The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-01-01
Years
Resolution
1t Caused a Year of Worry
and an Illness
By F. a. mitchell


clock on the mantel and fell to think
ing. New Years day meant more t.
Miss Allerton than TO most persons
for it and her birthday fell together
"Twenty-two years old" she said
Just think of it-twenty -two. Why
in three more years I'll be a quarter
of century old-and not married
Grandma was married at seventeen
That's five years younger than 1. She
has told me often that father was
born when she was eighteen. And l,
miserable spinster am two decades
and two years old and am not even
engaged"
Miss Allertons solilOquy having run
itself out, so to speak. she ceased to
think coherently. permitting herself
to ramble about disconnectedly. Then
her meditations took shape in the fol
lowing resolution:
ION or before this day one year
solemnly resolve that | will be mar
ried, be the man marry bright or
dull. long or short. fat or lean, rich or
poor"
II Miss Allerton had an intimate
friend among men it was John Hard
wick. John was twenty years her
senior and not the kind of man that
she would think Of marrying. being
plain business man. who had gone to
work when he was seventeen years old
Having never been to college, he knew
nothing about mental or moral philoso-
ply, philology. biology or any other
ology. His main asset was horse sense. |
He was so old fashioned that he con-
tinued a former practice of making a
New Years call every year on the AL |
lerton family, though it does not ap-
pear that he called elsewhere on that |
day.
During the afternoon of the day that |
Sophie made her New Years resolution +.
John Hardwick made his New Years .
call as usual. Mrs. Allerton happened
to be indisposed. and her daughter was
obliged to do the honors alone.
Another year rolled round" remark
ed Mr. Hardwick by way of opening
the conversation. but as cheerily as if
the announcement were one Of congrat-
ulation instead Of regret.
YES" replied Sophie. land I'm one
year nearer to being an old maid"
IAN old maid. Why, you're nothing
but a chit 1t doesn't seem any time
at all that used to give you a doll
every Christmas"
Yes, and those same dolls now line
the Dashboard of my former playroom
in the garnet. But. speaking Of old
maids. Pm going TO give you a conf
dence that l shall bestow upon no one
else. l made a resolution this morning
to be married within the year"
Good gracious" exclaimed John
Hardwick. catching his breath. Whom
will you marry
That's the problem"
Have you any one in mind?"
mo one in particular. Besides. you
must remember that it's not to be sup
posed that | can take my pick
John Hardwick sat thinking for a
few moments. then said, You'd better
recall that resolution"
Why"
Because marriage is a matter of
fate. You cant control it."
81 will control it." said Sophie, set
ting her lips resolutely.
Can I help you?' :
I'm what way?"
"Well. you women know your own .
sex better than we men do, and we <
men know each other better than you u
women know us. l might warn you
against tying yourself up with a bad
man," y
"And might suggest a good one"
"Oh, no; that would be going too far. (
even in warning you against bad one !
would probably get myself disliked. =
But | would have the consolation Of :,
loing what l could to save you from ~ =,
ARM" -
There was a faint touch of sadness To
q this that set Miss Allerton to think 80
lg in another direction. n
How selfish of me- she said. 81 -,
ave forgotten that you may desire W
ONE and those you may love as well
S l. Why have you never married. 4,
IT. Hardwick?' 81
well" he replied. with a smile.
perhaps because it never occurred to oil
lie TO fortify myself with a New Years IN
W.
January passed away, and Miss Al
rton had made no further Roadway
IAN TO select several young men about
or own age. some one of whom she co
light encourage to make love to her ilv
ehruary passed. and she had not con- fes
uded which one of them TO encourage ne
arch came in with a good deal of
usterug faultfnding with herself for VIZ
wing done nothing. April brought a a
lid Irritation with a man two years "
unger than herself but before the res
I of May she had concluded that asl
ere was nothing in him. When June "
me and the pages Of the society jour "
Is We're filed with announcements "
forthcoming weddings and Miss Al "
ton remembered that She had not yet vo,
Ell made a beginning in the keeping 7
her resolution she began 10 worry ne,
ly and August she spent in the cOun- wa
:, where she hoped she might meet din
r fate, but there is always deartb All