The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-05
THE Old Folks
\ Matrimonial Exchange.


merchant Mr.. Ehanks rose. bowed
pointed to a seat and asked her wha
be could do for her.
Il have come to see you, Mr. Shanks
on very peculiar mission. have
plan which | must preface BY a bit o
explanation
The lady paused and looked as II shi
was hunting for some place to begin
then went on:
"There are two parts to life for thos'
who live to be our age. The frs
half is entirely unlike the second. II
youth we know nothing Of the lonelI
ness Of old age. Many a man an(
woman up to forty Is absorbed in thai
which has nothing to do with proyId
ing companionshIp for old age. Their
perhaps suddenly realization come.
to us OF the fact that we need the
home. We remem Der the lost oppor
tunties of youth to form connection
which would have resulted In SONS and
daughters growing up about us and
Madam" interrupted Mr. Shanks
"you are describing me. have bull
up a fortune. but have neglected tt
build up home. / have reached the
time when | would gladly give the
fortune for the home. What Is there
for me when | leave this Officer A
miserable existence till the next morn
Ing, when resume my duties. dine
alone. spend lonely evening at ms
club, and when so to my desolate
apartments
And T." interrupted the lady-"l
live IN room Ny myself manage to
get along during the day, since | am
interested in several charitable associ.
ations-president Of one and secretary
Of another-but when evening comes
how can / go out alone and where can
go?'
Does your plan aim to relieve such
conditions, madam"
s.It does. You have made 1t very
easy for me to propose t. ] knew you
were bachelor and past--welI, past
dfty."
"Fifty-fve, madam"
Therefore knew you would sympa-
thize with me propose to establish
an exchange FOR those elderly people
who would like to marry, but have no
one to marry. True. the major part OF
the deficiency we can never make up
the children. Dear little things, how I
would love to have them always about
me, with their funny ways, their
"And grown. madam. | would give
my check for million for son to
succeed me In this business
''And IL | had had children when
was from twenty TO thirty should
now be pesting my grandchildren. |
love them best from eighteen months
to four years, from the time they are
learning 10 walk and to talk till they
begin to crave playmates."
.'And think what a fine thing IT is to
watch them while they are being edu-
Gated the boys growing strong and
manly. the girls good and beautiful"
"But we are wasting time without
coming to the point. win enter my
name as the first woman charter mem
Der OF the exchange would like you
to enter yours as the first man mem
berp
GLADLY, madam" regretfully. I'VE
cannot. as you say. surround ourselves
with families We are too old. But we
may make homes for each other. No
man can make a home without wo-
man.
You viii need some funds. madam
first for stationery for your notices and
invitations, then to secure place for
/ trust you will permit me
to furnish a little fund for starter"
He took a check book from a drawer
what name, madnmf"
"Spinney ID. A. Splnneyn
what coincidence! remarked Mr.
shanks, pnusing in his work, laying
Town his pen and looking at the lady
through his spectacles, DO you know,
madam. had 1t not been for one OF
hose asinine conditions incident to
routh I might have had home with
! lovely girl by the name of Spinney."
"We all have those memories. one
lay parted a pet with a man
"An ass probably You mean"
"He took me to a ball. noticed the
lame OF girl on his card Of dance
who l thought was try
ng to get him away from me. told
i'm that he must either strike of that
lame or strike OF mine for the FIVE
Iances had agreed TO give him."
stranger mused Mr.. Shanks. DO
-ou know that that very same thing
to me? 4 girl made the |
anne requirement, and drew my pen
Il through her own name wherever 1t /
on my card. was fool. |
he fact that she wouldn't brook a /
ival was proof positive that she loved |
ne
Nevertheless she had no right to
make such a demand unless she was I
ngaged to you
"But for that tit have always be-
eyed she would have been my wife. !"
He handed her the check. She looked /
t the signature, and her eyes seemed
i1eted to It. Without raising them
he said
4 didn't know your first name was
hill mean Philander."
1T Is. But why do you notice that?'
eBecause''-she leaned back in her
hair and coyer@d her face with her
ands -"becAuse mine is Domida.s
The clickety click Of a typewriting
larhine in the next room was MI that
- heard for sayne rsonenfs ana f