The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-07-13
THAT SWEETHEART OF MINE
BY VIVIAN CLARE HOWARD

die age. Both were slightly inclined
to embonpont.
They were travelling between Little
Rock and Fort Smith She was think
ing busily of the number of pounds of
sugar necessary to n given number of
baskets Of cherries awaiting her house
wifely care, and newell his mind
was concerned with cherries, too, but
they were cherries in the blossom, the
snowy boughs of the trees that had
shaded a little village lane.
Underneath the boughs stood a girl
and a boy-how well he remembers
the face of the girl. the pink of her
cheeks, the blue in her eyes, the brown
of her hair he could feel yet the sting
of that braid Of hair as she switched
II roughly in his face when he tried to
steal a kiss.
He stole a side look Mt his wife's
plain, wholesome features. and sighed
lie even wondered why his dream Of
the cherry tree lane had never come
true-why he had Just then the
train slowed up at little side station
and he became aware of an unusual
hustle on the platform. His wife said,
with some little excitement in her
voice:
John. do believe theatrical
troupe is getting on here"
John dimlv remembered that Flora
had always called him Jack" as he
answered lazily:
well. my dear what of it? There
Is plenty OF room. isn't there? | don't
see any immediate need for my being
interested" and relapsed into the re-
gion of past delights again-"what a
mischief Flora had been" lie was
rudely jolted back to the present again
by severe pinch from Mrs John.
For goodness sake. John, did you
ever see such get-up"
"Eh-what did you say, Margaret?
Get up where?" and following the di-
rection Of her eyes he looked down the
aisle.
Ye gods. was he dreaming? 1t was
Flora, Flora In the flesh; in fact, more
so than when they had last met; not
quite the Flora of the cherry tree, but
Enthusiastically his early sweetheart
the star Of transforming troupe.
She came up the aisle talking loudly
to a detected looking individual whom
she addressed as Tommy" Her dress
was brown, and the feather in her hat
"a hat too large for travelling-was
green as Brazilian parrots wing.
The pink was in her cheeks as in the
days of the cherry tree, but it had a
suggestion of premanency unlike the
fitting roses of fifteen years ago. and
her hair-surely Flora's was brown,
while the green parrots wing shaded a
voluminous pompadour of golden yel-
low.
John was not sure bv this time
whether he was the most afraid she
wouldn't recognize him or most hoped
she wouldn't-bul it mattered little,
she did.
In a moment she was bearing down
Npon them like ship of Tarshish in
full sail and was shaking him warmly
by the hand and talking as only Flora
could do
"Surely this Is Jack Benton? I
couldn't be mistaken, though you have
grown a lot stouter since we met.
Don't you remember Flora Marcy?
If you don't, then mans memory for
an old sweetheart is a pretty thin
thing"
Poor John could feel Margaret stiff
fen at the last sentence, and groaning
In spirit he introduced his wife to Miss
Marcy whose vOlubility made up for
any awkwardness that Mrs. Benton's
manner might have caused.
Jack and were old sweethearts at
Fort Smith. Lord, what larks we used
to have in the old days after school
and coming home from choir practice.
never thought Of going on the stage
In those days. but talent will not be
supptessed-and here am. 1t looks
like fate our meeting like this, doesn't
itT
John shuffied nervously and cursed
fate inwardly and presently the chat
ter went on again.
Where are you living? Still at
Fort Smith. Well, never; our circuit
closed fifteen miles from there and I'm
going to take holiday. | believe III
just drop down on you folks for
months change If the old place is as
slow as it used to be, it will make an
elegant place to rest
Benton looked beseechingly at his
wife, but she appeared obliyious to the
fact that he was still on the face of
the globe He hestated a minute md
then, remembering the boy and girl
friendship he glanced at his wife and
said defiantly:
I'VE should be awfully pleased to
have you"
And Mrs. Benton astonshed him by
adding with suspicious friendliness:
"Yes, do come; we shall be perfectly
delighted"
With more astuteness than her hus-
band would have given her credit for
Mrs. b. had come to the conclusion
that dose of an old sweetheart
when she is as impossible as Flora
is almost as good for man as an oc-
caaional dose of rhubarb