Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1914-11-27
The Tragedy of
Being 1wenty-eight
The Way One Proposal Was
Developed.
BY STUART 3. STONE.

Colonel John Andrew Findlay was a
staggering young dog of sixty, and
Mr. Thomas. his son, was as old as
twenty eight.
The colonel had proposed just eight
times to Miss Edwina Lincoln his de-
ughtful little scampergrace Of a
wealthy ward whereas Mr. Thomas
being all Of twenty eight and extreme
iy serious. would never have dreamed
of the thing
The colonel began the business when
Miss Edwina began to stick up her
chestnut hair. as do young ladies' when
they attain delectable sixteen. The
colonel. though ffty-fve ut the time.
had nothing to his credit In the way
Of discovery. invention or production:
but. then. the colonel did not stop for
. little thing like that.
II know I'm old explained Colo
mel John Andrew. and Miss Edwina in.
terrupted:
you're not-you're not old" she
cried in heated denial, for they were
comrades Of years. and had enjoyed
many great times dad jolly romps to-
gether.
Then" said the colonel. optimistic
as Old King Cole, you will have me.
.Edwina, when you are couple Of
years older?''
Edwina laughed and half cried, in
formed the colonel that he was a dear
old classmate Of Methuselah and end
ed up by kissing him. while he patted
the newly heaped lady hair After
that Edwina sought out Master Thorn
as, pottering about his maze Of a
mathematical theory.
''Uow old are you. Tom?" she asked.
though she knew like \ b G.
-'Twentythree." answered Tom So
berry as he went on figuring. Tween
ty-three." he repeated. with solemn
look at Edwna, pcrched upon IA table
of messed formulate. "l,cttin. older
every day. Edwina. and nothing to
show for the years" He gloomed at
her like Jupiter displeased. and she
went out and dim.ned her big brown
eyes with tears
The colonel continued to entertain
the fondest, rose tinted hopes. which
he carefully announced as often ns
possible. Miss Edwinn persisted in he
coming more cntrancingly lovely day
by day, Tom went on working over
nat Ni,. II ),
diant and bca:ninS with the glory OF
another year cast brhlmh with tie DE-
spised gilhing> %. chi!Ghuot came t"
announce her seventeenth birthday H.,
colonel proposed a-tn II" rouldn :
help it-dcNr s"ul EdWIm tWeakc''
his nose, puiicd nm an ethereal iittlr
kiss aud s. anurr,i! from the room!
lnu%.tng
by the eternal mnrir"-"t Cplone
John Andrew whe' sac ieit hin VIII
his hands still IT, the attitude OF ORA
matte pleading Now. wouldn't she
and 1 make Il pair Of Oh st"ppers
In the beauty show on thr avenue OF
eveningsy Then he tiptoed over t.
an old trunk and looked for Il Ions
WuIit al tnc pl'tuic Va a Aa0CS
lady In a l0cket.
Edwina had gone to the library
where she loIlcd upon desk covered
with gay equations in algebra.
''TOm" she asked softly. did yor
know | was seventeen"
Tom nodded Yes. know. Ed
wilma. I'm keeping track Of thes'
things"
"Tom"-she persisted, and he cease<
his calculations and turned his dark
solemn eyes on her.
"TOm." she asked. ARE you ever
do you expect ever to get married."
Tom blushed and turned away to hi
papers. IL am twenty four. Edwina.
ne declared in slightly trembling tones
~and | have achieved nothing. HOY
could l think off,
He stopped ut that. and Edwina sliI
ped up to her pinkish boudoir an
went softly for perhaps five minutes.
When Edwinn ripened into charm
ing eighteen and after the colonel
third fervent proposal the light In be
brown eyes. the gold brown CLINT
her hair and the note Of her cleo