Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-12-02
Middle Aged
:: :: Courtship
BY ALEXANDER D. CHASE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.

young man Of twenty and Il girl o
nineteen made up the group.
Nov. so." said the marquis to tn
two younger ones. You. nv daa
nephew. have received my consent
and you, Cecile. have obtained tht
same from your aunt. will tax,
care Of Won. aud the baroness w.l
probably not be lacking in gifts.
Il certainly will do my part" saia
the baroness.
Uncle" said the young man JOY
ouSly, YOU are one of natures as wei
as one Of the nations nobemen"
"Aunty," said the girl. II shall en-
deavor to be worthy of your kind.
ness
The young couple stroned off into
another of the suit Of rooms, leaving
the older ones together.
Mature as well as history said the
marquis, repeats itself Do you re
member the day we received your ia,
theirs blesSing?"
Perfectly. and how joyous | was
Then when the trouble between us
came was in despair did not know
1t was blessing in disguise"
How do you know it was a bless.
ing?'
From friends who have married
and been miserable. | can count them
on my fingers. There's Elise" putting
the forefnger of her left hand on the
little finger of her right, land Annette.
and Fanchette"-
Yes, and among my friends | can
count as many who are supremacy
happy"
The romance fades
But it gives place to an enduring
affection"
These young people who have just
left US will keep up pretense of de-
ferring to each other till the day after
they return from their wedding tour:
then they will begin to quarrel"
But they will gradually grow near.
er and dearer to each other. They will
wrangle, but that is because each
knows the other will endure such
wranglings from q mate"
But there are those whose quarrels
grow more and more violent"
They are but small proportion of
the whole"
"Ah, marquis. you have been con-
verified too late. You are not old. but
too old to feel love based on compan-
ionship."
First love 1 have passed through
Unfortunately fate did not permit in
my case the succeeding state. have
been. as it were. in a condition of sus-
pense."
She cast her eyes to the floor.
Whose fault was it:" she asked.
"Fate's. | said fate prevented, did
not? Nothing but fate can come be.
.ween boy and girl who love- | was
young and | did not understand you.
overs need 10 be tied together to pre-
'ent their lying apart. Marriage
oes that Once married. they have to
earn to bear with each other. And
Vhen the child comes there is another
eason why they must not fly apart.
farried and with a child. disunion is
rightful. They will endure real
1rongs rather than that"
And think of the absurdity that
aused us to fly apart"
Il have forgotten what it was"
I'VE were playing tennis"
II remember"
"a ball / sent you you claimed to be
'ul."
Now recollect."
II accused you of purposely seeing
rong."
$50 you did"
"And you told me you were not in
G habit of being accused OF cheat
g."
That's right. Go on" +
4 threw down my racket and. with
? nose in the air, marched Off the b
urt." II
All. yes. have 1t now. and said b
myself, :. don't want wife who e
Is like that" III
And from then till now not a word II
love has passed between us" III
How stupid" h
We should have been whipped and 81
erred to make up like children" I
here was short silence between hi
m. broken by the marquis. M
of more substance than
lantic love drives me to marriage -
18th having passed. | need compan. -
ship. Had ! companion | could 49,
r great deal from her"
And children" M
For their sake would bear any NJ
lg" M
f you. man. would bear anything E8
the dear little ones, how would 1t
with the woman who is much near
o them than the mann
t is not too late"
les; it Is too late"
TO- Shall we risk it?''
lie smiled
What amuses your"
he difference between this court
and our former one"
md ! trust our relationship shall
be broken by tennis ball See
H., RI