The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1882-12-26
THE LEAF Of GERANIUM

OTIS the wheels of fate run, and what a
slight jar will do toward changing the
whole machinery and set it to running
in an entirely different direction. it
was geranium leaf that altered the
whole course of my life. But for the
trivial leaf picked by young girl In a
thoughtless mood l should not have
been sitting here to-day in this pleasant
dining-room, where the sun comes in
through the vine -wreathed windows and
falls upon the geranium pots inside; and
this little girl would not be upon my
knee, nor yonder red checked maiden
on the veranda with young Smitbers
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, viii
tell you my story. 1t was just twenty
| years ago this summer that I married
Carrie Dean She was twenty-one and
I was twenty-seven-both old enough
to know what we were about-at leas
| was. but Carrie was such coduette
that | used to think she had no mind oil
her own.
Oh, but she was lovely! All rose
colored and white and brown tressed
and pretty teeth, with the roundest
plumpest figure, and as graceful as 6
fairy in every movement, and with beau.
tiful, shapely hands that were a constant
delight to the eyes.
was just home from college and she
was on visit to my stepmothcr, hel
aunt and my halt,sister Lila, and hel
cousin.
had seen good many girls in my
seven years at college, and some of the
bellies of the land; hut / had never vel
had my heart stirred by any woman's
eyes as Carrie Deans stirred it when
my eyes met hers In greeting; and the
touch OF her soft fingers completely sci
me afoat on the sea OF love.
/ was her slave from that hour-not
her slave, neither, but her passionate
lover and worshlpper. And of course
she knew it, and of course, being fin.
ished coquette, she queened it over me
right royalty.
There was Fred Town, the country
physician, and Ton Delano, the hand
some young farmer, both as badly off as
| was; and pretty time We hal Of It.
Fred and I--old chums in former
days-were at swords points now, and
hated each other spIendidly for few
weeks. And Tom l held in the utmos,
contempt, and rallied at them both when
ever opportunity presented itself, for
Carries ediication, after the manner OF
men, and was repaid by seeing her be
stow her sweetest smiles and glances
upon them the next time they met.
Fredsdroye splendid span Of bays,
and almost every day they dashed up
the avenue. and dashed ont again with
Miss Carries added weight. And Tom
was on hand nearly every evening, and
she was as sweet to one as the other,
and just the same to me; and that was
what maddened me
/ was not to be satisfied with "wid-
ow's third" by any means, and / told
her so at last, aud asked her how the
matter was to be settled.
81 love you better than those brain
less fops know how to love-" / said,
holly "and now decide between u.s."
She mad listened to my love confess
sion with blushing cheeks and downcast
eyes; hnt when l said this she turned
definitely on me.
"They are no more fops than you
are," she said, seven if they have not
spent seven years IN college. They are
gentlemen and can't say that for every
man Of my acquaintance"
And here she banged the door be
tween US with slam and lett me to my
pleasant meditations, and halt an hour
later met her at the gate with Fred,
going out for ride, which was very ag-
gravating, | must confess.
l thought over nv conduct that night,
and concluded that had heen brute
The next morning found Carrie at the
dining-room window alone and sought
her side. She had her hand among the
leaves OF sweet-scented geranium, and
jnst as approached she plucked Ieai
and twined it among her braids. re-
member how bright and green it looked
among the dark locks.
"Carrie," / began, 81 fear was very
rude yesterday"
81 know you were," she said, look
ing indifferently 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.
81 am not going to listen to you while
you slander nv friends" she said
"When you can speak respectfully OF
Mr.. Town, l will return" and here she
left me again.
left the house then, and did not re-
turn till afternoon. As | came ND the
path met Tom Delano. Poor fellow,
he looked like the last rose of summer
after rain.
"Good-bye," he said, gloomily; "I'm
going away. She has sent me off. and
I can't stay in the place. / hope yor
are the happy one--I do, honestly, AL
She said her heart was given to another
and it's either you or Fred. l hope il
is YOU, and God bless voui"
Here Tom dashed away and left me
staring in amaZement.
"Given her heart to another - l re-
peated, with pain in my chest some'
where. "Well, it is evident that an
not the other, and that Fred Is Pool
Tom-poor me! The best thing can
do is to follow suit and leave too.
can never see her the wife Of another
and the sooner l am of the better"
So went moodily up to nv room ani
packed satchel and got all things IL
readiness for speedy departure.
On my wav up met Carrie inst emer
ging from her room, arrayed in he
Ijaunty riding habit, and 1 could hea
Fred's deep tones shouting "Whoa !!
down In the yard below.
watched ber trip down the stair
and out OF sight, thinking that 1t wa
the last time | should see her fur years
perhaps forever.
When l had strapped the last buckl
on my satchel and all was In readines,
I went down to say goodbye to fathe
mother and Lila. Lila was not indoor,
and my parents looked at ME in amaze