Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-06-21
AN UNHAPPY MARRIAGE.

might have been" are joyful words.
Most men, upon meeting again in after
years their first loves, realize this, and
offer up prayers Of thanksgiving.
1t was so with Hurlburt.
In the early days Of the Pacific coast
Hurlburt was stationed at San Diego.
1t was picturesque little town. Its
streets were not much more than COW
paths, and its houses were mostly OF
the good old pattern-adobes, one
story high and built around patio.
Ii such house as this lived Manuela
Lopez, and in one of the cow-path
streets Hurlburt first met her 1t was
upon Sunday. Hurlburt had just
come from inspection, and was on his
way to take dinner with friends in
town. He still wore his regimentals,
and was very gorgeous sight indeed.
He was also tall, and yellow-haired
and blue-eyed-quite the figure to
strike the fancy of pretty little Mex
lean girl who was coming home from
mass.
She had read no books that could
have told her that it was the accepted
thing to do; she had probably never
given such subjects moments
thought but when the mind ola child
becomes the mind Of a woman it is at
one bound, not by slow degrees. In
spiration struck full upon Manuela S
brain, and she dropped her rosary.
From which it may be inferred that
the love of the fathers and wisdom of
ages has taught woman nothing new in
affairs of the heart. The impulse Of
the intrigante and of the child of ma
ture are the same.
Hurlburt, of course, was close to
Manuela when the rosary dropped. He
returned it to her. If she had not
been with servant he might have
spoken. AS it was, he observed more
narrowly what he had been observing
for some moments as he approached,
that she was graceful and pretty.
Then he raised his helmet and passed
on.
You can count upon any one but the
typical Anglo-Saxon. You expect men
of Latin and Slav races to make fools
Of themselves. But the Anglo-Saxon
is such thoroughly logical, reasona-
bic, r-headed person, that the bot
tom of your universe drops out when
he deviates from the path of common
sense. And when he does, it is never
a mere depression. He goes, a flaming
comet whirling through space, and
carrying all your stellar system of
plans and beliefs before him The last
thing any one would have expected of
a big, quiet, rational youth, such as
was Hurlburt, was that he should wax
romantic over street meeting with an
immature ruse to attract his attention.
Nevertheless, that same day, after
luncheon, he said to- his host, as they
sat smoking under the ramada
"Who lives in the house on the next
street, where the two mocking-bird
cages hang on the wall?"
"You must be more explicit, his
host said; "there are a number of
houses on the next street, and one and
all have mocking birds
"Yes," said Hurlburt, "but there is
a hedge of red and white geraniums in
front of it. y
"I saw you meet her." the civilian
told him; cher name is Lopez-Man-
uela, l think"
Hurlburt became very red. When
your phlegmatic man grows embar-
raised, he is badly embarrassed. 1t
was some time before he regained
speech and came foundering out Of
the sea Of silence.
Not that he abandoned the cause.
Far from it. 1t took him two weeks,
but he got himself introduced to Senor
Lopez, and had then taken TO call upon
him. The Senior was a well-educated
man, and the most hospitable of his
hospitable race. He made Hurlburt
free of the house at once, and showed
him everything it contained, save only
Manuela.
"You must come again, often" he
said, as they parted.
Hurlburt replied that he would, and
went again in three days. Neither
did he see his lady Of the rosary upon
this occasion. He addressed himself
to Sonora Lopez, who was handsome
and well preserved.
"You have a daughter, have you
not, sonora? p
Sa,,ora Ionaz understood only lust