Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-11-27

| Young voice became topic here and
| there. and wooers could no longer be
held back from the threshold.
The colonel eyed them balefully, then
slapped them on their young backs
and adjured the best man to win.
| Master Tom. with the tragedy Of TWEEN
/ ty-five. six and seven bowling his hand
some curly head. worked with his
noxious mathematics and worried over
; the respective merits Of Edwina's
army Of signing Romeo chaps.
! And Edwina coquetted. mercifully
as possible. with the whole idolatrOus
band. refusing Colonel John Andrew
as often as twenty times month and
extending delicious sympathy to Mas
ter Tom In his struggle with Old Time.
the scythe man.
| or course the time had come when
! Edwina became all of twenty-on and
unhampered mistress OF q really re-
| spectacle fortune The event was sig
nalzed by n mnsterful proposal on the
part of the colonel and by a little spit
, spnt Of an interview between Edwina
and Tom in the dull library. Master
Tom was twenty-eight-tw enty eight.
mind you. he had declared. with a
sigh. and Edwina. slamming the door.
remarked that he acted as II he we're
hundred and twensy-eight. And
Tom. much puzzled. allowed precious
mathematical thought to evnporate
while he sought out Colonel John an
drew.
1T ia about Edwiu,S future" began
Tom. "She Is rwpnty-one mow. and
am worried"
"Oh. don't worry" exploded the colo
mel II never did in my life, and look
at me-" And the colonel noted in the
mirror how kindly the scythe bearer
really had been to him.
But she will necessarily be- marry
ing" continued Master Tom.
"Of course Colonel John Andrew
acquiesced softly. while mellow glow
came into his good. hale eyes.
There's young Shipfey," suggested
Tom.
milk and water" snapped the colo
mel shes too good for a million like
him.
"She's too good for any OF them"
said Tom. "but we must see that she
gets the best. Now. there's Landis.'
wooden headed as any Indian cigar
sign" objected the colonel. He object
ed to all the other callow ones until
Tom In perplexity demanded. "Whut
then?"
What then?" snapped Colonel John
Andrew. "Why. before our little Ed
wilma shall tie herself to any Of these
I'll 90 downstairs and propose myself,
And the colonel went. Tom followed.
is ii because | am too old?" the
colonel asked Edwina as soon as he
saw her, assuming tone Of ineifable'
sorrow.
E1wina shook her pretty head -
, like people who are Old-a little bit
Old she declared
II know | have never accomplished
anything" continued the colonel. 'save
to ride a prancing cob or to lead a
cotillion as it should be led"
II don't care-I don't care for that"
exclaimed Edwina. with more vehe-
mence than seemed necessary. Torn
| Ia always talking about being old. but
! I like him better than If nc had flown
around Mars"
Tom strrtcd. hlnshinc. and the Colo
mel Snllint"d ut them both.
"l'm I'm stammered Tom. but
.Edwina impatiently waved him into
silence
"Oh. you're twenty eight" she said
In transportation. ITS simply horrible!
Just think. you'll be twenty nine some
| day"
Colonel John Andrew swallowed
something. underwent another change
OF expression. sighed with final resig-
nation and relief and smiled. Then II
Is to be Shipley or lands or young
Gregg" he asked.
"No no. no." exclaimed Edwina, red
and desperate. NOR any Of the silly
immature flock"
Then. In the name Of Cupid. whO?'
demanded Colonel John Andrew.
"Oh. l suppose it's to be no one,
Quavered Edwina, with little look al
Tom ON the settee. Then she made fol
the door. all ready for tears once more
"rOm," Numbered Colonel John An
drew, "arise and ask that young lady
to marry you" Edwina turned hall
expectantly.
Great Caesar. father" cried Tom
I'm twenty eight"
"See there" said Edwina, wheeling
"Wait, Edwina." called Tom. and tn
girl dallied at the foot Of the stairs.
Tom stumbled blunderingly up t
her. "You don't mind my age" b.
asked, "or the fact that have DON
nothing worth while for the worldT'
"Oh. sugarr' said Edwina. in deaf
} earnest. "Why. look at the colonel
Toni"