Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-04-29
Trying Experiences of a Youth
Who was Tilted by a Widow.

PSoNSN JON'E h"h VI NUVb'Jg no Nv NNoNN
before the Sergeant in charge of the Cen
trail Station yesterday, what / came for
was 10 get some advice
Proceed" said the Sergeant.
"You know Nancy Thompson, don't
you?
"Never heard Of her."
"Well, she's a widder over forty years
old, and I've been boarding there"
''Yes?"
"And we were engaged to be married"
''Whew !" whistled the officer.
IL don't blame you" continued the
young man in a broken voice. "Tm on
ly twenty and she's forty, but man can't
slway tell when he's going to make a fool
Of himself"
"And you fell in love?"
II did that, and as soon as we get
through talking I'm going out to hire
some one to kick me over to Canada and
back Yves, sir, !ell dead in love-loved
woman of over forty"
"And what followed 7"
"What followed2 Why, what alters
follows?" I'm human. same's anybody
else, and when ] love i love like q loco
motive going down grade. What do you
think Ibid in just six weeks by the watch
Went to the theater sixteen times, out
sleigh,riding twelve times, had three
parties, went 10 three lectures, and took
her out to eat oysters ten or eleven times.
Fact, sir-cost me duru near 5000"
but it was all for love-" replied the
Sergeant.
IL thought so aud what else did ] do?
Bought her a $40 watch, a $40 bracelet,a
S. ring, a 81 set Of %jewerly, a new dress,
and gave her a S. gold-piece with a hole
init ! Yes, sirl l drew $500 from the
bank-every red l had-and used it all
up on herr
sand thenl"
"She purtended to love back and when
i squoze her hand she smiled and smiled,
and looked heaps Of love at me. She'd
lie. "a my arm and talk about Cupid,
and git off poetry by the rod, and it was
plainly understood that we were to be
married In June. Oh, she knew her biz,
and she slid around me as the Bengal IT,
ger does around a lamb"
Md she break the engagement
Last night said the young man swal>
lowing the lump in his throat, "she told
me she'd been triAing with me all along.
She said she was engaged to another nan
and she could never be mere than my sis,
ter to mel tell you, Sergeant, you
could have knocked me down with a
straw ] braced up after awhile and
called her a hypocri,e when she called me
Q white-headed idiot, and the boarders
threw me out Of doors. Five hunded
dollars gone, and I'm a wrecked man."
He blew his nose and wiped his eyes,
and continued:
IL don't want to drown myself, the
waters awful cold, and perhaps 1 can get
over this. l want them presents back,
and I'll go to MuSkengon and try to for
get her. It's wrenched me all to pieces,
and | can never love again. Were you
ever shook, Sergeant"
mo, never.'
Then you don't know the anguish
the gripping around the heart. 1t cuts
like a knife, aud all | can think of is
being laid out in my coffin, my right
hand holding q bunch of roses and my
left resting on my heart"
"You are young; and may outgrow it."
II may may, but it's awful sudden,
and hits so hard that IGeel as if I'd fall
len from a house. Go to the house, Ser
geant, and see if you can get them things
back. If I'm alive I'll be around again
tomorrow, and if don't come you may
keep the things for your kindness. Tn
white>headed. but I'm tender-hearted and
l want TO retire behind some barn and sit
down and think"
And he retired.