The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1899-03-29


here aud with them a few Yi0letA that
wore the last time that saw him. I came
very near marrying 'RhiR' ten years later
wnen ho came hack for cOmmencement,
and told me how dearly he loved me and
how hard he had tried but could not for
get. was walking with him, and shall
never forget the look he gave me when L
laughed and told him that he was but the
fifteenth, and must wait for the hundreth
man before consented to marry. He
reached down and tore few violets from
my cOrsage and left the ballroom
Two days later he was found dead in his
New York once Accidentally shot him.
SELF" the papers said but I shuddered
when I read 1t and have never waltzed
since that night Sweet, big hearted Phil
l really think I loved you a little, dear"
Louis Erskfne, Louis the cynic and the
woman-hater who declared that the first
sigh OF love is the latest WISDOM" and
that women are rakes by nature--
from necessity" Half dozen years after
he told me all about his new charge,
Tor ne had been rector of parish in Maine
for the past year.
That night he came down and we sat
upon the balcony in the moonlight. ! wore
dainty muslin gown over pink, and
large hat covered with white tulle and pink
roses, and tied under my chin with
coquettish bow Of the tulle
l led him on to talk of his church
work. looked innocent, opened very wide
my big gray eyes and ipsed pretty moth
ings He stayed until after ten, holding my
hand for moment as he said good might.
In less than week he was at my feet
He confessed that he had always loved
me. had only pretended to be cynic and
woman hater because he felt that l could
never care for him, and he wanted to
hide his real feelings, then he asked me to
be his wife
"Oh Louis" I lisped, ri am awfullv
n hyt I holF
to be minister's wife, l am not really.
Don't you know that l am worldly sinful,
and that love ceaseless round of pleas
ure?"
I must confess that I looked up at him
innocently; somehow I wanted to lead him
on for while and thought it would be
new sensation to engage myself to him.
Not good enough, my little dear" and
ne caught me in his arms, "why you are
the best, the truest, and sweetest woman
In the world, and I love you. love you!
! nave never cared for woman before and
can never care for another"
me next week he returned to his church,
much to his regret and greatly to my relief,
Tor he bored me horribly. We had decided
to Keep the engagement secret for a year.
In SIX months wrote him that I had come
to the conclusion that was altogether too
frivolous to marry a minister, and released
him.
AS is usually the case, he vowed that he
ne would never give me up and never loved
anybody else, and he kept it up for an
other six months; then he wrote announce
ing his engagement to a lovely girl, and in
glowing terms described her charms, and
added that he had never really loved me,
and he adored his beautiful--
All, me! So much of man!
1t was only last year January that the
sweetest, cutest boy asked me to attend
the prom" with him. He was less than
twenty land NEARLY fifty. He too, loved
me to distraction, and despite the differ
ence in our ages begged me to elope with
him. l smiled and said to myself "How
like his father for the pater had said
the same thing to me at his prom twenty
five years before. The boy told me at the
dance that he had written home for
hundred dollars for the prom telling
his father that he was to take the presi-
dents daughter, Louise Latimer, and that
the governor had written him, saying, II
hope, my dear boy, that you will enjoy
your prom much as 1 did mine over
twenty-five years ago when the witty,
brilliant, and beautiful Louise was my part
ner. My kindest regards to her and thanks
for her interest in you. l inclose two hun
dred dollars which is none too much"
1t was deliciously droll, was it not?
record it as an incident-one Of many
What, twelve! And I am fifty, and a col
lege widow. college widow! Why it
isn't so bad after all, and 1 wouldn't recall
TIC past, VIII the exception OF poor fn1I,
If l could I wonder if do look a bit old.
Yes, tonight most assuredly do, and there
is a wrinkle. That will never do, and
'sFrisky'' coming at eleven for his answer
How l have dreamed away the hours with
you. dear journal. Fifty years old and
quite alone in the world. 1t is time that
l was married. "Frisky you once prom
ised to be the hundreth man and if my
journal does not lie, you are.
Well, dear old book we better say good
bye forever before I go to sleep. There,
good-by, good-by!
And now you my letters. No! No!
cannot part with you yet. Dear journal!
See how it burns! From the bed I'll watch
my confession go up in smoke. Oh, 1 am
so sleepy, and I want to think what I will
say to "Frisky' when he comes for his
answer. What will it be? Since he is the
hundredth man it will have to be yes"
and leave the title o. to