The Ordway new era., 1911-11-10
WHEN HE
WAS YOUNG

Don't talk to me-" said the man
with the heavy eyebrows. about the
charms of ingenious youth or the
happy days when we believed in the
world and were green! I suffered in
those good old days.
''If there is any agony worse than
not being exactly sure Of the right
thing to do In any situation I'd like to
know It! There's an immense COM
fort that comes with getting wise and
sophisticated with accumulating yearA
II guess l was about seventeen when
went to spend vacation with my
married sister. who lived in Chicago.
It had been my first year away at
school In a small college town near
our old home and Chicago was a great
proposition for me. l certainly had
the time Of my young life and in add.
ton to that fell in love.
1T was my first experience and SO
it marked an epoch. And she was
poem. Sometimes nowadays when !
cross between a French fuffy haired
doll. Christmas angel and little Eva.
1t reminds me Of Gwendolyn and I
wonder how much she weighs now
and how large her family is.
"In those days she was a fragile.
ethereal creature. who had just
learned how to use her eyes and
worked them overtime for fear she
would forget the method. Whenever
she turned them on me I felt repaid
for all the empty seventeen years
which had gone before.
We'll. when i had to tear myself
away at the behest OF heartless col
lege I felt that ! wanted to give
Gwendolyn something SO that she
would not forget me. had visions Of
diamond tiaras and ropes OF pearls as
the appropriate testimonials for her.
but | took the prccaution OF consult.
ing my sister, She informed me I'd
get In nll wrong II l sent Gwen any.
thing more than candy or books or
flowers. That being the case, !
marched into the most expensive
andy shop in town. My good will
was a trifle restricted by my pocket
book. which was fiat. Two dollars
was what I decided ! could spend.
The candy shop was gorgeous place.
with bonbons the like OF which ! had
never seen before. browsed about
and finally ran onto tray OF candied
yiolets. They were new to me and
they certainly were pretty. ap'
preached n clerk.
"'Give me- said I. two dollars
worth OF those!'
"The clerk. accustomed to sprink.
ling n half dozen OF the violets on the
top Of n box OF candy for decoration
only, looked puzzled. but filled my or.
der. II made about rs big n package
as a nickel's worth Of chocolate drops
I swallowed hard and plunged.
"Better make 1t four dollars
worth ! muttered. She doubled the
order and even then the package was
wretchcd!y small. I couldn't think OF
insulting Gwendolyn with 1t and
didn't dare switch my order to some.
thing else under the stony disdain Of
the clerk To cut II short. sent Gwen
six dollars worth Of candied violets
and I bet she had fit when she got
em! know that my sister had one
at my mere telling OF what had done.
She said that II Gwendolyn hadn't any
more sense than to eat them up ia
probably killed her and that II she did
have sense and gave them away in all
likelihood she'd be sued for damages
II anyone mentioned candied violets
in my presence for months after that
I'd take n chill. II was just as II had
tried to prove my love by sending the
young woman n barrel Of dill pickles.
1T was the very next summer that
abroad. They had been indiscreet
enough to mention what ship they
were sailing on--indiscreet because
they were afraid that I'd insist on 60.
ing and spoil all their fun. Sure
enough, when the boat sailed they
found me on deck. grinning at their
iisgusted surprise. Gus got back at
me, though. was green to ocean
travel, just as was to numerous
other things. and observed for three
days at certain time that steward
came, spoke to my brother-in.law and
that the latter looked bored and dis.
appeared. / inquired into 1t. Gus re-
garded me long and seriously.
Tommy said he in shocked
tone, do you mean to tell me that you
have neglected arranging with the
bath steward for your hour? Heavens.
boy, don't let anyone know 1t. and I'll
see what can do for you! Didn't you
know It is one OF the rules OF the boat
that every passenger must take tub
bath twice day? Dear me. ! suppose
l should have told you! Whatll they
do? Well. of course. they can't drop
you overheard. but they can confine
you to your cabin-now don't you
worry. I'll fix it,
"He did. Gus certainly fixed It
thoroughly. 1t was slow boat and
for the remaining seven days Of the
trim that Internal steward would come