The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-03-25

Age, with wintry smile the mourner
And, With : wintry smile the mourner
And with high sounding phrase Of
deeds not years"
Yet while listed with duh, sad belief,
do not love thee. Time.
Abbie r. Judd.
| THEGERANIUM LEAF.
It IS very strange, when we come to
think about it. on what small cogs and
piv0ts the wheels OF fate turn, and
what slight jar will do toward chang
ing the whole machinery, and set it to
turning in an entirely different direc-
tion.
It was geranium-leaf that altered
the whole course Of my life; but for the
trivial leaf, picked By young girl in q
thoughtless mood. should not be sit
ting here to-day in this pleasant dining
room, where the sun comes in through
the vine-wreathcd windows and falls
upon the geranium-pots inside; and
this little girl would not be upon my
knee, nor yonder red-cheeked maiden
on the veranda with young Smithers;
and neither would that very handsome
matron who just passed into the parlor
have been in her present situation.
II you will listen an hour or SO will
tell you my story. It was just twenty
years ago this summer that I fell in
love with Carrie Dean. She was TWEEN
ty-one and twentv-seven-bo.h old
enough to know Whist we meant and
what We were about, at least 1 was.
but Carrie was such little coquette
that used to think she had no mind
Of her own.
Oh, but she was lovely! all rose-col-
ored and white. and brown tressed.
and pearly-teethed, with the ronndest.
plumpest figure, As graceful as fairy
in every movement, and with beautiful
shapely hands that were constant de-
light to the eyes. / was just home
from college, and she was on . visit to
my step-mother, her aunt, and my half
sister, Lila, and her cousin. had
seen . good many girls in my seven
years in college, and some Of the bellies
of the land; but had never yet had
my heart stirred by anv woman's eyes
as Carrie Dean stirred it when her
glance met mine in greeting; and the
touch Of her soft fingers completely set
me afloat on the sea of love.
was her slave from that hour not
her slave either, but her passionate low
cr and worshipper. And. of course,
she knew it-and, of course, being a
finished little flirt. she queened it over
me right royalty.
There was Fred Town. the country
physician, and Tom DelanO, the hand
some young farmer, both as badly of
| rs was; and pretty time we had Ot
it. Fred and I-old chums in former
days-were at swords points now, and
hated each other splendidly for few
weeks. And Tom held in the utmost
contempt, and rallied at them both
whenever opportunity presented itself.
for Carrie $ editication, after the man.
ner of men, and was repaid by seeing
her bestOw 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 avenue and dashed out again with
Miss Carries added weight. Aud Tom
was on hand nearly evening, and she
was just 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 '.widow's thirds.' by
any means, and told her SO at last,
and asked her how the matter was to
be settled.
Il love you better than those brain.
less fops know how to love- said
holly. ..And now decide between u.s.
She had listened to my love confess
ion with blushing cheeks and dOwncasl
eyes: but when said this she turned
defiantly on me.
"They are no more fops than you
are, she said. ''even if they have no,
spent seven years in college. They
arc gentlemen. and lean t say that fol
every man Of my acquaintance
And here she shut the door between
US with = slam, and left me to my
pleasant reflections; and half an hour
later met her at the gate with Fred
going out for y ride, which was very
aggravating. must confess. thought
over my conduct that night, and con
cluded | had been brute.
| The next morning found Carrie al
the dining-room window, alone and
sought her side. She had her hand.
among the leaves of sweet-scenteC
geranium, and just as | approached
she plucked leaf add twined it among
her braids. l remember just how
bright and green it looked among hel
dark locks.
Carrie. | began. u fear was
very rude yesterday
Il know you were." she said. look
ing indifferently out Of the window.
| This was a bad beginning, but wen,
but. Carrie, l love you SO, anc
when see You with that Fred
Here Miss Carrie turned on her heel
Il am not going to listen to you
while You slander my friends" sh.
said. when you can speak respect
fully Of Mr.. Town / will return;' and
she left me again.
left the house then, and did not re
turn till afternoon. As / came up the
path met Tom Delano. Poor fellow
He looked like the last rose of sum
Mer after rain.
''Good-by, old fellow!' he sale
gloomily. I'm going away. She ha.
sent me of, and ! cant stay in tn,
place. hopc you are the happy on,
II do. honestly, AL. She said he1
heart was given to another. and it,
either you or Fred. | hope it is you
and God bless you!''
Here Tom dashed away, and left m,
staring after him in amazement.
"Given her heart to another!" Ire
peated with great pain in my ches
somewhere. well, IL is evident tha
I am not that other. and that Fred is