The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-30
GENERAL
FEBRUARY
And What He Brought About
BY HARRIET C. THOMPSON

1.-THE cZars of Russia say that they
have two generals on whom they can
FEY to drive out an enemy. these war
fiors being General January and Gen.
eral February.
Among those flying before the re-
EQUITABLE General February was Peter
Apherson, middle aged bachelor. who
took train for Hampton Roads. Mr..
Apherson, sitting one evening. when
the hrst faint balm Of spring was
coming up from the south, on bench
Facing the water. saw q lady pass
him whose face seemed vaguely asso-
ciated with some previous existence.
She was walking with an elderly wo.
man, who appeared from likeness be-
tween the two TO be her mother. The
ladies' walked on for some distance.
returned, and the elder, seeing the OPP
posite end Of the bench from the one
on which Apherson sat unoccupied. in
Sisted on resting there
Ten minutes later the ladies arose
and went on. Apherson followed them
with his eyes till they were lost in the
throng Of promenaders and still long
er with his thoughts. Presently rising,
he was about to leave the spot when
he saw purse where they had been
sitting He took 1t in charge.
1Expecting he might find something
to give him a clew to the owner, he
opened it; but, seeing nothing except
money. he closed it again. He had
little doubt Of finding the lady who
had dropped 1t. for there were not
many people at the place and they in
narrow compass. Indeed, the very
next morning in sun parlor of his
hotel facing the roads he saw the
younger of the two ladies sitting
nlone. Approaching her, he handed
her the purse. She thanked him, 1t
seemed to him mechanically, or, rather,
without surprise.
Place In company man and wo-
man, both unmarried, not too old, and
ten to one they viii sooner or later
get on the subject nearest to their
hearts The subject nearest to the
hearts of both men and women Of
middle age is finding some one Of
the opposite sex with whom to make
a home But they discuss the matter
In general terms, carefully steering In
the broad current though sometimes
they get to particularizlng before they |
know It,
'Are you married?" asked the lady.
mo, / am not. but confess / would |
like to be. | have grown to an age |
wherein single life has lost its zest. |
live at club and am bored there. |
But what can do? Marriage-mar-
rlage with mating-is not a matter
that can be arranged as one would |
rent house or buy an automobile. /
In my case there is a special obstruc-
ton. When / was twenty l was en-
gagged to young girl, whom lost !
was then impecunious, and her family
would not hear of match between
as. My fancee relied upon me as to
what was best to be done, and l felt
It my duty to tell her that we should
part My heart remains with her.
Should | marry today honesty would
compel me to confess that / could
only give wife companionable af-
lection.
al am In very much the same situa-
tion," replied the lady. "At nineteen
] married a man selected for me by
my mother. He was much older than
j and wealthy. | could not give him
my heart, but at that time I did not
consider 1t obligatory to tell him so.
j loved another during my married
life of ten years and love that other
today. Should / marry should now
feel 1t incumbent on me to tell the
man married that he must be con-
tent with companionship"
In this vein they chatted till noon,
when the lady withdrew They met
often after that in the sun parlor.
A pherson gave the widow opportunity
10 tell him more about herself. but Ell
tler she did not take his hints or she
was not inclined to give the desired
One day Apherson said
10 her:
"As ! told you when we first met, !
am very tired of single life. / wish a
with whom to make
home would be pleased to exchange
concerning ourselves with
4 view to marriage. You understand
that my heart was long ago given to
another and remains with that other /
today understand the same with re- s
gard TO you"
II appreciate the compliment You !
pay me: but. now that | am free TO
marry the man OF my choice, will :
marry no one else"
Pardon me. ! supposed that affair r
lad ended as mine has ended"
1.-THE man who loved me has never
married"
"Indeedr'
mo, and have lately met him" n
Not here" i'll
"Yes. here. Not long ago while Il
Walking with my mother passed him. II
lie did not recognize me- but l recog-
Iized him. Returning we sat down on
he same seat with him. In order to
ring about a meeting left my purse t
IN the n
"Mariong'
Eyes. | am Marion" i
There are certain things about wom-
n that puzzle me. Why did Marion !
me, not recognizing her? =