Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-07-08
"A Shock ..
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 l held both her hands in mihe "'i'' looked into her moonl:t eyes. "as twenty. she not quite eighteen. Was going west to seek my fortune. W hei' I had made competence-l couioA hear to consider more than three months sufficient for the purpose was to return and take her back "ith me. .,
 Life in the meanwhile" she sad twill be one long period of waiting
 "It will seem an age to me
 You will be engrossed in business. That will make you forget
 "I shall never forget. l shall lay down thirty days for each month on paper and each morniltS check one on To see them disappear will be my only comfort"
 There was silence for awhile. A d's- tant clock struck II.
 "In seven hours my train will be I'u..- ing out of the station. I have yet to pack" ls;s;*s -ss...,
 A3Afnst you go?" ias.5sas.
 "Yes. Farewell"
 But another hour passed, and was not gone. The same clock struck 12. I drew her to me- There was long, long kiss. Then l turned and without looking back hurried away.
 A month of daily letter writing month of alternate day writing, month of weekly writing-the three months that I had laid out wherein to attain the wherewithal to bring her 10 me-had passed, and l had only just found a position giving me $15 week The correspondence died peaceful death. There were no reproaches on either side. I had found a pleasant set of young people with whom 1 had be- come intimate, and my sisters wrote me that great deal was going on at home. In youth associations are form ing and reforming rapidly. One au- tumn it is Charlie and Will and Tom and Lucy and Mary and Fannie; the next spring it is Charlie and Arthur and Pete and Ethel and Maud and Kate.
 Youth is but a kaleidoscope-the same colors under different groupings. Two years after leaving home I could not tell who wrote the last letter. she or I. Three years and l couldn't have told whether her eyes were black, brown or hazel. Five years, and one day in ransacking among lot of rub ] bish I came upon her picture-the pie i ture I had dreamed over for hours at time I was astonished that 1 should ever have thought it beautiful She married and went to another city name or if I did I forgot 1t. It was twelve years from our parting over the gate before I saw her again. It was at a summer resort. I had become in- fatuated with girl of twenty, fresh as a new blown rose, and when the hot season came followed her to the coun- try. She was chsperoned by her aunt. Mrs .Schenck, apparently about forty. with grizzly gray hair. a pinched ex- pression and a sharp voice. She had five children, all of them with her, and no nurse. Surely was not that enough to spoil any woman's attractiveness: I became engaged. It was evening, and I was obliged to leave the next morning. l told my story and was ac- cepted at the last moment before my departure and as everybody at the ho- tel was going to bed. When l set of for the train she went with me down to the gate and we stood leaning over 1t, without, she within. held both her hands in mine and looked into her moonlit eyes l assured her that should look forward to her return to the city with eagerness, and she prom ised to cut short her stay in the coun- try We heard locomotive whistle. a distant rattle. drawing nearer, and q train stopped at the station below; then presently the moon shone on something white. and a woman came up the path.
 "Oh. Aunt Juanita," exclaimed my fiancee. where have you been?
 I started. I had cause to remember that name-that uncommon name-Jua- nita
 '.To the postoffice to get Franks let ter. He always posts it to come on this train"
 "I'm so glad you're here that you may congratulate us on our engage ment. It only occurred a few minutes ago. I am so happy"
 "I rejoice with you, my dear. know just how happy you feel, because your lover made me feel just as happy dozen years ago."
 You are'- exclaimed.
 Certainly I am.''
 "Oh, aunty. what does this mean"
 "A case of puppy love between two puppies"
 And did he-surely he did not play you false!
 No more than did him.
 Singular interposed, that l didn't recognize you"
 Not at all A woman, especially a married woman with five children. grows old very quickly, while man usually stands still till he is past forty" Then, kissing her niece, she said to her: "I wish you every happiness, dear. can conscientiously recommend your