The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-20
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The Young Man who was SHOOK
l'l-. III Detroit Free Press, 2is&1' --' E
What Iwapf 10 knng, said a white
headed young man of. twenty, as he stood
before the sergeant in charge of the
Central Station yesterday" what came
here for was to get some advice" 9--
Proceed, said the sergeant
" You know Nancy Thompson, don t
you 2"
Never heard of her."
Veil. she's wilder, over forty years
old, and I've been boarding there"
''Yes?'' ..--- = .-.
And we we're engaged to be married. p"
Whewi 'whistled the officer.
L don't blame you,' continued the
young man 10 broken voice.. I" I'm only
twenty and she's forty, but man can't
always tell when he's going to make fool
Of himself" ~ -~ ' ~
80 You fell in love?' -
| 81 did. that, and as soon as we get
through talking Tn going out to hire some
one to kick me over to Canada and
back Yes sir; fell dead In love-loved a
woman of over forty" ~
And what followed?"
what follered 2 Why, what alters
folders? I'm human. same's anybody else,
and when / love / love like locomotive on
down grade. What do you think 1 did
ia just six weeks by the watch2 Went to
the theatre 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.
1 thought so; and what else did d, I?
Bought her $40 watch, $40 bracelet, a
50 ring. 81 set of jewelry, new dress,
and gave her S. gold piece with hole
| IN 1t ! Yes, sir +; drew $500 from the bank
every red had-and used it all I'D on
her Z" tF -" = -
And then?"
She purtended to love back, andwhen
squeeze her hand she SMILED and smiled and
looked heaps OF love at me. She'd lean
IN my arm, talk about Cupid, aud git of
poetry by the rod, aud it was plainly under.
stood that We were to be married in une.
Oh, she knew her biz, and she slid around
me as the Bengal tiger does around q
lamb !" l -.a -'s .
:" Did she break the engagement"
| Last night" said the young man
swallowing the lump in his throat" sh.
told me she'd been trif1ing with me al
along She said she was engaged to an
other man, aud she could never be more
than a sister to mel | tell you, sergeant
you could have knocked me down with
straw! l braced up after while and called
her a hypncrite when she called me ;
white headed idint, and the boarders threw
me out of doors. Five hundred dollars gone
and Tm wrecked man." :.
He hlew his nose and wiped his eyes
and continued;
Il aon want to drown myself; IT,,
waters awful cold, and perhaps | can Ege
aver this lwant them presents back, ant
LII go to Muskegnn and try and forget her
It's wrenched me all to pieces, and ca,
lever love again. Were you ever sho,
sergeant?
| No never" ..l....s-.. .
Then you don't know TIE anguish-th,
gripping around the heart 1t cuts like
knife, and all can think of is being lait
out in coffin, my right hand noldiug
bunch o. roses and my left hand on m!
heart"
You are Young; you may out grow it.
may-Inay, but it's so awful sudden
and hits so hard that / feel as if I'd falleI
irnm a house Go to the house, sergeant
, and see if you can get them things back
Ii I'm alive I'll be around again tomorrow
and i'll don't come you may keep tn
things for your kindness. Im white
headed, but I'm tender-hearted, and
want to retire behind SOME barn and 81
: down and think"
And he retired