Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1909-08-05

widows. and II did not ind him to
walt till he came and then sit n m
out; for 1t would be most embarrass.
ing to have him drop in In the mid.
die OF the business and force me to
step and pick up the threads on an
other occasion. Love is something
like champagne. When the cork IA
once removed it becomes stale.
Accordingly. last Sunday evening
l went to see Mrs. Langston, and sure
enough had not been there five min
Htes when In marched Parsons in
grand toilet bringing a dozen Ameri-
can Beauty roses. Mrs. LanKston
greeted him just as cordially as she
had greeted me. although he IN such
an idiot, and. Of course, 1 had To he
courteous. too. She seemed as pleased
to receive Parsons flowers as the bon.
bons l had brought That is a way
she has. l was sure It did not mean
anything. But 1t did irritate me. after
she had placed Parsons roses in a
lovely vase, to have her open my box
Of sweets and hand them to the fell
low. Yet the most exasperatinx thing
OF all vSs to watch Parsons devouring
my bon-bons and gazing complacently
at his roses. 1t made me wild to
think that before the evening was
over thsre would not be a caramel
left. Judging from the pace Parsons
had set himself, while tomorrow his
roses would be a. fresh as ever. and
by their color and fragrance remind
ing Mrs. Langston every moment of
the giyer.
Mrs. Langston is a wonderful
woman! Most women would have
found 1t an embarrassing task to en-
terrain at the same time two men as
anipathetic as Parsons and |. BSt
from her manner one would have sup
posed that she thought Parsons and l
were loving chums. By Jove! Hall.
her wit fairly sciptillated. 1 have
never known hep 20 brilliant Parsons
seemed to enjoy the evening immense
ly, and did his share Of the talking.
and II talked, too, az well as
could. had to. or appear At q dis
advantage. but 1 assure you it was the
most terrible strain OF my life. To
be nirthful at Mrs. Largston's sxllies
was not so hard; 1t was smiling at
Parsons stupid jokes that made my
face ache.
We'll. sir, the widow kept the con-
versational ball brilliantly rolling for an
hour and . half Then as 1t ap-
preached IL O'Clock she grew suddenly
quiet There was nothing rude about
1t, but It was the clearest tip to take
his leave that . man, ever received;
but would you believe 1T, Hall. that
blockhead OF a Parsons never took the
hint, even though 1t was REINFORCED
by a glance 1 gave my watch He re-
| maiRed full Is minutes longer, and
when, to MY great relief, he finally
rose. Mrs, Langston saw him to the
outer door a. II to be sure OF his de-
parture. Even then the fellow, In
spite Of all Mrs. Langston's efforts to
speed the parting guest, kept her in
the draughty doorway quite q quarter
| of an hour.
81 shall remain only I'VE minutes,
Mrs. Langston,' l said when she a.
last came back into the room. AS
spoke met her weary glance with q
| sympathetic look. and sat down by her
on the sofa
MY hour had arrived, and assure
you I appreciated the fact. The house
was deadly still. the noise ON the
street had lullsd, and the footsteps OF
the tnfrequent paHsersby only pune
tuated the silence. The situation was
! enough to rattle any man, but, Hall
old boy. kept my head.
Mrs. Langston.' said I. solemnly
I believe that a great crisis has ar
rived in. my life. and want your kind
counsel and guidance
She gave me a quick look. 1 had
aroused her curiosity.
am not quite sure, Mrs. Langs
ton,' continued, not too rapidly, but
suspect that / am in love-in love
for the first time, and wish your opin
ion Of my case
"How Interesting, Mr.. Willett
Tell me your Symphonic
She spoke in a low, kind voice, hel
attitude was one of alert sympathy
and pleasant twinkle In her black
eyes seemed to say Don't be down
hearted Noting the fact, tool
courage and went on:
MRS. Langston, what is lover
"Lovef Why, love is-love is
She hesftAtad a moment. What &
strange question: % ta --e-
The widow vas q bit confused.
To my mind.' / said, love Is tht
most mysterious Of emotions, and thu
most varied IN its manifestations
"'Qdits true. Mr.. Wiiistt, and ye
there are certain unfAiling signs ina
enable most lowers 70 read thsil
hoArts.' !.afu etr ne-I
'sPhe widow was trying to regal,
the conversational rstns, and I let he
think that she had suocssded in doin,
SO. for all was now moving better thai
had hoped. / drew q little nearer Il
her on tAs sofa. s4- .L- ..tt
"Fsn ms some of those infalHbi,
sigma and 4 gaYA haP n fafnhins