Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-07-02
NO. 1856.
Calls and Sketehes.
OLD FLAMES.
CONCLUDED FROM YEsTERDAY.1

| VLD ELAMEbs
| CONCLUDED FROM YEsTERDAY.l
The blood streamed from the young
mans arm and he fell to the ground
wounded and stunned. Tom Creighton
turned to run away. but had not taken
three steps before the slim student who
wrote poetry was upon him. He sprang
up, covered with blood, and leaped madly
forward, with Il roar like lion.
'I'll beat your internal head off, he
howled. "I'll kill you ~
He was in fair way TO do 1t, too.
wounded though he was, when the camp
police appeared and arrested both the
young men, in the name of the offended
majesty of the law. A wicked newspaper
said next day that the prize fighters had
larger and more enthusiastic audience
than the minister.
That evening this note was put into the
hands of naughty Alice Kildare, who had
caused all this trouble:
81 return you your troth. 1t is nothing
to me now, because | know it is nothing
to you. know now, that women are in
capable of steady truth and faithfulness.
| suppose God made them SO. But l do
not know why it was ordained that man
| shall pour out all his soul, all his manhood
| and earthly hopes, at woman's feet, and
for compensation have only the satisfac-
ton of knowing he is fool. l shall not
return to college, and you will not see me
again. But | hope you will always be
happy
Alice took the letter up stairs with her,
and cried all night over it. In the morn
ing she bathed her red eyes very careful
lv, and looked at herself narrowly in the
glass, as she combed out her dark locks.
"And SO am to be an old maid for all
time" she said soberly.
That is the romance of one camp-meet-
ing.
80. botheratlon !" remarked Sam.
"Sam Harrington before Heaven, be-
lieve you are the LATEST, slovenliest, cross
est, uncvil izedest old bachelor that ever
vegetated outside of grisly bears hollow
tree. | can hardly believe you are my
cousin any more. as think of what you
were fifteen years ago, when you visited
us, and look at you now, stout, chuffy.
slovenly and rich, caring for nothing on
the earth or under the heavens but your
nasty pipe. An old bachelor is disgrace
to humanity anyhow Sam Harrington!
l say-for the Lords sake get up and put
on clean shirt.
"Sam grunted The little women poked
him energetically in the ribs.
"Your duty to your health Imperative
ly demands it, she said.
Sam groaned. The little lady poked
him again.
'.By all the laws of reason and logic,
that duty is pressingly incumbent on you.
Allow me to put it to you in the light Of u
| lpfy oh fn md
as a member of civilized community,
and not a Hottentot or a Red Indian.
Moreover, your cousin, implore you with
tears in my eyes to oblige me immensely
and go and change your linen, and not
disgrace me before the world. There now
is consideration which ought to move a
heart of stone.
Sam elevated his right foot across his
lett knee, and regarded attentively hole
in the toe Of his ragged right slipper.
Oh, pshaw - said he. There is no pest
on earth equal to 4 woman
"And besides that, society expects it OF
you." continued the little woman, punch
ing him with great vigor.
He arose and slowly stretched himself.
Then he disappeared and presently came
back, having reluctantly made the required
change of rament But the wristbands
were unbuttoned, and the collar and bosom
shockingly crumpled. His cousin eyed
| him discontentedly
''See the man, nowi" she said, And
you are going to our camp meeting with
us, too, and wanted so much to introduce
you to Widow--.'
"Drat all women-especially widows
"But our Widow. isn't widow at all she's
ashes an old maid. don't know why
everybody calls her Widow, but that's the
name she is always known by. She used
to be rich when she was young, but she
was real bright and learned. for a rich
mans daughter. Her father died, they
lost their fortune. and Widow had to work
for her living. She came here. and Widow
has actually been principal of our village
high school for the last seven years.
There never was a woman held the place
before, and there never was man who
filled it half SO WELL Her graduates
make the best school mistresses in the
country. School mistresses always make
good wives, Sam. | used to be school
mistress myself"
"Yes, said Sam. "Modest you know
"And Widow has done an immeasurable
lot Of good among the girls here. She
has made them like herself, as far as
| tuty We ScISe enough tO Ue N-DFdVe,
strong, honest and wise. There never
was another like her. Sam. She supports
her mother out of her earnings, and
dresses like a lady too, said Sans cousin.
adding the last as the climax OF all praise.
81 don't like paragons," said Sam.
"Awlul tiresome.'
AT any rate, you re in no danger of
being taken for one yourself" replied the
sharp little woman. "You had the world
before you, and we We're all so proud Of
you, and had such hopes of you. You
were going to be famous poet. reform,
preacher, and the Lord knows what, and
you've not been any of it. When you die
l shall have this label tackled across your
coffin ''Ie began like poet. fall of
grand hopes and aspirations, and he end
ed by being slovenlY old bachelor, who
made fortune in the brick pressing busi-
ness"
cousin Mary" lets start to the camp
meeting"
At the camp ground, Sam Harrington