The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-09-16
OLD MANS DARLING
BY MARTHA McuLLocH.wIL.
llAMs.

/ lyn, VINO gazed meditatively In the
fire.
She had just put the case to her
friend and social mentor-the case
Of Reul Norris. ESQ, widower. aged
almost seventy. long on wealth, short
on grammar, alone In the world ex.
cept his sundry grandchildren. who
regarded him in the nature OF an In.
vestment.
He had fallen violently q victim to
Carolyn's charms-Carolyn, a daugh.
ter OF the gods. divinely tall and fair:
also poorer than poverty from the
fact that with a bread-and-cheesei In.
come she had position demanding
truffies and champagne: also, again.
conscious that her charms were at
apogee - henceforth change must
mean their waning
That is to say, she was on the edge
OF thirty. Many men had loved her
half Of them well enough TO propose.
But the suitors who had been In earn.
est had not been the right sort. Well
enough, perhaps--if she had loved
'ho" ou'' ie'hhh ioNt, out VI tho
question.
There had never been q question
with regard to Henry Alban. who had
said in the beginning. we dare not
love. being paupers." The saying had
not hindered his hanging about Caro-
Ign until Mrs. Berwick was In despair.
Then suddenly Melva Lane, with a
million on hand and several others In
prospect, had been thrown in his way
with the result OF a sudden secret
wooing and an astounding runaway to
Paris. where still the pair abode.
Don't you want q wedding trip to
Paris!" Mrs Berwick went on. little
fearfully She had never quite dared
to speak to Carolyn OF Alban. She
did II now with malice aforethought
and the best intentions
Carolyn frowned the least bit. Il
was thinking OF that" she said, sud
denly sitting straighter. Il cah go
If choose. can have half the
world II ! choose"
Then say yes! Do" Mrs. Bor.
wick entreated.
Carolyn smiled more family than
she had frowned Il would-if had
not a troubling sense OF fairness"
she answered. My captive. poor old
fellow, Is as amazingly decent over
everything. almost apologize over
his wealth-rit is very much greater
than anybody knows. Told me-but
not In the way OF making a price
just let me know he could do right
by the grandchildren-that is his
very phase-yet leave me royalty
rich"
He doesn't talk thus early OF leav-
ing you" Mrs. Berwick cried. as
founded.
Carolyn nodded. He has lost his
head-not his reason" she said. smil-
ing bitterly. Ten years at the out
side he measures my bondage. After
that, with millions and the world be-
fore me. I know he hopes. although
he does not say II. ! will find the
bondage to have been worth while"
That's fine. I've no patience with
you-splitting hairs and haggling."
Mrs. Berwick exploded.
Carolyn got up slowly. in such fash.
ion that all the slender yet opulent
charm OF her was manifest. Il am
his latest craze: he has come to re-
gard me as other men old and rich
regard their hobbies. He asks so
little OF me-only to endure him. let
him worship me and give me the set
ting he thinks deserve. lit hurts
her long. white throat. III | could
either love him or hate him. Id take
him in a minute"
You'd take him anyway II you had
never known that wretched Henry
Alban." Mrs. Berwick fiung back fret
fully. He is one reason I'm so wild
to have you make this match. Have
you heard that Melva's fortune was
all but wiped out In that railroad re-
organization
mo, Poor thing! II must be dread
full to lose your charm for an adored
husband" Carolyn answered refiec-
lively. Then. as a big dark blue car
buried up to the door. she shut her
teeth and said through them: "Elinor,
you may congratulate me before the
fact"
The wedding was like the social
event of the season. All the grand
children came to it-bearing gifts like
the Greeks of old. They went away
appeased In Q sort. but unsatished.
Grandad had spoken out through his
lawyers. Each heir presumptive had
got q rich portion delivered In hand.
All that remained was settled inalien-
ably and In fee upon the new wife.
Mrs. Carolyn Enderby Norris-this
after her husbands death: while he
lived she would have only = large in
dependent income.
II was all like a dream come true
to Carolyn-she who had been forced
to count her pennies could. II 1t pleased
her. spend thousands. She had. fur
Their. Q husband who delighted to
shower her with the richest gifts,
who was always listening intently to
find out the things she cared most
about and tossing them into her lap.