The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-05-15
A SHOCK.

1
was twenty, she not quite eighteen,
I was going West to seek my fortune.
When l had made competence
couldn't bear to consider more than
three months sufficient for the pur.
pose-I was to return and take her
back with me.
Life in the meanwhile, she said,
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"
II shall never forget. l shall lay
down thirty days for each month on
paper and each morning check one
off. To see them disappear will be
my only comfort"
There was silence for awhile. A
distant clock struck II.
I'm seven hours my train will be
pulling out the station. I have yet
to pack"
"Must you go?"
eyes. Farewell"
But another hour passed and l was
not gone. The same clock struck II.
1 drew her to me. There was long,
long kiss. Then turned and with
out looking back hurried away.
A month of daily letter writing, a
month of alternate day writing, a
month of weekly writing-the three
mouths that 1 had laid out wherein
to attain the wherewithal to bring her
to me-had passed, and / had only
just found a position giving me SIS
week. The correspondence died a
peaceful death. There were no re-
proaches on either side. In youth as
sociations are forming and reforming
rapidly. One autumn it is Charlie
and Will and Tom and Lucy and
Mary and Fannie the next springit it
is Charlie and Arthur and Pete and
Ethel and Maud and Kate.
Youth is but kaleidescope-the
same colors under different groupings.
Two years after leaving home could
not tell who wrote the last letter, she
or l. Three years and l couldn't
have told whether her eyes were black
brown or hazel. Five years, and one
day in ransacking among a lot of rub.
bish 1 came upon her picture-the
picture had dreamed over for hours
at time.
She married and went to another
city to live. l didn't hear her mar
ried name, or if 1 did I forgot it. 1t
was twelve years from our parting
over the gate before I saw her again.
It was at summer resort. l had be-
come infatuated with girl of twenty,
fresh as new blown rose, and when
the hot season came followed her
to the country. She was chaperoned
by her aunt, Mrs. Schenck, apparent
ly about forty, with grizzly gray hair,
a pinched expression and a sharp
voice. She had FIVE children, all of
them with her, and no nurse. Sure
ly was not that enough to spoil any
woman's attractiveness?
Ibecame engaged. 1t was evening,
and 1 was obliged to leave the next
morning. / told my story and was
accepted at the last moment before
my departure and as everybody at the
hotel was going to bed. When set
off for the train she went with me
down to the gate, and we stood lean
ing over it, without, she within.
held both her hands in mine and look
ed into her moonlit eyes. l assured
her that I should look forward to her
return to the city with eagerness,
and she promised to cut short her
stay in the country. We heard To-
comotive whistle, a distant rattle,
drawing nearer, and 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 fancee, "where have you been 7"
I started. l had cause to remem-
Der that me-.that uncommon name--
Juanita.
"To the postofice to get Franks
letter. 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 few min
utes ago. 1 am so happy"
"I rejoice with you, my dear. l
know just how happy you feel, be-
cause your lover made me feel just as
happy dozen years ago."
"You are"-I exclaimed.
Certainly am"
"Oh, aunty, what does this mean 7"
"a case of puppy love between two
puppies"
play you false"
mo more than I 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 for
ty." Then, kissing her niece, she
said to her: ri wish you every hap
piness, dear. l can conscientiously
recommend your lover and assure you
that you will be happy with him.
And ought to know, for I have
tested him myself as 6ancee."
I departed in a singular state of
mind. My happiness had received a
shock. 1 regretted nothing. did
not blame myself nor my first love.
Thus far 1 had lived under the i'm
preston that elderly people had come
from some far distant land with which
the rest of us have nothing to do.
Here was one of my own generation
who had passed in twinkling, 1t
} seemed, from the bud to that bloom
wherein the petals fall.-Horace B.
Gaylord.
MIsTRUsTED HIM =" Martha, +"
said Westport woman to her negro
cook, "when are you and Abe going
to be married? 7" "Doan' know es
Ah'll mahry dat man." replied the
cook. whats the matter now -
she was asked. "Well. ma am,