Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-12-07
T Couldn't Lose Him ;
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stayed. l did not want him.
knew that the moment might come
when his presence would be positively
obnoxious, yet could not get rid Of
him. He was well-meaning lin so far
as he could be said to have meaning),
light-haired, long-legged.
He sat on the sofa, and put himself
into 32 distinct attitudes, not one of
which was graceful. could not exact
ly tell him to go, and anything short of
that he disregarded.
He wore pink striped waistcoat
and blue tie.
He did not admire me; his idol was in
short frocks and fuzzy hair. Other
boys worship the seasoned belle, but
his taste in enslavers was the only one
peculiar thing about him. Inever cared
for the very young attached to me;
and the very young despairing for an
other is even worse.
He did not even talk of Her. wished
he had. l would have sympathized to
the best of my power. Presumably, ]
was too antique in his estimation Il
was 2O to take an interest in such
things. He talked of love, to make up
for his silence on the nearer subject. ]
listened and wearied and took out the
fancy work kept for the Boy, and
never finished.
He spoke with the superior air of one
instructing the ignorant. l was, am
afraid, absent-lninded, and he Ian.
guished after awhile.
1 offered him sweets, and insulted
him into ruby blush.
After that he stared sadly at me, as
IL he had come for no other purpose
than to feast his eyes for one last time
on my adored features.
He was very like the immortal Toots
At last the conversation got upon its
legs, and in rickety fashion managed
to keep moving.
The marriage question (not the i'm.
proper marriage question: seemed tc
interest him greatly. He did not ask
for my advice, but merely soliloquized
at some length. He mentioned the de
STABILITY of early marriages; the i'm
possibility of asking girl to share ter
shillings week; the expense of bring
ing up young family; there was the
education of the sons and the portion
OF the daughters.
"You would not educate them?" in
quired, smothering an incipient laugh
He thought he would let them choose
between an education and an income
Besides, they might marry"
ITO be sure" assented. "And there
might be grandchildren"
A puzzled look crossed the Boys
face; he had not thought of the grand
children.
80, that would be all right" he said
after a short silence.
"A man is only responsible for hi
own family. Directly responsible, o
course" Here / threaded needle
But there is no harm in looking a
things from all sides"
However, we had plunged far into
futurity, even for the Boy; he tool
another bypath from the same thor
,ughfare.
81 think it very wrong for people t.
throw obstacles in the way of mar
,iage," he remarked, solemnly.
But. on the other side" then sale
I. at would never do to encourage tn,
thing too much; If the couple quar-
relied they would lay the blame o
the position on YOU"
This was evidently new idea; h
pondered on it some time.
The Man came in, sat down, ant
waited.
"PeopIe might sometimes interfer
Internationally" the Boy said, re
flectively.
"1hey might" Agreed hope no
grimly.
The Man looked at the clock ant
fidgeted.
as that the right timer" he asked
1.-TWO minutes Slow" said the Boy.
"Thanks." said the Man. ~ have t,
catch the S:35 train"
NV needle would not thread. Thel
said: $50 soon!" and "When do yo'
return?'
81 don't know" he answered. II
depends"
Don't get fever at the Rock" salt
+ba pov materially. II have know
such lots of fellows go off like yo'
and they never come back"
81 hope this will be an exception,
said. 20. would no one take tn
Boy away and bury him?)
aThank YOU" said the Man.
The Boy got up-was he going?
He merely looked at a photograph
over the mantelpiece and sat dow
again.