The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-28
EARLY ROMANCE.

1t was the afternoon Of perfect June
day. -Four Of us-Hemmingway, Mac, the
doctor and mysslf-hsd been out since
early morning in the woods along the river
bank, fishing little. eating great deal,
drinking claret punch in reasonable quunti-
ties, and filling in the interludes with
friendly sarcasms and an innocuous sort Of
penny-ante, the former of which, if they
were not genuinely witty, were at least suf-
ficlent to induce plenty Of good-natured
laughter, as such JOKES at such times will.
By-and-by. when it grew later, the doctor
and myself. who are not fond of the coarser
details of camp life. made an excuse of
getting things together. and went over and
sat down on the edge of the bluff to look at
the west, where the redfaced old sun. drunk
with wine from his own vintage. was pre-
pairing to go to bed with his Sunday clothes
on. Hemingway and Mac meanwhile put
in the team and made ready TO start After
a little we heard them calling US.
Doc and the professor think they are
guests" said Mac to Hemingway. in a
loudly confidential tone as we drew nearer.
Oet it be explained here that | am not
pr0fessor-a slight brevity Of vision. which
has induced ME to put on glasses in the hey
day of life, being my sole pretense TO that
dgniIy.)
Hemingway replied to Macs remark by
observing that he guessed as much'-this
brief dialogue being a fair sample of the
harmless variety Of wit INDUCED in by these
gentlemen. Neither the doctor nor myself
saw fit 10 notice the thrust, and we were
soon on the way.
The doctor drove. BE said he would take
us home by new and better road. II proved
to be about the worst road wa had ever
seen. Hemingway SAID the farmers had
heen improving it. Mac answered, as he
lodged from side to side to avoid a sudden
and violent death, that one more such a
mendng would render 1t impossible. BY
and by we reached a bit Of unimproved
road, and rolled along smoothly. We were
inclined To be trtle bit hilarious at first as
We bowed along through the balmy evening.
The wheat was Just Pipe, and in some places
they were emitting, the led and blue shirts
OIL the harYesters combining pleasantly with
the straw gold Of the fields. Green woods
ran around most OF these fields, and here
and there farmhouse stood in the edge Of
the timber with the yellow grain crOwdlng
up close TO its gates. The meadows every
where were green, with little shadow waves
running over them, and larks aud quais
calling 10 each other from their nests.
1t bad been late spring, and the young
corn was not very large, but it was dark
and fTesh-oOklng, and its straight rows,
that one could sight through in at least
eight different directions. added something
to the harmony of our landscape
Gradually the riot0us spirit within US
moderated. until all four were silent at one
time l was beginning to feel a tri1e sad
in the thought that in hundred years
more, perhaps, other parties of four might
be driving home through the cool evening.
complaining of the roads and breathing in
the sweet incense of life, just as we were
doing, while we should have become but
handful of forgotten dust, when all at once
Hemingway began TO sing. Hemingway
really has very good voice, and the song
was sweet old air which we all knew.
SO the doctor and | joined Ia aud spoiled
it. Then there was another interval of
silence, which Mae was first TO break. Mac
is 80 and married. He also writes good
verses sometimes-yerses that most editors
are more willing 10 publish than to pay for.
That song" he said, refectiyely, re
wives very tender Tecollecti0n-the ten
derest recollection OF my life" he added,
with cnnsideTabl feeling.
Tell us about it, Mac; tell US your story"
we chorused, and leaned back comfortably
to listen.
There isn't much to TELL" said Mac,
slowly, and speaking as one who drifts
back among day dreams Of forgotten sum-
mers. Il was a boy when it began-abOdt
Is, l think. There was a lady and her
daughter who came to our house on a visit.
The daughter was about IA. but well de-
NclODbu, anu To me Ollo VI the NiOSt DcdQLt-
full creatures on earth. l fell madly in love
with her at once-a boys love is purer and
better in every way than it ever Is after
ward. | lost whole nights of sleep and
would have walked miles over bad roads.
worse than any Doc has dragged us over
to-day, to have kissed the hem of her gar
ment."
at this point in the narrative Hemming-
way, who is confirmed bachelor, at first
looked somewhat skeptieal, but becoming
suddenly enthusiastic, cried. warmly:
Good for you, Mac. Go on. old man."
The doctor was vi5iblY affected. For my
self. looked hard at the sunset and list
ened.
II was large for my age" proceeded Mae,
''bu. awkward and wobbly. like a day-old
colt. She patronized me- and when l al
tempted to become sentimental. snubbed
and guyed me Numerically. But some
times in the evening she would sing that
song that Hemingway was singing just
now. She had fresh sweet voice, and |
had picked UP some cords on the guitar, so
we made music together, and the moments
were to me like taste of paradise. When
she went away at last with her mother |
was inconsolabe. got used to it by and
by, but never forgot her. did not meet
her again for years."
And did the old flame revive, Mac, when
you met again? Did you renew the
romance of your youth?"
and more beautiful, l thought, and more
fascinating than ever l loved her as ten
derby as before, not only that, but my pas
sion was now returned. She snubDed me
no longer. | was In heaven. For a month
we lived in halo OF perfect bliss. We sang
over The old songs. and relieved our youth
in the glory of rlpened love-"
just at this moment [ happened to catch
Hemmngway's eye, and there was look
that made me wonder if he had had his
romance too. He did not offer any CON-
ment. however. and we sat waiting silently
for Macs conclusion.
''Well, OF course, it could not last" he
continued. after an inexpensive pause; 'ft
could not iast-it never does, you know,
except In the books"
why, Mac? Why couldn't it last?" l
was unable tc restrain myself any longer.
Nv ny didn't you marry her at once, then
and there %
And Mac. looking ont over the fields to
the west, in quiet, half-tender, nalf-quiz-
zieal voice, answered. Il did"
ATRFRT BIGFTOw p ATNE