Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-02-11
STARVING TO WIN.

their chairs were tilted back and they
were tanning themselves.
These three 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 birthday, for they has passed it.
Speaking of fasting" said the Judge,
breaking "a long silence.
Hasn't been mentioned" snarled the
Colonel, interrupting"
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"
1t was in the papers" said Cher
kins, stopping his tanning long enough
to glance sideways ut the other
''It was" admitted the Judge, "but
it doesn't signify now. over twenty-five
years afterward.
"Humph +! grunted the Colonel.
II was in love, DOCTOR" and the
Judge turned his face toward the min
lister.
THAT is what he thought" observed
the Colonel, with cackle, half cough
and half laugh.
with a girl" continued Barron.
"Well added !" cried the Colonel.
Though the tendency of young men
is, we know, to fall in love with old
women.
And not, as you well know, Colo
mel, 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
it taken, know" growled the unama-
BILE old man.
80 you ought" said the Judge.
"But never mind that! | fell in love.
That means to be miserable. At %
one has love as one has the measles,
severely, all over, as matter of bust
ness
when | was boy" suddenly began
the Colonel
why, that is ancient history" cried
Barron.
The Colonel said something in an I'M
dertone, and lighted cigar.
IL had always been in love with Miss
Lou Dexter" the Judge continued. II
began to suffer when | was in round
abouts. 1t was a sort of duplex, back
action, extra elastic passion. suppose
made fool of myself. Didn't Colo
nel?"
"Decidedly~ declared that person.
II felt as sure of Lou as did of N.Y.
SELF" the Judge continued. But when
| came back from college | thought
everything had changed for the worse.
There was no longer that familiarity
and confidence that had existed between
us, Half the time when went 10 see
her she was either busy or out for the
evening, or engaged with musty old
fellow who had money, but whose name
| won mention.
HMpsty, Judge p howled the Colo
nel springing to his feet. "Musty 2 Have
a care ~
"Poetical license, | suppose" sug-
gcsted the minister. Now, if he had
said moldy-"
Just as libelous, just as infamous an
untruth," shouted tho Colonel, stamping
up aud down the veranda.
"Ob, we'll consider the remark with.
drawn" laughed the Judge The
man was there, all the same, and kept
me from confidential chats with the girl
! loved "
"And be knew it, chuckled Cher
kins.
"She knew itr' said the Judge,
gravely. II didn't mind any of these
things so much as the story that she
was going 10 marry the old fox, and
that her wedding clothes were being
made That struck me like q ball from
Wbitwortb gun. Lou" | said, the
first time | met her after hearing this
story, sis it true that you are getting
ready to marry this man p naming him.
"She had way of half turning her
face and looking up at you with sauci.
noes IN her black syes that would drive
man crazy. She looked at me that
way"
Don't you wish you knew p she ask
ed, aud walked away, locking backward
just once, in her coquct,ish way, ogor her
shoulder.
Ten minutes afterward ! saw her
walking with my venerable rival"
Venerable alongside Of veal, said
Gherking, sayagely
pho Indoa l.u.,h.d