The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-10-14
STARVING TO WLN n .WKFE.

1t was July afternoon. Three men
sat on the veranda of the village hotel.
Their feet were on the balcony railing,
their chairs were tilted back and they
were tanning themselves.
These men were Judge Barron, County
Judge, Parson Miller and Col. Gherkins,
retired militia officer, on no pay. Not
one of them would see his 50th birth
day, for they had passed it. "Speaking
of fasting" snid the Judge, breaking o
long silence.
"Hasn't been mentioned" snarled the
Colonel, interrupting.
The Judge dropped his chair squarely
down on its four legs, and looked say
agely at the Colonel. The Colonel re-
turned the look and snapped his fingers
contemptuously.
"Don't be boys |! " urged the minister
with q smile. He smiled because he
knew the fiery but harmless ways of the
gentlemen.
"Well, we are too old for this sort of
thing" said the Judge; leaning back
again. But, speaking of fasting-I
will have it that way-reminds me of
my attempt OF suicide"
&C. It was in the papers, " said Gherkins,
stopping his tanning long enough to
glance sideways at the other.
cit was," admitted the Judge, "but
it doesn't signify now, over twenty-five
years afterward."
"Humph |" grunted the Colonel.
II was i'll love, DOCTOR" and the
Judge turned his face toward the min
lister. go.
"That is what he thought" observed
he Colonel, with cackle, half cough
and half.laugh.
"With girl, " continued Barron.
"Well added !" cried Gherkins.
"Though the tendency of young men
is, we know. to fall in love with old
women.
"And not, as you we'll know, Colonel,
for young women to fall in love with old
men.
you're as old as am" shouted the
D.. Colonel.
"Not by fifteen years" exclaimed the
Judge. "But you take my remark as
personal"
"That's the way you meant to have it
taken, know" growled the unamiable
old man.
$50 you ought" said tho Judge.
'";But never mind that I fell in love.
That means to be miserable. At % one
has love as one %has the measles. Sc
verely, all over, as a matter of business. :"
''When was boy" suddenly began
the Colonel.
"Why, that is ancient history" cried
Barron.
The Colonel said something in an
undertone, and lighted cigar.
"I-had always been in love with Miss
Lou Dexter" continued the Judge. "I
began to suffer when was in round
ahonts. was sort of duplex, back
action, extra-elastic passion. I suppose
l made fool of myself. Didn't I,
Colonel ?"
Decidedly p declared that person.
"1 felt as sure of Lou as did of nv
self, the Judge continued. "But when
came back from college T thought
everything had changed for the worse.
There VIZ no longer that familiarity and
confidence that had existed between ia.
Half the time when I went 70 see ber
she was elfAer busy or out for the even
adng' l,0r t IA with musty old fellow
WHO Barge gts}E, but whose name won't
mentlthaDa ~ ..
"hr 30 oongeP" howled the Colonel
g sprinfin Gteenfeet. Musty? Have
cst 500 wand
"tshould nS5ense, I suppose" sug.
test election lister. "Now, if he had
SaiGer. TheG .. r.
nn15ry thingibelous, just as infamous an
pd - woAouted the Colonel, stamping
S7'erendS I'm the veranda.
"C4a Yell, consider the remark with
drawn, laughed the Judge. "The man
p was there, all the same, and kept me from
confidential chats with the girl I loved. ("
.1a "And he knew itl' chuckled Cher
kins. ......... ....
"She knew it p' said the Judge,
gravely. II didn't mind any of these
things so much as the story that