Smyrna times., 1895-08-07
Eccentricities of Love
BY LOUIS LANDoR FIELDING.

d" Heh was twenty years old | wa
ieIt an orphan, with the care of siste
OF ten, whom loved with all nv heart
IL was no sacrifice when L gave II,
every personal pursuit aud ambition Il
make myself a OmpaniOn and plav
mate to my dear little Jean. for | foun,
more happiness in pleasing her. in
watching the twinkhng of her starry
eyes, the lovely play Of her mobile lips
the rosy flush OF her velVtty cheek
than l could have found in any other
way. 1t hiltd me with the pride of a
young mother TO watch aud assist in
developing the wonderful resources OF
her brain. | had always been stud.
lOus fellow, and vas considered of fair
intellect, believe, hut when Jean was
10 ana l was %, she could defeat me in
any argument With quick ness of wit
and power of logic which amazed me
ana gained my respect and admira-
ton.
About this time | had begun to feel
more than ever the full weight of nv
responsibility, for | realized that 7 not
only had to rear girl, hut an embrvo
genius. L. wa@ quite task for An
oFulhafy young man, but | had the
qualities which all good mothers must
posSess-an unlimited supply of unset
hsn love for tn child and all ,ba
Christian virtues. Excuse nv mod
esty.
Not being hampered by poverty. I
was able to give Jean the best of edu.
cational advantages, and so well did
she make use of them that at the aoe
OF II she was contributor to several
high grade magazines. Added 10 bar
talent was rare beauty. As a copse-
quence, from this time until she was
~, squandered the better part of nv
income IN fleeing from her lovers.
was in mortal dread lest she sbouId
marry some one before she was old
enough to choose wisely. For, with all
her VIII, she was person of exaggerat.
ed sympathies, and | had known her
on several occasions to be almost ner-
suaded TO yield 10 the opportunities of
some youth, because. f0rso0th he do.
clared that il she refused him his life
would be wrecked, aud nothing bnt
death could do hun any good. She
conhded in me more than il is usual for
sisters to cOnide in their brothers and
l could generally tell at about what |
time it was advisable to fold our tents |
and 60 abroad.
Charlie Watson generally followed
Us on our wanderings, like the faithful
,ttle fellow he was hut / didn't mind
Charlie; l know he was harmless II
would not be possible for even Jeans
lvely sympathies to be able to weave
my romance about such a ridiculous
title object, and he came handy on
Ioyage, doing the many errands incl
lent to such trips with more willing.
less and fidelity than any porter would
,r could.
we were coming back from a pleas
mt soJourn in England, fleeing from
1aIold Stanley, in truth. | had some
Iou0ts OF the wisdom of my movements
n TINS occasion, as Stanley was
thoroughly good fellow, man of great
mental power and physical comeliness
nd fitting match for any woman
xcepting my Jean. | could not bring
lyself TO think that anyone was onite ,
oou enough for my brilliant, cherished [
ster, out felt somehow that Stanley
'Ould come as near it as might be
expected. Still, fed when I saw
nat Jean was on the verge of accepting
i'm. s )
She laughed when l told her that !
rgent business in New Orleans neces. |
tated our return home, though I
realty disliked to leave our pleasant G
in England. q
Don't you forget that Chester Den. !
er is there, Jack"
That's fact; but maybe he has Y
'nsoled himself by this time" 6
She made a roguish mOue. h
ou are not flattering. It's a won
er can put up with your rough. un- c
lrnlshed speeches, after hearing so h
uch pretty talk from the Others +,
ut Jean and | never misunderstood |,
ch other. .,
Charlie Watson, who had been
called to America about the same II
ne, was on hand as usual. to look le
ter our comfort and make himself
lserable by seeing Jean every dav Il
I'd knowing she was as far out of his a,
ach as the stars are. Upon NV n
DTu, the fellow was growing imbecile J,
ID crushed looking, owing to the rs
u0s to which he daily subjected him. ri
IT, From being one of the most
rogant, purse proud little whelps in II,
cation, he was growing into the hi
Im6lest, meekest of men. took
an to task one day about using the 50
y so badly.
= But Jack, he makes love to me. h,
N you imagine how vicious a girl m
'uld feel who had to undergo such
ordeal as declaration from Char
Watson-especially when I have fn
q him fifty times that all that keens 10
from hating him is his insignia.
lce."
Did you? Great Christopber he
bat sort of metal is he made of thai XII
can stand that and bob up serenelv mi
next day with all his former hin
lrmsP But, poor boy, guess am
competent judge of fellows In his ha
ntal condition, having always been mi
ousy III looking after you, to get w
any love scrapes of my own.n
1t doesn't take much time To fall In
Q with girl like Mildred Wilson, wa
erved Jean, with a willy glance. wa
ion somehow sent the blood surQing Co
my cheeks, and gave her great an,
usement. I y
IS Mildred, by great good luck, han. II 4
led to be also homeward bound on slo
good ship City of Paris, we were era
to little party Of home folk, and ant
'wing Jean TO be In safe hands I his
mt considerable time with our young hal
nd. But one day I observed a In
nge IN Jean. She seemed restless IL
ill-at-ease. She spoke irrItably 10 Grl
at times, and treated poor Charlie For
lson ike the very dust under her SIN
!, But Charlie did not appear to
don the contrary, be seemed 10 7
ara her, treatment as special favor. Fal
began TO take on few more airs 80
M. Then Jean told me the truth. : :,
night, Ia one of our confidential aa
,rlia Watsn.' enkeeeu herset 10 can