Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-10-15
REyIyING THE TRADITIONS OF YOUTH

Women are queer animals, said Squills.
I've been married near onto twenty years, and
I don't know any more about them now than
I did when I first went into the BUSINESS.
The other night was cool and pleasant and
I said:
"How would you like to WOO the zephyrs on
the bridge, Betsy, my beautiful, my own p
1 had made nice little thing on a corner
in dried apples, said Squills, and thought
I'd do the thing handsome regardless of ex'
pense YOU know, and ice.cream the old lady
coming back. We went. Of course she was
tickled to death with the bridge, and let on
1 knew all about the height and width and
material and cost. and we got on splendidly.
Going over and coming back we passed good
many couples on the seats. They sat kinder
close together, as if they were on speaking
terms; in short, said Squills, most of them
we're sitting up to one another like sick kittens
with their hands together. 1t was case OF
two souls but with single thought from first
to last, and Mrs. Squills couldn't understand
it at all. I saw the old lady was staggered,
but I never let on. So at last we came to the
middle of the bridge and said "Betsy, my
dear, let US sit down spell"
Down we sat, said Squills, and there was
young fellow and his girl at the other end OF
the pier seat. 1t was the same old quadrille.
Sarah Jane had her fin IN Johns 6st and bis
other arm was around Sarah James waist,
and "eyes spoke love to eyes which spake
again." and all that sort of thing, and they
were as happy as couple of CLAIMS.
Betsy looked at them out of the corner OF
her larboard optic, and could see her mouth
and nose twitching as if she didn't like it, but
she never said beans. That's Betsy's way
when she thinks she's disgusted.
Somehow, said Squills, something came over
me. Perhaps it was the moon, perhaps it was
the cigar, or the river, or the bridge, or per-
haps it was John and Sarah Jane at the other
side of the pier; anyhow it was something
and I hitched up nearer to Betsy. The old
lady was busy thinking about something
or other, and didn't notice me. Then l took
her hand in mine-fondly, you know-just
like 1 used to do it, twenty years ago.
paved it over considerably and squeezed it
and then I reached for the other side of hel
hundred and sixty pounds. Perhaps it came
across my mind that had known that wais
when it was smaller, but big or little, l gave
it squeeze just for flyer.
"Mr. Squills"
looked up, said squills, and she had both
eyes glaring on me like railroad head ligh
on dark night.
"What are you doing, Mr.. Squills?'.
"Nothing, my dear" said 1 II was onl.
reviving ihe traditions of my youth"
"Reviving what, sir ?"
TRADITIONS, my dear. Young loves dream
you know"
"And right in the glare of the gaslight, too
Unhand me, Mr.. Squills!'
She rose with the dignity of Siddon, sai'
Squills, and walked of: Of course I had tt
follow, but she vouch-safed never a word t.
yours truly, until I led the way into Freund'
and asked her whether she'd take strawberr.
or lemon in hers. She was very quiet all tn
way home, but by degrees something--perhap
it was the cream-molli6ed her and she wa
herself again.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, sait
Squills, she, kind soul, said care you asleep
Squills? l only wanted to tell you that
wasn't much cross tonight, only you took m
so by surprise; and squills, dear, next time
YOU want to revive the traditions of you
youth, please don't do it under gas.lamp."
"That's the kind of woman she is, salt
Suuills.