The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-06-14
TWO LOVERS.

Ollc BY NLOSSlilti Gay Ol August, not
many years ago, o party OF four con
sisting OF Joe Barrett and his wife,
their most intirlGto friend Phil Somers
and Miss Maud Mortimer, young lady
they hoped he might be induced to
consider the future happiness of his
existence stood quite alone upon 4
marrow strip of sand on the Long Isl
and coast, not far from the great me
tropoiis. Joe Barrett and his wife had
long ago been given over by their rel
atives and friends and the genial cir
Gle of society they adorned, us an old
fashioned couple that prolonged their
honeymoon TO a most unprecedented
and unhcard OF period. They had late
ly celebrated their silver wedding, and
Tor the amusement Of Others and the
romance for themselves would have
gone through with the original cere-
mony again had IL not been for seri-
Gus obstacle. The Clergyman was still
alive and vigorous for his years, and
Phil Somels, Joes best man at his
his pale pretty little bridemaid had
vanished long ago off the face of the
earth, and become one of that shad-
Owy band to which I'VE call and they
ansMer not again.
There was arumor that ii she had
lived she would have become the wife
Of Phil Somers, thus making the hap
piness OF the four complete. 1t was cur
rently believed that because OF this
tender and romantic episode of his
life Phil Somers had remained bach
elor Ii his younger days this appar-
cnt halo Of soft regret and unappeas-
able longing lent melancholy grace
TO his already pleasing exterior, and
many damsel endeavored to console
him. But although he was gentle
and even chivalric to all womankind,
he remained to all matrimonial intents
and purposes unconsoled.
And here he was, bachelor still,
fifty years old, getting rather grizzled
about the temples and crowfooted
about the eyes, bronzed by his partial
ity for the open air, thin, but muscu-
lar, tall, but straight; while Joe Bar
rett and his wife might pass for fat,
fair and forty" though they were not
SO many years Phil's Juniors.
And here they were, plotting as
lively as ever for Pills connubial
bliss The present victim of their tolls,
although no longer in her first youth,
would have seemed SO in any other
light but the critical one of sun against
sand; and now that thick bands of
gray clouds lay heavily across the sky,
tempering the brilliancy of the SUMS
rays, and the young lady had pulled
her veil about the outlines of her face,
Miss Mortimer seemed at the heyday
of her charms.
While waiting for dinner, which
was in process of preparation in a
long, low hostelry q dozen furlongs or
so inland, they had strolled down to
the waters edge, and, true to the plan
in hand, Joe Barrett had pulled his
wife's chubby hand through his arm,
and trotted her away from Phil and
the young lady.
Lets leave them alone together for
a short time" said Joe. 1T seems a
propitious time for love making, and /
hope something will come of today's
trip, Polly. Pm getting awfully tired
of working like a pack horse for Phil's
happiness" :,
While strolling along they indulg-
ed in a spirited conversation about
Phil and the matrimonial projects in
which they had been engaged on his
account. At last Joe remarked, look
ing fondly at his wife:
I'D be the happiest fellow in the
world if Phil could be happy, too"
His wife shook his arm impatiently.
''See here, Joe," she said, II think
you are absurd about Phil Somers,
and you may as well understand once
for all that if this thing falls through
I'm not going to bother about his mar
rying at all. It's none of your bust
ness or mine. l don't believe he wants
to marry, anyway. Some natures are
so constituted that they can only love
once, and / believe all the love Phil
had to give any one was squandered
long ago on our dear little bridemaid.
After all, there's something very sweet
and touching in his remaining
faithful to the one memory all these
years.
Joe shifted uneasily from one foot
to the other. He picked up stone
and sent it savagely whirring over the
water.
polly" lie said, II think I'll take a
plunge into the sea. 1t will tone me
up, and give me an appetite for din
ner. There's bathing suit in one of
the little cribs behind us. 1 won't stay
in long, Polly"
He gave his wife o tender squeeze,
looked down upon her with an ex-
preston that seemed to say he'd kiss
her if it wouldn't shock Miss Morti-
mer's sense of propriety, ran up to the
bathhouse, and, to the surprise of Phil
and Miss Mortimer, presently disap-
peared in huge green wave that COW
cred them with its spray.
Joe is regular water dog" said
Phil.
Miss Mortimer made no reply. She
had not come to the seashore that day
to listen to laudations of Joe Barrett
and his wife. Miss Mortimer felt that
she had no time to lose, and was re-