Gloucester County Democrat., 1893-02-16

rnan her Henry. OF course there was a
quarrel, and after that dared not sus-
pect even in my own mind that Henry
was not an Apollo, and if was exhausted
in preparing for the wedding l was
afraid to heave a sigh.
81 just fastened smile on my face
and kept it there till all was over.
When I took it off after they were gone
papa said I looked like ghost in my
own house. He offered to take me
somewhere, but know pleasure resorts
are places of martyrdom to him. His
idea of recreation is to go fishing with
lot of men and dress like an aborigine.
So told him if he could persuade Miss
Brown to be my chaperon she and I
would cut a swath. Of course she
couldn't leave her sister and the chill
dren, but whirled her off before she had
time to resign herself to stay at home.
"When we left we were absolutely
ifeless-she with overworlz, with en-
nui. We went south to the gulf. We
were quite too listless to think. If some
one would plan out day, even an hour,
for us, we were happy. One of us would
say to the other:
"'What are you going to doY
$50 haven't decided. What will you
dor
"I haven't made up my mind
"sI believe I'll walk on the pier and
wait for an idea.'
"Oh, then, SO will l.
"There were men about too. One
perhaps forty years old-took fancy to
me. They teased me about him, and I
hadn't even ambition to retaliate-just
let them tease. AT first I had q mild in
tention of transferring him to Miss
Brown (they would have made nice
match), but it proved too much trouble.
He would do anything for me and moth
ing for her, and we needed some man to
devise amusement and do the talking
for us. He tried to make us promise to
return some time, although we hadn't
spoken Of going. He persisted in trying
to make us promise, and we were too
inert to oppose him. So one day when
he was out in boat we stepped on board
steamboat and went up to North Car
olina.
Beautiful countryl Oh, the flowers
on tie North Carolina hillsl began to
appreciate the scenery, and Miss Brown
became so sprightly she alarmed me. I
told her if she couldn't help growing
younger SO fast I should have to send
home for an older chaperon. Then we
drifted about to other places-Sparkling
Springs last and longest. We staid at
private hotel-fne old southern house
in perfect preservation-magnolias and
cape jasmine and pickaninnies. While
I think of it let me warn you If you ever
go south be careful. You will think
every man you meet is in love with you
they are all so devoted.
tThere was one man at our hotel.
When say a man mean one who takes
your breath away There were plenty
of apologies for men and several women
worth looking at. There was o young
widow with pensive air and reper-
tory Of touching illusions to her dear
husband, which were very fetching.
She had more men about her than any
woman in the house; in fact, she could
command all of them except the one
spoke Of.
"When | arrived he was dancing a
good natured attendance on a young ma
tron unhappily married and exceedingly
pretty, infantile type, theatrical tend
ency to pose. She had wrapped her
self about him like vine and gave him
daily bulletins Of her troubles. Just
think of It'll How can woman? And
what did that man do but come and re-
peat all her condolences to mel
DO not tell me- would beg. 4 do
not care to hear her private affairs
Neither do l, he would laugh. Z
think you might share the burden of
woe which she thrusts upon me-
"After came perhaps he neglected
her or broke some of the tendrils she had
fastened upon him. It was only natural
that he should show me about little,
all the other men being occupied with
the widow. He was merely trying to
keep me from stagnation, I'm sure. 1t
was absurd for her to grow jealous, but
she did, and she married woman! Visi-
bly, iealousI Perfectly preposterous. es-