Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1895-05-31
miscellaneous.
PUPPY LOVE.

was nineteen, and pretty Lois Tan.
ner was three years my junior, Sweet
sixteen Is there in all this world any
thing sweeter ? There may be other
sweet sixteens, but the comparative de-
gree of the adjective in this connection
has grown rusty from long disuse, and
sweet sixteen remains positive in kind
and superlative in degree.
And Lois Tanner was sixteen.
From the first day of our meeting
we were the children of wealthy parents
and were summerinS by the sea-some
intangible influence, some inexplioable
force seemed to draw us to each other
and to run the lines of our lives parallel.
For two years we had known each other,
and one day-it was the third summer
after our meeting-we sat on the rocks
by the shore, and as the waves beat in
rhythmic measures upon the silver sand
stretching out at our feet | looked into
her sweet blue eyes and knew that La
chests, as she drew two threads from
Clotho's spindle, was twisting them into
one cord, forever indivisible.
In early youth how far the eyes, un.
dimmed by years, can see into the future,
and how keen is young love to decipher
the handwriting on the wall
"Lois," said as we sat there in the
fading twilight" do you know how long
wo have known each ether p
'Does it seem long, Mr.. Beldon ?"
she replied, with a coy little smile
ut has been two entire years, Miss
Tanner" said l, falling into her mock
formality of manner
"And one learns a great deal in two
years." she added.
"In one direction | have learned moth.
ing, Lois" said, with quietness
did not feel.
"Why, jack" she exclaimed, al
don't see how you could stand still"
"Rut l have" insisted.
"Now 2" and her eyes looked her
guilelessness.
"In loving you, Lois" broke forth,
6" couldn't love you any more in thou
sand years than | loved you after our
first meeting"
"Oh, jack" she cried nervously,
"what made you say that 7"
"Why shouldn't | say it p | answered,
with logged resolve not to be put
Down by any woman's whim.
Because, Jack, she said very earn
estly, papa has been saying al along
that you and we're together too much,
and the first thing the family knew there
would be case of puppy love to cure"
"Did your father say that ?" I asked
with the anger showing in my face
ale did, Jack, and he says"
"Well, | don't want to hear what be
says, or has said, or will say" inter-
rupted. "If he says anything like that,
he doesn't know what he is talking about
and hasn't the most remote idea Of what
a man truly in love with the one wo-
man in all the world for him feels"
"He ought to know something about
it" Lois said hesitatingly. "You know,
Jack, he has been married three times :"
That's just it," | growled. "He's
grown callous. He thinks because am
not 100 years old don't know my own
heart and am irresponsible into the bar
gain If it weren't for you, Lois, |
added, amcliorating my wrath to slight
extent, II wouldn't have u man like
he is for my fathef-in-law under any
circumstances
"Papa isn't so awfully bad, Jack"
she said in extenuation of the paternal
weakness.
II never thought he was either until
you told me what you have" | admit
ted But, Lois" and grew hard
again, "you musl know that no father
who regards the future happiness Of his
daughter can take the position he does
and assume to dictate the course of two
lives which in the nature Of things must
be independent Of his"
Papa says your papa said the same
thing and agreed with him thoroughly"
she replied, arguing as women do.
"Lois," said in my firmest tone,
"don't speak to me Of your father again.
If you do, | shall be tempted to do him
some bodily injury"
The dear little woman laid her hand
on my arm restrainingly and smiled
with such irresistible sweetness that |
even forgot the wound my own father
had given me.
"Let it go, DEAR" she pleaded. "They
have forgotten they were ever young"
The shadows were growing into a
deeper purple, and the waves took on
the mellOwer shades Of the evening sky.
The night wind, Just rising, tossed Lois
golden hair about her smooth white FORE
head, and the pink Of the sunset brought
a roster glow to her checks. | brushed
my hand across my eyes and looked into
her face.
"Do you remember what I said few
moments ago p asked, returning to
the previous subject.
"What did you say?' she replied,
trembling little, | thought, for she
surely could not have forgotten so soon
II said, darling"-it was the firsi