Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-03-14
ARGUS
MISCELLANEOUS.
A LEAF OF GERANIUM.

to think about it, on what small
cogs and pivots the wheels of fate
turn, and what slight jar will do
towards changing the whole ma
chinery, and set it turning in an
entirely different direction.
1t was a geranium-leaf that alter
ed the whole course of my life; but
for the trivial leaf, picked by a
young girl in thoughtless mood, |
should not be sitting here to-day in
this pleasant dining-room, where
the sun comes in through the vine
wreathed windows and falls upon
the geranium-pots inside; and this
little girl would not be upon my
knee, nor yonder red-cheeked maiden
on the veranda with young Smith
ers; and neither would that very
handsome matron who just. passed
into the parlor have been in her
present position. If you will listen
an hour or so | will tell you my
story. 1t was just twenty years
ago this summer that ] fell in love
with Carrie Dean. She was twenty
one, and | twenty-seven--both old
enough to know what we meant
and what we were about; at least |
was, but Carrie was such a little
coquett that | used to think she
had no mind of her own.
Oh, but she was lovely!-all rose
colored, and white, and brown-tress-
ed, and pearly-teethed, with the
roundest, plumpest figure, as grace
full as a fairy in every movement
and with beautiful shapely hands
that were constant delight to my
eyes. | was just home from col
lege, and she was on visit to my
step-mother, her aunt, and my half,
sister, Lila, and her cousin. | had
seen a good many girls in my sew
eral years at college, and some OF
the bellies of the land; but | had
never yet had my heart stirred by
any woman's eyes as Carrie Dear
stirred it when her glance me-
mine in greeting; and the touch o.
her soft fingers completely set mi
afloat on the sea of love.
was her slave from that hour
not her slave either, but her pas
sionate lover and worshiper. And
of course, being a finished little
firt, she queened it over me RICH
royalty.
There was Fred Town, the coun
try physician, and Tom Delano, tn
handsome young farmer, both a
badly off as | was; and a prett,
time we had of it. Fred and /
old chums in former days-were a
swords points now, and hated eacl
other for few weeks. And Ton
/ held in the utmost contempt
and rallied at them both wheneve
opportunity presented itself, 70
Carries edification, after the man
ner of men, and was repaid by see
ing her bestow her sweetest smile
and glances upon them the mex
time they met.
Fred drove a splendid span 0
bays, and almost every day the
dashed up the avenue, and dashe
out again with Miss Carries adde
weight. And Tom was on han
nearly every evening, and she wa
Just as sweet to one as the othel
and just the same to me, and tina
was what maddened me. | wa
not to be satisfied with a widow
third by any means, and | told he
so at last, and asked her how tn
matter was to be settled.
81 love you better than thos
brainless tops know how to love-"
said holly; land now decide betwee
u.s."
She had listened to my love-cor
fession with blushing cheeks an
down-cast eyes; but when | sal
this she turned defiantly on me.
"They are no more tops than 20
are," she said, "even if they hay
not spent seven years in college
They are gentlemen, and | can
say that for every man Of my &C
quaintance."
And here she shut the door bt
tween us with slam, and left m
to my pleasant meditations; an
half an hour later | met her at th
gate with Fred, going out for
ride, which was very aggravatine
| must confess. / thought owe
my conduct that night, and cor
cluded that I had been a brut,
The next morning / found CARR
at the dining-room window, alon,
and sought her side.
Her hand was among the leaves q