The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1894-07-13
A Twentieth Century Romance
By ErFIE W. MERRIMAN.
copyright, 1894 by American Press Associa
toni
lCHAPTER Ill, CONTINUED. ]

ltHAIIEK Ill, CONTINUED.
Harold looked at the thin figure, tn,
wIinkled face and the toothless mouth
then recalled the handsome young tel
low he had seen in the glass only tina
morning and decided that ii would b,
hard indeed.
"Well, she said when he had made
known his Grand what do you mos1
want to know"
''How do people manage to eat?" he
asked. "I'm getting deucedly hungry.
Don't you know of nice place where a
fellow can get roast beef, and mince pie,
and cranberry jelly, and good cup of
coffee, and a few such trifles?' Harold s
mouth watered as he asked the question.
He felt that he had great deal to do
to make up for all the good things of
life which he had lost while sleeping.
my dear SIR exclaimed the old
lady. placing u restraining hand on his
arm, 81 beg you will not mention such
things again. 1t makes me quite faint.
Remember that am not so young as
Office was"
Are you hungry" asked Harold
kindly. He could think of no other rea-
son why any one should become faint
from hearing such things as roast beef
and mince pie talked about. SIS there
restaurant near?"
"A restaurantl' The old lady burst
into peal of laughter. sob, " she
gasped, you take me back to the days
Of my childhood! Oh, it is SO funny!
Mary, Mary, come here momentl"
A young woman entered the room and
stood beside the old lady's chair. She
was fully 6 feet tall and must have
weighed 900 pounds, yet she was not
feshy. Harold thought she must be a
female prizetghter and wondered if the
old lady had sent for her for protection.
"What is it, grandma" she asked
pleasantly.
This young man wishes to be direct
ed to restaurant. Now, are you will
ing to believe that such things existed
In my day."
"Oh, SIR" said Mary, turning to
Harold, "did you ever eat before any
one?'
II did," replied Harold, land I
should like to do it again. I hoped ]
might at least get cup Of coffee here. y
Il used to eat such things 70 OF 80
years ago." said the old lady, "but
shudder now to think of it. You will,
too, when you become used to the new
way
at eluJJor NOM 70 tb;p1, ,of I; 70 wv; tb
out eating" replied Harold, with fee
BILE smile. II think" he added, ''that
I shall not be successful in an attempt
to live on air and water"
''You must go to a physician as soon
as possible, said the old lady. "He
will make an examination and tell you
what chemical elements are necessary
to keep your system in good working
order. He will also tell you how much
Of each should be taken and how often.
On every corner you will see shops
where these foods are for sale. Every
one prepares them for one's self, and nca
one thinks of taking his neighbor into
his confidence as to his SYSTEMS de-
mands. Oh, Mary, think how folks
would laugh to hear me make these ex.
plantations"
The old lady burst into another peal
of laughter, which Harold found ex-
tremely irritating. He did not smile.
Neither did Mary, and for a moment he
felt grateful to her, but only for a mo-
ment.
II think such innocence is charm
ing" he heard Mary say in an under
tone to the old lady. Such beautiful
boy should not be allowed to take care
OF himself. 1t isn't safe. l propose tc
take care of him. 1t ism conventional,
/ know, but hang cOnventionalities!'
''She uses slang like man, though!
Harold. What next, l wonder?'
Harold began to be somewhat alarmed. |
Did this amazon propose to send him to
lunatic asylum! He wondered If he
could outrun her should she pursue him.
Before he had decided as to what he
had better do Mary came to his side
and took his hand in hers.
MY DEAR she said tenderly, 81
know that what l am about to say may
seem little premature, but am ami
mated by thoughts of your welfare as
we'll as my own qualification. Love is
not measured by hours, but by heart
throbs. Should know you a hundred
years l could not love you more sincere
ly. Will you be miner promise to
care for you most tenderly.
You promise to-good Lord, deliver
us! What is the woman talking about!'
II know this must seem sudden tG
you. You have not yet learned to know
your heart, but you are so young and
inexperienced-at least SO inexperi-