The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-06-30
her OLD LOVER.


sHome.'
And the neat little broueham drove
away conveying pretty Mrs. Carleton
from Lady Featherby's kettledrum to
her own tiny dwelling in Mayfair, where
she lived alone with her daughter, Mel
lie; her grown up now,
though she herself still looked so young
and attractive that many people won
dered why it was she had so long re-
manned \ widow-whOm she hardly
knew how 10 meet after what had be-
fallen her that afternoon.
| But it must bo told. some time or
other. and Mrs. Carleton plunged into
the subject at once on entering her own
charming little drawing-room, where
Nellie awaited her. a.i-.
What n surprise have had. Nellie, ="
she said. nervously. II have met an
| old dfriend-sOmebOdy used to know
when was girl" and Mrs. Carleton
turned away to take off her bonnet, for
she felt conscious that she was blush
ing. "And the idea of blushing at my
ager' said Mrs. Carleton to herself.
But Nellie took no notice of her
mothers blushes-she was pre-occupicd
with thoughts of her own, and '.sOme-
suggested something very middle-aged
and embarrassing. She was thinking
of Cuthbert Denison, who had had =
very pleasant walk with her that after
noon in Kensington Gardens, and she,
too, rather hoped that her mother
would not take too much notice of her
face.
So the two ladies sat over their books
that evening as though such interesting
volumes had never been written before,
and dreamt dreams that were not SO un-
like as mothers and daughters are sup
posed to be.
Mrs. Carleton had been a widow for
many years, and the old friend she had
just met was her first lover. They had
squarrsled end parted, and she had mar
ried Hr. Careton. But now, the old
memoties-c came back again. She won
dered whether she had mot been too
quick to take ofense. However, it was
all over. and why should there not be q
pleasant friendship between them in
their later years? He had asked leave
10 call and she had given it to him.
There lay his card before her-'Aus-
tin Leigh" and he had not altered so
much IS one might have expected-not
50 much sss ahe had herself. and the
y MI Mr.. Ieief cslleane.t day. Nellie saw
him. He told her shs was her mother
over again ,hskesrather admired him as
a man Of elegance and experience, and
soon he was thoroughly established ON
the footing OF family friend.
He came and went without ceremo-
ny; he offered his escort to mother and
daughter alike; and soon Mrs. Carle-
ton began TO hear on every side, praises
of '.Nellie's admirer.
"a little old for her. perhaps.n said
the inquisitive friends; ssbut 90 elegant,
30 distinguished; and we'll off. too, is
he not?''
Mrs. Carleton only shook her head
and laughed; but to herself she said:
: ut is very probable that these folks
are right; the thing often happens.
Nellie is like me. 1t is compliment
to me. certainly, and men never know
that they grow old as well as we. Why
should object?''
But she sighed little, and that day
put her hair in a palmer way.
"More suitable for my years." she
said to Nellie, who laughed. Indeed,
Mrs. Carleton felt herself quite old in
those days in which she looked forward
to the union of her old bean with her
''little grin 'Bli<,tt' > ff
a One day-it was six months from the
evening on which Mr.. Leigh had re-
ncwed his acquaintancewith the widow,
Mrs. Carleton sat alone in her boudoir.
Nellie was out, and her mother was
sunk in so deep a reverie that she did
not hear the bell ring nor the door
Mr. Leigh stood before her.
q ooloH lnnRinD at 1,or
with q kindly smile. ''Nellie is off en-
joying herself. l suppose. May 1 sit
here, beside you"' /
She made room for him on the sofa.
at is q good many years since we
used to sit in this way together in your
fathers home" said Mr.. Leigh. "'Nel-
lie, they called you. 1 like Nellie bet
ter than any other name know. l
never saw Nellie who was not pretty"
II wonder whether l was pretty"
said Mrs. Carleton.
.'Oh, yes, pretty; not As handsome
as you arc now" said Mr.. Leigh.
"Oh. 1 am quite and old woman-I
shall be forty next birthday" said she.
..And fOrty-ive-but feel young"
said the man. laughing. "Tell me. am
l too old to mend my old bachelor life
by marrying, Mrs. CarletonP'
'.But it is different with men," said
Mrs. Carleton. signing. Certainly
not; a man believe is never too old"
..The French have q saying: "A man
is as old as he feels; q woman as old as
she looks,'" said Mr.. Leigh.
That's unjust. Why should not q
woman be as young as she feels, tooP''
said Mrs. Carleton.
"Because have heard women talk of
being old when they looked almost like
girls. said Mr.. Leigh. "Helen, at
least, we are old enough to know our
own minds now. Do you think should
make q woman happya or am I, what
you called me once, q jealous fool that
would make . woman's life wretched?"
"Oh, was . goose, then you know"
said Mrs. Carleton. II was sorry af-
terwsrds; but, dear me. all that is ages
ago" @
'.And you understand what I mean?"
said Mr.. Leigh. ''YOu know who
want for wife?" s
81 suppose do" said Mrs. Carleton.
s4Can have her7'' asked the gentle
man. l tr.F e-7--e t.-r4
.sOh, Mr.. Leighr' said Mrs. Carleton.
"there indeed you show that you are
not very young. It's not for me to give
hor awav Gan 0f,lv Give INV cOnaont |