Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-01-17
THE LEAF OF GER, MUM.

THE LEAF OF GER, MUM.
1t Is very strange, when we come tC
think of 1t, on what small cogs and
pivOts the wheels of fate run, and what
slight Jar will do towards changing
the whole machinery and set it to run
ming IN an entirely different direction.
1t was a gerapium leaf that altered the
whole course OF nay life. But for the
trivial leaf picked by young girl in a
thougEtless mood / should not be sit
ting here to-day in this pleasant dining
room. where the sun comes in nIroup b
the yine-wreathed xin5oWs and falls
upon the geIaDium pots inside and
this little girl would not be upon my
knee, nor yonder red-cheeked maiden
on the yeraDdah with youBg Smithers /;
and neither would that very handsome
matTon who Just passed INTO the psIlOr
have been in her present situation.
II you Will listen an hOnr or so. 1
Will tell yon my story. 1t was Just
twenty years ago This summer that
married Carrie Dean. She was twenty
one and l was twenty-seven-both old
enough to know what We meant and
what we were about-at least 1 was,
but Carrle was such coquette that
used 10 think she had no mind Of her
own.
Oh, but she was lovely All rose
colored and white and brown tressed,
and pearly teethed, with the roundest,
plumpest figure, as graceful as a fairy
IN every movement. and with beautiful,
shapely hands that were a constant de-
light to the eyes.
l was Just home from college and she
was on visit to my stepmoiher. her
aunt, and my half sister Lila, and her
coIisin.
1 have seen a good many girls is my
seven years at college, and some OF the
bellies of the land but I had never yet
had my heart stirred by any woman's
eyes as Carrie Dean stirred il when nv
eyes met hers in greeting (; and the
touch OF her soft fingers completely set
me afioat Oh the sea OF love.
Was her slave from that hour-not
her slave, either, but her passionate
lover and worshipper. And of course
she knew 1t, and of course, beng a
finished coquette, she queened it over
me right royalty.
There was Fred Town. the country
physician, and Tom Drlano, the hand
some young farmer, both as badly of
as 1 was eliG petty time We bad of ii.
Fred and I-old chuns il former
days-weTe at swords' points now, and
hated each other splendidly for a few
weeks. And Tom held in the utmost
contempt, and raIled at them both when
ever Opportunity presented itself, for
Games edIficatlon. after the manner
of men, and was repaid by seeing her
bestow her sweetest smiles ami glances
upon them the hext time they met.
Fred drove a splendid spau OF bays,
and almost every day they dashed up
the avenue, anu dashed out again with
Miss Carries added weight. And Tom
was on hand nearly every evening, aud
she was Just as sweet to one as the
o:her, and just the same to ne ana
that Was what maddened lne.
1 WAS not 10 be satisfied with
widows third" by any means, and l
told her so at last, and asked her how
the matter was 10 toe settled.
Hove you better than those brain
less tops know bow to love. l said,
hotly land Low decide between us.
Sue had listened to my love coufes-
sion with blushng cheeks and down
cast eyes but when L SAID this she
turned detantly on me.
They are no more tops than you
are, she said, even If they have not
spent seven Years IN college Tney are
gentlemen and can't say that Tor every
man OF my acquaintance.
And here she shut the door between
us with slam and left me to my pleas
ant medita;ions, ana half an hour latei
L NIT her at the gate with Fred, going
out tor a nde, which WAS very aggraya-
ting, L must confess.
1 thought over my conduct that night,
and concluded that had been d brute.
The next morning L found Carrie at the
diElng room winuow alone and sought
her side. She had her hand among the
leaves of a sweet-scented geranlllIn, ana
Just as approached she plueked a leal
and twined 1t anG ng her braIds. l re-
member how bright and green 1t looked
among the dark locks.
Carrie" began, Il fear was very
rude Yesterday"
Il know you were," she said. looking
lndifferentiy out of the widow.
This was bad beginning, but l went
on
But, Carrie, l love you so, and when
l see you with that Fred"
But here Miss Carrie turned on her
heel.
81 am not going to listen to you
while you slander my friends, she
said. when you can speak respect
fully of Mr.. Town, l will return )" ana
here she lett me again.
4 left the house then, and did not re-
turn TIL afternoon. As come up the
path | met Tom Delano. Poor fellow,
he Looked like the last rose of summer
after ralu.
.'Good-bye," " hesaid, gloomily I'm
gong away. She has sent me Oh, and
[ can stay IN the place. L hope you
are the happy oEe-I do, honestly, Al.
She said her heart was gwen to another,
and it's either you OF Fred. 1 hope Ii
is you, anu God bless you y
Here Tom dashed away and left me
staring after him IL amazement.
s.Glyen her heart TO another !" l re
peated, with pam in my chest soms-
where. "Well, 1t is evident that / am
not the other, and that Fred is. Poor
Tom-poor mel the best thing 1 can
do is to follow suit and leaye TOO. L
can never see her the wife of another,
and the sooner / am OFF the better"
So I went moodily up to my room