Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-05-17
RECONSTRUCTED.

Il
"Nc youthful romance warmed over
70" middle age, thank you," said Mrs.
Nellie Hunt, with decision, to her niece,
Id.th DAILY. They We're gath ariug crys:
'althcnlums at Mapleton, Mrs. Hunts
pleasant homestead, whe.e her liece
from the west was visiting her.
'Why, auntie, I thought youthful ro-
mapces were the best kind" said the
young girl, shyly. (She had one on
hand herself)
Eyes, dearie, so they are at your age
laying bright blossom against the
girls flushed face. You remember 1
said warmed over"
'Well, auntie, don't see any objec-
ton to having it warmed over it it
We're all it should have been at first
Edith urged. Pm sure mamma thinks
as 1 do, that Maj. Townley is fine
man and would make you Il splendid
husband"
eyes dear, that is un1oubted-sh
told me 80 herself. I think it is a
conspiracy among my friends said the
elder lady, playfully.
Edith buried her chin refectiyely in
a yellow mass of bloom, while her eyes
looked over it into her aunt's still fresh
and not uncomely face.
Il don't want to be inquisitive, auntie
but oh, would so like to know what
separated you long ago." she said, sud-
denly.
Mrs Hunt started a little, then she
smiled. :
I'm afraid it would only spoil the
romance for you," she replied, the
circumstances were so prosaic. Yet
it is the little things of life that go
to make up the important whole. But
I will tell you what you wish to know.
Mai Townley and were schoolmates
when we were young and l cannot re-
member the time when we were not
attached to each other. We graduated
at the same time at the town academy,
where we got little tincture of Latin.
1t is said that "a little learning is
dangerous thing Certainly it was in
our case. After we left school we
kept up our studies together. ono
evening we got into discussion about
certain line of Virgil. We could not
agree about the translation and were
unwise enough to argue the matter
too long and too warmly. Neither
would admit Of being in the wrong.
I he result was that unkind words We're
spoken and our engagement was brok-
en- off. You must remember that we
were both young-1 only Is and he
not yet 81
(Which was in the right?' asked
Edith.
II do not know, dear. I never even
looked the matter up. / think we were
both sorry, but we would not acknowi-
edge it, so we took separate roads, and
now we are both middle-aged, prosalc
and I, at least, am a little gray. AS
for the major, have not seen him for
years"
Mrs. Hunt had been widow for
some years and the gentleman in ques-
ton had lost his wife couple of years
before, so that mutual friends, knowing
of their former roma ice, had been,
DerhaDs, a little too otficio:ls in their
efforts to effect q: reconciliation. They
argued that time brings wisdom and
it was presumably that in the light of
a score of years they had lamentctl the
impetuosity of youth which had barred
the way to satisfactory explanation.
IL IL
Three months afterwarfl, one dreary
December day, there was a storm very
nearly akin to blizzard raging in
the Western states. The air was laden
with sleet that seemed armed with
needles, and carried by the gale with
force and rapidity that threatened
to impede loco,notion. Travel was sus-
pended and telegraph wires We're down.
On A snow-bound train in Indiana we
find our friend Mrs. Hunt, who had been
summoned by telegraph to the bedside
of her sick sister and had run right
into the teeth Of the approaching storm.
Six hours ago the huge iron horse had
halted in sheer encouragement, and the
snow banks might have been walls OF
adamant separating the belated travel
ers from their homes. Apprehension
was followed by anxiety as night set
tied down on the weird. white scene.
A SQUAD Of laborers. brought into
strong relief against the white back
ground by the headlight Of the engine,
worked vigorously in the biting blast.
The blockade had occurred near vii
lage and through the storm the glim-
mering of friendly lights told Of rural
peace and plenty, cheering if unattaina-
BILE.
But as the hours wore away even
those disappeared and left the night a
prey to snow and cold and sleet and
bowling winds. Within the Car there
was a growing sense of cold physically
and foreboding thoughts. mentally.
Mrs. Hunt thought sadly Of her sis
ter; perhaps she would die, not know
ing how near her Nellie was. and tears
forced themselves through the closed
eyelids. A child's cough was heard in
the car What a place for a sick baby!
She promptly rendered her assistance,
and in helping another in trouble for
got her own discomfort and anxieties.
The night wore away, as nights will,
however uncomfortable, and as old Sol
condescended to favor the travellers
with his smile answering smiles seemed
less difficult. 1t was white, trackless
world the sun looked down upon-very
cold and forbidding in its beauty, and
conveying to Mrs. Hunt that sense Of
breadth. of wide, level distances, which
always strike New Highlander with a
sense Of surprise when the plsliries are
,nor for tho first time Soon there