The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-04-15
The Young Man Who Was Shook -

"WHAT want to know" said white
headed young man of twenty, as he stood
before the Sergeant in charge of the Cen
trail Station, yesterday" what l came
here for was to get some advice"
Proceed" said the Sergeant
"You know Nancy Thompson, don't
you."
: Never heard of her." ..
"Well, she's wilder, over forty years
old, and I've been boarding there"
"Yes?"
"And we were engaged to be mar
ried."
"Whewr' whistled the officer.
81 don't blame you," continued the
young man, in broken voice. Pm only
twenty and she's forty, but man can't
always tell when he's going to make a
fool of himself"
And you fell in lover"
:" i did that, and as soon as we got
through talking I'm going out to hire
some one to kick me over to Canada and
back. Yes, sir, fell dead in love-loyed
swoman of over forty"
And what followed?"
"What follered? Why, what alters
follers? I'm human, same's anybody
else, and when love, love like loco
motive on down grade. What do you
think i did IN just six weeks by the
watch? Went to the theater sixteen
times, out sleigh-riding twelve times, had
three parties, went to three lectures,
and took her out to eat oysters ten or
eleven times. Fact, sir-cost me durn
near 5000"
But it was all for love-" replied the
Sergeant.
Il thought so, and what else did
do? Bought her forty dollar watch, a
ten.dollar bracelet, five-dollar ring, a
seven dollar set of lewelry, a new dress,
and gave her a five-dollar gold piece with
hole in it! Yes, sir, drew $500 from
the bank-every red l had-and used it
up on heri"
"And then?"
"She purtended to love back, and
when l squoze her hand she smiled, and
smiled, and looked heaps of love at me-
Shed lean on my arm, talk about Cupid,
and git off poetry by the rod, and it was
plainly understood that ve were to be
married in June. Oh, she knew her biz,
and she slid around me as the Bengal
tiger does around lamb"
Ibid she break the engagement"
Last night" said the young man,
swallowing the lump in his throat, O. she
told me she'd been trifling with me all
along. She said she was engaged to
another man, and she could never be
more than sister to me! / tell YOU,
Sergeant, you could have knocked me
while and called her hypocrite, when
she called me white headed idiot, and
the boarders threw me out of doors. Five
hIIndrQd
wrecked man"
He blew his nose and wiped his eyes,
and continued:
81 don't want to drown myself; the
waters awful cold, and perhaps can get
over this. | want them presents back,
and I'D go to Muskegon and try and for
get her. It's wrenched me all to pieces.
can never love again. Were you ever
shook, Sergeant ?"
mo, never"
"Then you don't know the anguish
he gripping around the heart. 1t cuts
like a knife, and all can think about is
being laid out in coffin, my right hand
holding bunch OF roses and nv left
resting on my heart"
You are young-you may outgrow
a. may-I may, but it's so awful sud-
den, and hits so hard that l feel as if |
had fallen from house. Go to the house.
Sergeant, and see if you can get them
things back. If I'm alive I'll be around
again to-morrer, and if l don't come YOU
may keep the things for your kindness.
I'm white-headed, but I'm tender hearted,
and / want to retire behind some barn
and sit down and think"
And he retired.-Detroit Free Press.