Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1882-12-09
THE LEAF OF GEEANIUM.

1t is very strange, when we come to
think Of it, on what small cOgs and pivots
the wheels of fate run, and what slight
jar will do toward changing the Whole
machinery and set it TO running in al en-
tirely different direction. Ii was 4 gcra.
mum leaf that altered the whole course Of
my life. But for the trivial leaf picked
up BY Young girl in a thoughticss mood
| should not have been sitting here today
in this pleasant dining room, where the
sun comes in through the vine-wrcaIhcd
windows aud falls upon the gcranium
pots inside; and then this little girl would
not be upon my knee, nor yOndcr red
checked maiden on the verandah with
young Smithers; and neither would that
very handsome matron who just passed
into the parlor have been in her present
situation.
If you will listen an hour or so will
tell You my story. 1t was just twenty
years ago this summer that married Car
rie Dean. She was twenty-onc and WAS
twenty-sevcn--both old enough to know
what we meant, and what we were about
at least l was, but Carrie was such
coouette that / used TO think she had no
mind of her own.
Oh. but she was lovely! All rose col
orcd and white and brown trcSsed, pcarly
teeth, with the roundcSt, plumpest figure,
and as graceful as fairy in every move
ment, and with beautiful, shapcly hands
that were constant delight to the eyes.
/ was just home from college, and she
was on visit to my stepmothcr, her aunt,
and my half sister Lila, and her cousin.
] hal seen a good many girls in my
seven wears at college, and some of the
bellies Of the land ; hut had ncvcryct had
my heart stirred by any woman's eyes rs
Carrie Deans stirred it when my eyes
met hers in greeting; anG the touch OF
her soft fingers completely set me anoat
on the sea of love.
| was her slave from that hour-not her
slave, either, but her passionate lover AM
worshippcr. And of course she knew it,
and Of course being a finished coquette,
she quecned it over me right royalty.
There was Fred Town, the country ply
sician, and Tom Delano, the handsome
young farmer, both as badly off as / was;
and a pretty time we had of il.
Fred and I--old chums in former days
were at swords points now, and hated
each other splendidly for 4 few weeks
And Tom | held in the utmost contempt,
and rallied at them both whenever oppor-
tunIty presented itself, for Carries edifi-
cation, after the manner Of men, and was
repaid by seeing her bcstow her sweetest
smiles and glances upon Them the next
time they met.
Fred drove splendid span of bays, and
almost every day they dashed up the ave-
nue., and dashed out again, with Miss Car
rie's added weight. And Tom was on
hand nearly every evening, and she WAS
lust rs sweet to one as the other, and just
the same TO me, and that was what mad
dcned me.
was not to be satisfied with "widow's
third" by any means, and told her sc ut
last, and asked her how the matter was to
be settled.
81 love you better than those brainless
fops know how to love-" I said, hotly;
land now decide between u.s."
She had listened to my love confession
with blushing cheeks and downcast eyes,
but when / said this she turned detiantly
on me.
"They are no more fops than you are"
she said, ''even if they have not spent
seven years in college. They are gentle
men, and 1 can't say that for every man
of my acquaintance.
And here she shut the door between us
with a slam and left me to my pleasant
meditations, and half IN hour later met
her at the gate with Fred, going out for
ride, which was very aggravating, l must
confess.
thought over my conduct that night,
and concluded that l had been a brute.
The next morning l found Carrie at the
dining room window alone, and sought
her side She had her hand among the
leaves of 4 sweet scented geranium, and
just as approached she plucked a leaf
and twined it among her braids. / re-
member low bright and green it looked
among the dark locks.
Carrie" began, 81 fear l was very
rude yesterday"
az know you were," she said, looking
indfferently out of the window.
This was a bad beginning, but went
on:
"But, Carrie, love you so, and when
see you with that Fred"
But here Miss Carrie turned on her heel.
~ AIN not going to listen TO you while
you SANDER my friends. When you can
speak respectfully Of Mr. Town will re-
turn" and here she left me again.
/ left the house then, aud did not return
till afternoon. As / came up the path
met Tom Delano. Poor fellow, he looked
like the last rose of summer after a rain.
Goodbye" he said, gloomily,, 'I'm
going away. She has sent me OF, and /