The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-11
AN OLD MANS STORY.

Ernest MoorCi scholar, philosopher,
Christian, was out of harmony with him.
self. He was 20 years old and preparing
to be minister of the gospel. The worst
of it was that he had not friend to whom
he could unbosom himself His dignity
would not permit it. Without a mother
or sister and perplexed about the woman
whom he had imagined he should like to
make a closer friend-what could he dor
There had been misunderstanding be-
tween them. In his heart warred passion,
resentment, tenderness and self respect.
He looked in his mirror, and he saw
his troubled face he soliloquized, with
all the philosophers and philanthropies Of
the world am oblivious to them and con-
founded by one little, wotnanl Life is q
labyrinth
He relnembe an acquaintance an old
man, a minister like himself, but at the
other end of the er1spperannuated.
A man who knew hi1n'said of Emerson
that he was the fiaest gentleman in the
world, not because his rnannerslIad the fin
ish of the drawing room--though it had 8
polish of it's own-but because of the ex-
quisite hospitality of the man. He always
received you as if he had been waiting all
his life for you - =,
Something like that was the manner OF
Rev. Mr.. Strong. He was 80 years old, :
and lie would assure you, with serene
smile, that 'every third thought was Of
his grave"
But two-thirds of his thoughts wers
wise precepts, resulting from his wide ex-
perience His life had been well spent
and in his age he had lost only what can
be well spared. Greeting his young Wis
itor, he exerted all his charm of welcome
and artfully led Mr.. Moore to express him
self. In few minutes the young man be-
trayed his mental uneasiness, but his COM
panion did not press for an exact confess
sion. He knew how often q man grows
confidential to regret it afterward. But
the wise old man wished to offer help. He
unused, what at his age is most likely to
trouble him?' and after brief reflection he
said to himself, Woman His face took
on self derisive smile as he said aloud:
''Forgivo an old mans egotism. have
been looking over my journal of 80 years
ago, and now you will smilo with incred-
ulity when L tell you that the record is Of
love affair!''
You have kept journal for half cen
turyP''
Eyes; the truth is, have always been
interested in myself
Little touches of frankness like that
made this old man very Iovable.
81 had almost forgotten this episode
and perhaps if had told the story from
memory 1 might have made out better
case for myself. AS some French wit ex-
claims, Where is the man who can bear
TO have his version of an old love affair
compared with the love letters which he
wrote during the experienced? But here
witness against myself
what reused your interest in this af-
fair?''
"AhI What do you think? 1t was this:
went up to D. last week to see my
! e
mencement week were all entertaining, so
1 remained several days. One night as
left the hall after a concert a very pretty
young woman stopped me, and aftor pro-
| nouncing my name and making some po-
! lite remark she said, L am the daughter
J of Wilhelmina Day" I was so surprised
| that my wits somewhat deserted me.
managed to utter, 'Arey you here with your
mother?' She said, No; with my aunt
At that the crowd pushed us asunder, and
| ], in daze walked away, trying in vain
to see her again. Now, Wilhelnina Day
was once my sweetheart. 3"
| 'Ahal'
= eyes, and from the confessional in this
old journal she caused me many vcxa-
tious perplexity. We had been acquainted
J for year or more when we were thrown
in one another's society quite intimately
for week. That week seemed to con-
vince us both that we were made for each
other. proposed marriage She accepted.
/ Well, sir, we were engaged -
! The old man relapsed into reverie,
rather amusing, judging from his twin
king eyes, and the young man showed
keen curiosity, he asked:
''Was it satisfactory, STRIP
tLet me read an extract from my jour
nal. My only apology for this folly is
Thackeray's saying, IF you are never a
! fool, you will never be wise man.. Lis
I ten:
ST trust that Wilhelmina is the gift from
God for which 1 have prayed. She is
handsome and sensible, that L may love
her; she is tall and healthy, to endure the
fatigue of an itinerant life; she is cheerful,
to buoy me up in disappointment; she is
much younger than /, SO that she may be
in vigor to minister to my wants when I
am old; she has a cultivated mind and can
be my intellectual companion Therei
Did you ever hear such concentrated ego
tisn? Too calculating, too analytical for
real love, WASH t It'll? Perhaps all the adj
! vantages were on my side. Wilhelmina
soon showed signs of dissatisfaction. Alas,
when she was fault finding, I grew
naughty. She showed pride; retaliated.
In short, we were soon quarreling like q
pair of unmannerly worldhngs. I became
utterly wretched not because she Tilted
me-which she did at last-but because
sacrificed my self respect. There is no
pain like loss of self respect. Peace Of
mind depends on ones own conduct and
not upon the treatment one receives from
others. then resolved that in all my af-
fairs of love and friendship, let Others act
as they might I would behave like a
Christian gentleman. That was the charm
which guided me through life's labyrinth.
A few years after Wilhelmina's reign
was happily married, but before that joy
Gus contamination I suffered much in
body and mind.
''Can you forgive tho garrulity of an old
man?'' asked Mr.. Strong as he clasped his
guests hand in farewell.
Forgive you? I thank you'll You have
cheered mel" he answered, and as he
! xralI-od bo4,aax7ar3 ha rouSad-