Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1910-11-25
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The Old Folks
Matrimonial Exchange
Observation-Disclosures

be could do for her
81 have come to see you. Mr. 5hanAs,
on a very peculiar mission. ! have a
plan which l must preface by bit OF
explanation"
The lady paused and looked as II she
was hunting for some place TO begin,
then went on:
There are two parts to life for those
who live to be our age. The hrst
half is entirely unlike the second. In
youth we know nothing OF the lonell-
ness Of old age. Many man and
woman up to forty Is absorbed in that
which has nothing TO do with provid-
ing companionship for old age. Then
perhaps suddenly a realization comes
to US OF the fact that we need the
home. We remember the lost oppor-
tunities Of youth 70 form q connection
which would have resulted In sons and
daughters growing up about US and
Madam" interrupted Mr.. Shanks,
"you are describing me. | have built
up fortune, but have neglected to
build up q home. have reached the
time when l would gladly give the
fortune for the home. What is there
for me when l leave this office? A
miserable existence till the next morn
Ing, when resume my duties. | dine.
alone, spend lonely evening 1T my
club, and when / go TO my desolate
apartments
And l." interrupted the LADY,
live in q room by myself. l manage to
get along during the day, sincG | 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
l goT
/ Does your plan aim to relieve such
conditions, madam"
! 1T does. You have made 1t very
easy for me to propose It. l knew you
were bachelor and past-well, past
!, fifty"
! "Fifty-fve, madam"
/ Therefore I 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
would love to have them always about
me, with their funny ways, their
And grown, madam would give
! my check for q million for son to
/ succeed me In this business"
| "And If | had had children when
( was from twenty TO thirty | should
now be petting my grandchildren.
love them best from eighteen months
to four years, from the time they are
learning to walk and 10 talk till they
begin to crave playmates."
"And think what 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
ber"
/ 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 a wo-
man.
"You will need some funds. madam,
first for stationery for your notices and
invitations, then to secure place for
meeting / trust you will permit me
TO furnish a little fund for starter"
He took check book from a drawer.
/ what name, madame"
! "Spinney-D. A. Splnney."
what a coincidence remarked Mr..
Shanks. pausIng in his work laying
down his pen and looking at the lady
| through his spectacles. DO you know,
/ madam. had 1t not been for one Of
! those asinine conditions incident to
youth | might have had home with
a lovely girl by the name OF Spinney."
I'VE all have those memories. l one
day parted IN pet with man
AN ass probably you mean"
'He took me to a ball. ! noticed the
name of a girl on his card of dance
| engagements who thought was try
ing to get him away from me. l told
him that he must either strike off that
name or strike off mine for the five
dances l had agreed to give him"
STRANGE unused Mr.. Shanks. do
you know that that very same thing
happened to me? A girl made the
same requirement, and l drew my pen
ell through her own name wherever 1t
appeared on my card. | was a fool.
! The fact that she wouldn't brook a
rival was proof positive that she loved
me-"
Nevertheless she had no right to
make such q demand unless she was
engaged to you"
but for that tit | have always be-
lieved she would have been my wife. +"
He handed her the check. She looked
at the signature. and her eyes seemed
riveted to It without raising them
she said:
II didn't know your first name was
Phil mean Philander."
'Tt is. But why do you notice thatT'
"Because'-she leaned back IN her
chair and covered her face with her
hands-"because mine is Domida."
The znckety click Of typewriting
machine In the next room was all that
was heard for some moments, and
when Mr.. Shanks spoke 1t served 70
drown his words.
The proposed exchange was nipped
In the bud by the marriage OF the first
man and woman charter members.
ROSALIND HOTTON