Smyrna times., 1892-09-07
YOUTHFUL FOLLY.
BY C. H. THAYER.

ladder, has turned your head"
oh, could we not have such a lad
der?"
What would become of your trair
and long white vel, and maid of. honor
and six bridesmaids ?"
Il would willingly exchange them
all for a rOpe-ladder. A little romance
Is worth twenty simpering brides
maids. They always do simper. Ar.
thur"
Now, my darling, we could NOT
manage that rOpe-ladder business. bnt
| will run away with you any moment
if you say So"
"Will you, really ?"
Certainly, you delicious little goose
tomorrow, even"
"Oh, how sweet! If our parents
were only cruel it would be more in.
teresting, but they are so dreadfulIv
kind !" >
Only they oppose our marrying at
present." -
Yes, that is very unreasonable. Oh
Arthur, the papers will call it An
Elopement in High Life! Arthur
stanton and Minnie Tracey, q and 16
years of age, ran away to'-oh. wbere
snail we run ?"
Some place in Indiana migbtdon
why, Arthur, that is where thew on
to get unmarried, not married What
a dreadful idea ~ p" N"'
We'll, choose the place yourselfand
l will agree" -"
oh, dear! Even in romance we
have to make cOld-blooded calcula-
uons. But | will go and visit Cousin
Dora, IN Chicago, and you must meet
me somewhere. Then we will Av nm
wings of love to some small town in
Wisconsin, where we can nick wild
| will be I" ~
But, my dear, I never was much of
a hand to pick wild flowers. even
Tor little while. And all day long"-
Ihen you can smoke, while / do
the picking. Mamma says if a man
only has cigar, he would sit content-
edly on a cake of ice until it was no
longer there"
That is a mere figure of speech
dear, but no matter! Our wedding
trip must be short, because | have
spent my months allowance, with the
exception of 500"
But have $50 that Uncle James
gave me, and $50 is a good deal of
money"
Not exactly y extraVagant for a wed.
ding trip, little girl. But when will
you go to Dora's ?"
Tomorrow morning. In the after
noon I'll manage to meet YOU in Lin.
coin Park, near the bear pit"
That is not a very romantic trvst.
ing place, my dear"
But like to see the bears -
Very we'll" And so it was settled
IL was true that nothing remarks able
mad occurred in the experience ofthese
young people, who had been lovers
from early childhood. Sentimental
little Minnie chafed in conseouence
signing for an adventure like Amandais
or Melissa's. She was delighted with
the idea of en- elOpement, and fed in
nigh spirits, with her lover, to a small
town in Wisconsin.
The morning after their marriage
they went merrily to field where the
wild howers were waiting to be gath
cred. Arthur smoked three cigars
while Minnie picked flowers. and then
the sun became exceedingly oppres.
sive
What time is it 2" she asked.
Ten O'Clock, dear and they both
Yawned.
Pick ing wild flowers as a steady EN-
plOyment soon lost its charm. and
after two days Minnie was quite ready
TO maze the return trip. But when |
Arthur introduced his young wife TO |
his astOnished family he looked more |
shametaced than elated. They were
very kind, however, and treated the |
young couple as If they had lust done |
judicious instead of a very sillv |
thing.
The bride found her romance disap-
pointing. She was childish even for |
| er age, and would have appreciated a
big doll far more than a big husband. |
She dropped and pined, and Mrs. Stan
too found her one day crying as if her
heart would break.
What is the matter, my dear. she
kindly inquired.
II want mother" she sobbed, land
l want to go to school again and have
a good time.
1T is possible you do not love your
husband, Minnie?"
"Yes, bat not as well as mamma -
You shall go back to your mamma.
then"
After much consultation it was de-
cided to send Minnie to school and
Arthur abroad for three wears. when
their friends hoped they would renew
their married life in a more rational
manner.
The dissatisfied wife was very bappv
as a schoolgirl once more, particularly
when she found herself regarded as
quite heroine. She saw the older
pupils point her out to all newcomers.
and knew very we'll what was whis.
pered into their awe-struck ears. She
enjoyed the sensation exceedingly
while her Ghildishness remained and
after she grew older, and the more del.
leate sensitiveness of a woman revealed
itself, the fact of a married pupil in the
school had ceased to be novelty. or
matter of especial interest.
Two years passed awav. and than
Minnie wanted to travel awhile
Arthur" she said, twill think me a
perfect ignOramus when he returns. If
= ANb oOO q AlbNlb VI bub WOrlO. too. ~ |
Her parents finally concluded to let
her accompany lady who was about
TO take several young girls for a trip
Europe. 1t was to last a wear
and Minnie was delighted, ENJOYING
everything with all freshness and en-
thusiasm of youth.
The year glided by even faster than
The two previous ones, and although
Minnie and Arthur had passed each
other more than once in the street.
they neither of them suspected it. She
had changed from a pretty Uniformed
girl into lovely woman, carrying her
self with unusual ease and grace; while
Arthur, who went away beardless
boy. had become a bronzed. mons.
,ached and foreign looking gentleman.
Mr.. and Mrs. Tracy, met their
laughter in New York on her return.
Intending to remain there o week.
Cne day as she entered street car.
'he found II fql |, and prepared to sup
port herself with the aggravating assis-
.ance of a strap. But a gentleman
Immediately sprang up and offered her (
MS seat. She blushed and bowed,
starting inyoluntariIy as she met his
eyes.