The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1909-11-12

The girls being inseparable com
panions. took especial delight in at.
tending the social affairs under the
supervision OF chaperon, at the in
stitution where Curtis Lyons, our
young scholar, studied. 1t. however,
became evident to Miss Vincent that
stronger attachment existed be-
tween her girl friend and the cadet
than she appreciated.
While on visit for the first time
to neighboring town, did you ever
meet, at the close of church services
on Sunday, one of those dear people
who comes up to you with outstretcb
ed hand. greets you cordially, and
tried TO make you welcome, and
knocks the whole reception into a
cooked hat by the recitation of the
biography of come of the inhabitants;
person who tried to be agreeable,
but who seldom succeeds, for want
of tact? Such a person was Miss
Vincent. The misuse of her charms
retarded anything more than a friend
ship with Mr.. Lyons.
Some people are wonderful sports
men while on the winning side; take
the game in Wall street, and you will
see some of the poorest losers in the
world, for such is rule among the
players of chance. They will play a
game with thorough sense of the
chances, and accept the only alterna-
tive, eulpability, as means of obtain
ing redress. Miss Vincent could not
bear to play a losing game. In her
desperation, she even went to the
president of the school, and intimated
admissions of improperly would be
forthcoming unless the so-called pla-
tonic affair, which was giving her so
much uneasiness were discontinued.
The president, DR.. Frasier. would
remind you of some our Southern
Senators. He was of portly build,
absolutely grey, and wore glasses; a
man with humor in his make up, but
withal scholar and disciplinarian:
He told his complainant he was sorry
of such harmless nature; that he
knew both the young people; but, in
asmuch as the matter has been
brought to his official attention, he
was in duty bound to curb such a
sentiment; and he dismissed her
from his office with the suggestion
that she mind her own business in
the future, that the faculty were not
in the habit of receiving unsolicited
information from pupils. Miss Vim.
cent could not stand the polite "call''
and forthwith left the school. She
soon afterwards obtained position
as Postmistress in her native town.
1t is regrettable we cannot change
those mannerisms which compose our
make up. How cheerful we would be,
and how happy others would feel. 1t
would save them annoyances, and
ourselves, intermittent discomfort.
Their growth often acts as noun
tain in the path of our progress; and
we go round to our friends seeking
the cause of our inactivity in worldly
and spiritual things, while others are
machines of success and beings of
ecstasy.
The postmaster who preceded Miss
Vincent was in the habit of obtain
ing information about the .townspeo-
pie from carelessly gazing at the
foolish and improperly sealed mail
that passed through his hands. He
became so proficient in this business
that it was common talk he could
tell some tales, if he cared to. Now,
If some of the people of that locality
had not blurred it. he might not have
been so socially dreaded. When Miss
Vincent succeeded him she still had
in mind the undoing of some peoples
enjoyment, and at every opportunity
she. placed unwomanly constructions
on the affairs of the cadet and her
rival She had ample opportunity for
this, for was she not postmistress,
and didn't she know? Eventually,
she succeeded in her desires and the
woman she now hated and the man
she adored found it necessary to part
company. But God. in his wisdom.
ordains it, even though it may be
imperceptible' to us. that the meek OF
heart shall see and know him in the
performance OF his works. The
young man continued his life in the
service of Uncle Sam and the young
woman entered local hospital to
study for nurse.
A few years later she graduated,
and for a short time thereafter was
attached to one of the local institu-
lions. but, as she was of progressive
manners, and, in view of her loneli-
ness-her father and mother having
died-(she had no other relatives ex-
cept a married brother) she decided
to come north and take POSTCARD
uate course in one of the New York
Hospitals. She arrived, in the Met
ropOlifau rifv in 1900 a month nro-