Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-12-07
all thought. of posses

linquishing all thought. OF posses g
Bessie, could not allow that she was
one whit too good for me- And she
need not look to me for feeble-minded
''hopeless devotion" business. had
made my advance, been rebuffed by
the only one whose rebnff consid-
cred material-herself- now she
was nothing more than cipher il my
affairs. She might go her ways, marry
whom she might choose, or not marry,
or die, or live. 1t was all the same
to me. She was now but cipher in
my affairs, whether visible or not
Having thus stoutly made up my
mind, the sudden appearance and hail
ofthe identical subject of my thoughts
confused me again.
The public highway was in plain
view from where reclined, but such
was my position that probably not
more than one passer in ten would
notice me.
There came by group of bicyclers,
mostly girls. All passed with their
gaze straight in front except the last,
who was obliged to turn her eyes to
me, by what am convinced was some
occult magnetism, and nearly fell in
consequence. As it was, she had to
dismount to prevent fall. When she
regained her equilibrium, she called
in half jesting way
''Are you trying to kill me?"
hadn't done thing. But this
was not exactly what confused me. 1t
was the discovery of an oversight in
my deep cogitations. In the ABSENCE
OF the person, had forgotten feminine
softness, sweetness and compliance
as opposed to masculine strength and
sternness. had waxed bitter against
her in her absence, when it would
have been impossible in her presence.
Bitterness could no more survive in
her presence than frost iu MONDAY
sun.
Bessie was blonde of full average
height, and perhaps above average
weight. There was nothing sickly
about her. But she was a woman, and
not to be hated as man against man.
did not reply because 1 could not
get my thoughts in shape in time.
'How did you get here?" she asked.
"Oh, came in canal boat" I an
swered nonchalantly.
Her laugh was pleasant. I like to
have person laugh at my little jokes,
even if only in politeness. 1 can
easily detect, in the ring of the laugh
ter, what it j..
George is anything wrong?"
She was serious enough wv, and I
saw where had been a hot headed
fool to think she had scorned me. 1
couldn't speak word.
What under the heavens is the use
of logic, any way, when it always fails
three minutes ago, it was: She might
go her ways and marry whom she
might choose. or not marry, or die or
live; it was all the same to me.
And what incensed me the more
now, was the fact that had been per-
fectly cool in mind, deliberate fool.
Still, had it not been for these 15 miles,
| should have been a worse fool, for
the sight OF her would not have brought
me to my senses. Now hanged the
soliloquy into: She might 60 her ways
but would always heartily wish her
we'll, whether 1 became any feature in
her existence or not.
Wont you come and see us this
EVENING""
"Yes," answered, at last getting
my voice.
"Then, au revoir" And she mount
cd and sped after the other bicyclers.
Oh, know that I am an ordinary
mortal, and nothing exceptionally
grand, friend reader; you need not
tell me that. But there are lots of us
in the same boat, and what has helped
one will be of value to another. There
is no possible doubt that the 20 mile
walk was turning point in my career,
and therefore earnestly recommend
it.
Oh, certainly; she's my wife now.