The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-12-30
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Madam
The lady waiting the car at the
crossing turned in surprise. Her es-
cort, not understanding If she knew
the one who addressed her. simply
looked at the man.
He might have been fifty years of
age, but there was something in his
face that for the moment made him
look almost youthful; flush along
the cheek, as Of boys blood, and an
eager look in the eye that almost made
1t dance and glow. He was well enough
dressed-but there was neither osten-
tation nor scrupulous care. His hat
was In the right hand.
81 ask thousand pardons, madam,
for thus addressing total stranger.
So he was not an acquaintance. The
escort understood exactly what to do
now. He had dealt with impertinence
before.
"You insolent-" he began.
But the lady, a moment ago frigid,
seemed to wave him aside somehow
by her manner and to be disposed now
70 hear the stranger.
'You addressed me, sir?" she said
81 again ask your pardon he re-
piled in a voice that quite treasured
her. 'But should esteem it great
favor If you would tell me the kind
of perfume on your handkerchief.
The escort started, astounded. The
- ,.rx1x
"There is one drop Of crabapple
blossom extract ON my handkerchief"
A thousand tfanks!" he replied,
and was gone.
MAD as March hare!" exclaimed
her escort, bringing himself together.
:. perhaps So" replied the lady, "and
yet"
For many months she suffered in
secret for not having asked why he
wished to know An, that curiosity
of women! Like to nothing else in
the world except the curiosity OF
men!
ct is shameful" exclaimed the
drummer's wife she and her hus-
band had the front rooms in the
second story discussing the elderly
gentleman occupying the large room,
originally the parlor. on the first floor.
The ledger in question paid prompt
ly, hence the landlady was rather
more discreet than usual in her opin-
ton.
who'd a thought it," she replied,
really committing herself to nothing
"a sot, perfect got. and nothing
but a sotl" was the answer. "The
worst kind Of one. too. He SITS for
hours in the easy chair of his, sunk
IN stupor. Formerly he either read
or went out. It's opium or whiskey
or some drug. you may be sure of
it,"
"Yet he doesn't seem to show any
traces of that sort Of dissipation" said
the landlady, thoughfully. In fact, l
told him the other day he looked ten
years younger His step is springy,
he holds his shoulder up and his eye
Is bright"
"Pshaw! The effect of the whisky
or drug. that's ALL" said the drum
mer's wife, who knew thing or two.
having once read page or so in a
medical book while waiting for con-
euItation at physicians office.
'It's sad case. and at his age!"
ooh, it's never too late for a man. a
single man, to fall into bad habits!"
"But how" a question here sud
denly occurred to the landlady-"did
you find out all THIS about the first
door lodger? He senerally has his
door closed"
well, you know what prying. Gu
riuus thing Julia. thu nousegiri, is.
I've tried to break hem of it a thou
sand times. but every now and then
a keyhole is too much for her. And
Tom, the negro dining room waiter,
Is every bit as bad as she isl"
For the next nalf hour they dis
oussed this strange failing of domes-
tics. They then Summoned Tom for
further details.
The rumor spread. and friends heard
of how the celibate was throwing
himself away. One. feeling a genuine
interest in him, came TO see him at
his room, the first time in twenty
years. His knock was promptly an
swered. and his hand was pressed
warmly.
There was a delicate perfume In
the room, as of a woman's presence,
sad in the crate fire burned brightly.