Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-12-02
The Leaf of Geranium.

and what slight jar will do to-
ward changing the whole machinery
and set it running in an entirely
different direction. 1t was a geran-
ium leaf that altered the whole
course Of my life. But for the trivial
leaf picked by a young girl in a
thoughtless mood, | should not have
been sitting here to-day in this
pleasant dining room, where thes
comes in through the vine-wreathed
windows and falls upon the geran-
ium pots inside; and then this littl
girl would not be upon my knee, nor
yonder red-eheaked maiden on the
yerandah with young Smithers; and
neither would that very handsome
matron who just passed into the par
lor, have been in her present situa-
ton.
If you will listen an hour or so I
will tell you my story. 1t was just
twenty years ago this summer that I
married Carrie Dean. She was
twenty-one and l was twenty seven
both old enough to know what we
meant, and what we We're about-at
least | was, but Carrie was such a
coquette that | used to think she had
no mind of her own.
Oh, but she was lovely All rose
colOred, and white and brown tress-
ed, pearly teeth, with the roundest,
plumpest figure, and as graceful asa
fairy in every movement, and with
beautiful, shapely hands that were
a constant delight to the eyes.
I was just home from college, and
she was on a visit to my stepmother,
her aunt, and my half-sister Lila,
and her cousin.
| had en- a good many girls in
my seven years Of college, and some
of the bellies of the land but | had
never yet had my heart stirred by
woman's eyes as Carrie Deans stir
red it when my eyes met hers in
greeting; and the touch of her soft
fingers completely set me ahoat on
the sea of love.
/ was her slave from that hour
not slave, either, but her passionate
lover and worshipper. And of course
she knew it, and of course being
finished coquette, she queened it
over me right royalty.
There was Fred Town, the coun-
try physician, and Tom Delano ,zthe
handsome young farmer, both as
badly off as | was; and a pretty time
we had of it.
Fred and I-old chums in former
days-were at swords points now,
and hated each other splendidly for
a few weeks. And Tom ! held in
the utmost contempt, and rallied at
them both whenever opportunity
presented itself, for Carries edifica-
tion, after the manner of men, and
was repaid by seeing her bestow her
sweetest smiles and chances upon
them the next time they met.
Fred drove a splendid span Iof
bays, and almost every day they
dashed up the avenue, and dashed
out again, with Miss Carries added
weight And Tom was on hand
nearly every evening, and she was
Just as sweet to one as the other, and
just the same to me; and that was
what maddened me.
| must not to be satisfied with a
Widows third" by any means, and
/ told her SO at last, and l asked her
how the matter was to be settled.
81 love you better than those
brainless tops know how to love, ~
said, hotly; land now decide between
u.s.
She had listened to my love con-
fession with blushing cheeks and
downcast eyes; but when / said this
she turned defantly on me.
"They are no more tops than you
are" she said, seven if they haven't
spent seven years in college. They
are gentlemen and / can't say that
for every man of my acquaintance"
And here she shut the door be-
tween us with a slam and left me to
my pleasant meditations, and half
an hour later | met her at the gate
with Fred, going out for a ride,
which was very aggravating L must
confess.
I 4 /.