The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1922-09-28
Old Henry's
Wooing

D, JUSTIN wRNTwooD

- JUSTIN WBNTWOOO
S)Mw0ouslsuuuesNo0uolleelllelo0olllooeeleeo1oSS
cspynshs. issa wsssssa Newspaper Uaioa
Hello. Hanki saving up to get
maSyjedr
Old Henry Dobson. who had bs~n
one Of ths bookhsspers Of the Friend
company for nearly . scor Of years.
looked up sheepiahly and Unrest away
the bills he was counting
Better hurry w; not much time TO
los~, Hsnki"
Henry Dobson must have been nifty.
and Why he had been 20 long with the
company and stu retained suhordi
uste position was not difficult to see
Honest. picsiding. industrious. he had
not the qualities that make for sue
cess. An erly-looking man, unol-
trusive. he went his way. the butt Of
mild witticisins On the part Of the
younger men.
No one knew anything about old
Henry. nor where he lived, and nobody
cared.
The same applied equally TO Miss
Howell, Of the correspondence depart
mcnt. Miss Rowell had been there
nine years. and looked just u plain,
ynle. rather faded old maid.
Say. Miss Rowell, Hank Dotscn
reckons he's going TO get married =
sadie. the telephone girl. said this,
and waited for the quick blush to sp
pear on Miss Rowell's face.
is he. reallyf oh. Isn't that nice J"
say" said Sadie TO her friend.
Agnes Strut. wouldn't II be joke
to make Amy Roweli think Hank Dob
sons Ia love with herr
And TO make him think shes In
love with himl"
How'll we do itr'
swatch me. said Sadie Graphically.
On the following morning Miss Row.
ell found a neat little bunch Of violets
on her desk. with u scrap Of pasteb,ard
attached. bearing In writing the ~ortA
with II. De compliments
Her agitation appeared plain. The
girls. watching her. had many quiet
giggles as they saw her surrept.tiously
bend 10 sniff the fragrance Of the
flowers
Say, Hank. that's . fine bunch Of
flowers you sent Miss Rowell'
Il didn't send her any flowers
whard I want to send her flowers
forr' protested Henry Dobson.
We'll. don't you let on you didn't
she's coming to thank you"
Little Miss Rowell stopped nj Henry
Dobson's desk. Thank you 20 much
for your beautiful flowers, Mr.. Dob
son." she said In q quiet voice.
A few days later Henry Dohson
found 4 pair OF socks on his desk.
bearing Q card. with kind remem-
brances from A. r." Examination dis
closed the fact that the he~ls were
gone.
Say, Miss HOWELL Mr.. Dobson's
had such n lovely pair Of socks from
some one" said Sadie.
Little Miss Rowell raised her head
inquiringly. who sent theinf' she
asked.
"oh, Miss Rowelil oh. Miss Row.
ell" they leased hei.
II vss funny to see how neryeusly
Mis- Roweil avoided Henry blossoms
aesk for several days thereafter.
The cream OF the Joke came few
days later. Miss howell Opened .
little cardboard box. Inside was .
ten.yearsold valentine, procured from
some old dealer who hal had II rot
ling on his shelf since the days when
valentines remained In fashion. The
lace paper edge was torn and mil
cewed. The picture represented m
elderly splnster with long. red noss
and underneath was printed:
I think your. out for marriage.
As all the world can see.
hope you'I md a man TO your mind,
As long as u isn't me
The sender had scratched out the
last word and substituted III. H."
Miss Rowells right hand jerked con.
vulsively The valentine. torn Ia half.
dropped into the wastebasket.
Twelve struck. Hank Dobson came
slowly into the correspondence depart
ment 10 the girls were getting on their
hats. Miss Ro~sll rose up. smiling.
"Oh. Sadie. you know I'm not CON
ing back on Mondayf" she asked.
Not coming back, Miss RowellT
There was genuine regret. Then. i'm
pulslyely: "Oh. Miss Rowell. II It's
because we'y. bothered you 81 much
won't you overlook III lin really
ashamed"
My dear, you haven't bothered m,
az ALL" Miss KOwell smiled. "lIut my
husband aud are starting a little pouI
try farm-thc dream Of our lives"
"Oh. Miss RoNsll! mean-why
Miss Howell, you aud Mr.. bobson have
got married."
Ten years ago. my dear" smiled
Amy IluW.I