There did use to be talk that you and
Henry Howard would make q match Of
1t, but never believed It. You are not
Henry's style"
II never thought Of such . thing a.
marrying Henry Howard-or anyone
else" denied Marcia crisply.
How fortunate that is." Lucy spoke
with = malicious assumption Of syn.
pathy. Il may a. we'll tell you." she
confessed. that I have about decided
to accept Henry"
ITO accept Henry" Marcia set hea
newly iced cake pesilossly near the
edge Of the table. Il cid not know he
ever thought Of you"
mo. l have never given him any en-.
couraEement. but I have long known
what l could do II I would. 1t has not
been easy to decide among so many"
Marcia's snin OF disbelief passed I'M.
noticed. but the sight Of Henry's lone
illness makes him seem worthy Of the
sacrifice Of my freedom. an going te
send him a valentine as the most
graceful and romantic way Of letting
him understand my attitude"
A valentine! Marcia flashed her
work as II in Z dream.
Then, unexpectedly, she laughed out
with unwonted gayety. IF one valen
tine is good. two ought to be better.
think I'll send Henry a valentine my.
self"
Henry Howard when he found the con,
tents OF the big envelope to be q val.
entine. AS he considered 1t, his ne.
date. middle-aged heart began to warm
unaccountably.
Now. that's real thoughtful Of Lucy
I'm sure. l haven't had . valentine in
SO many years I'd forgotten how II
seemed. 1t is q nne thing to Keep ones
youth as Lucy has"
1t was late In the afternoon before
he remembered to look at the other
letter he had received in the same
mail After he had read 1t, 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 = master cook. IL believe
I'll tell her what mean to do, too;
she's got . pretty sensible head, Mar.
cia has"
If = woman is no older than she
looks. Marcia had certainly lost a good
ten years Of her age when she greeted
Henry Howard in her immaculate front
hall.
And this" he said. .'is what have
been cheating myself out OF for the
last fifteen years. find it rather lone.
ly in my big house, Marcia"
Yes" answered Marcia demurely,
pouring the coffee
I've been thinking lately that !
have been foolish to live alone so long
Do you suppose anyone could be in
duced to have an old fellow like me?"
"Oh, yes,' Marcia smiled across the
centerpiece =
viii you. Marcia" He could hard
ly 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, strong hands. why.
love you, ,Marcia. I've wanted you all
the time and did not know It; would
you .Aelieye . man could Be 20 foolish
and blind!''
Yes" whispered Marcia, Il have
been. too. until today
CDuA this interesting tableap TIE
door opened Unexpectedly. and Lsey
8to1Aafi stooA transo1oA.
-Co0o in, Ley" called IL naa
heaseily. "Yoa shall - the 1rst 70 Soa.
Rotalats -. Il was yssf valsotins
thas - - tAiaking how loosly real
b was- But hked 1lareia's va,sntins
baa1: Daintsd hearts a1A peintsl
vsrsss ~ - sadsfletsry 70 rooaa-
dc ysanS fellows. but DstAing apDsals
to - es6sr fellows me- . god lia-
nael"
II aay Hssk a sAagsi1 eaosdsd tAs
e0d0Ak1y fnes h tAe 1esevay Il was
Insanity oaoesals1 ~ - sssevhslR
~ s013A Il hsv IN - DesAsd vas
. ne1s 3suB1nG" - eail. 70 nahs
- tAs ~ AaSUasse Dsssss h ~
Vuuoes
- -s-..