The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1880-10-15
STARVING TO WIN 4 WIFE.

II was a July afternoon. Three men
sat OH 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 we're 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 il. speaking
Of fasting said the Judge, breaking q
long silence.
"Hasn't been mentioned, snarled the
Colonel, intenupting.
The Judge dropped his chair squarely
down on its four legs, and looked saw
agely at the Colonel. The Colonel re-
turned the look and snapped his fingers
contemptuously.
"Don't be boys " urged the minister
with 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 at suicide.
It was in the papers, " said Gherkins,
stopping his tanning long enough to
glance sideways at the other.
at was, admitted the Judge, "but
il doesn't signify now, over twenty-five
years afterward.
Humph " grunted the Colonel.
~ was in love, DOCTOR" and the
Judge turned his face toward the min.
lister.
"That is what lie thought" +" observed
he Colonel, with cackle, half congh
and half laugh.
with a girl, !" continued Barron.
"Weu added /" cried Gherkins.
Though the tendency Of young men
is, We know, to fall in love with old
Women.
"And not, as you well know, Colonel,
for young women to fall in love with old
men.
You're as old as / am, " shouted the
Colonel.
mot by fifteen years." exclaimed the
Judge "But you take my remark as
personal"
That's the way you meant to have il
taken, ! know" growled the unamiable
old man.
80 you ought" said the Judge.
But never mind that I fell in love.
That means to be miserable. At % one
mas love as one has the measles, Sc,
yerely, all over, as matter Of business. >
when was boy" suddenly began
the Colonel.
why, that is ancient history" cried
Barron.
The Colonel said something in an
uAdertone, and lighted cigar.
had always been in love with Miss
Lou Dexter, continued the Judge. 81
oegan to suffer when / was in round,
ulouts, was a sort of duplex, back.
scton, extra-elastic passion. suppose
! made fool Of myself. Didn't /.
Colonel y
Decidedly !" declared that person.
! felt as sure of Lou as 1 did of my,
sell the Judge continued. But wher
came back from college / thought
everything ~ had changed for the worse
mere We no longer that familiarity and
cOhndence that had existed between us
nan the time when went to see he,
sne was either busy or out for the even.
ilg' OF engaged with a musty old fellow
Nno mad money, but whose name won
mention
Musty, Judge9" howled the Colonel
'pringng to his feet. "Musty? HAY,
scare r
foetical license, 1 suppose" sug
tes.ed the minister. CHOW, if he hac
said moldy-"
Sustas ibelous, just as infamous al
ul'futh, shouted the Colonel, stamping
Up and down the veranda.
Oh, well, consider the remark with
1awn'' laughed the Judge. "The mai
vas there, all the same, and kept me from
Oanaential chats with the girl I loved.
hns - 'A''u onsA
She knew itr' said the Judge
sa stasely "I didn't mind any Of thes
"uns' SO much as the story tina