Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1912-02-07
GENERAL
FEBRUARY
And Wha, He Brought Abou,
pv HARRIET c. THOMPSON


riors being General January and Gen
eral February.
Among those flying before the re-
doubtable General February was Peter
ApherSoL a middle aged bachelor. who
took u train for Hampton Roads. Mr..
ApherSon. sitting one evening, when
the frs, faint balm of spring was
coming up from the south. on a bench
facing the water. saw a lady pass
him whose face seemed vaguely assO-
ciated with some previous existence
She was walking with an elderly wO-
man. who appeared from a likeness be
tween the two to be her mother. The
ladies walked on for some distance
returned. ed the elder. seeing the op-
pOsite end az the bench from the one
on which "a herscn sat unoccupied. in
sisted on rr~;.i., here.
Ten EinrloS later the ladies arose
and We; "n. ANDERSON followed then
with b f-' T.. they We're lost in the
thrunS G.. g.. GRADERS and sill long
er with : , II? hts. Presently rising.
he was about TO leave the spot when
he saw a purse where they had been
sitting. IIe took IL in charge
Expecting he might find something
to give bin clew to the owner. he
oDered T.: '''-' 50 ir- nO:hing except
money. he aSed il again. He had
little doubt OF finding the lady who
had dropped it. for there were not
many people at the place and they in
a narrow compass. Indeed. the very
next morning in sun parlor of his
hot 20 the l,ts
younger Of the two ladies sitting
alone Approaching her. he handed
her the purse. She thanked him, 1t
seemed TO him mechanically, OF, rather,
without surprise.
Place In company a man and q wo-
man, both unmarried, not too old and
ten to one they will 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
home But they discuss the matter
In general terms, carefully steering In
the broad current, though sometimes |
they get to particnlariEing before they |
know It
V.
mo, am not. but / confess ] would |
like to be. l have grown to an age |
wherein single life has lost its zest. |
live at a club and am bored there. |
But what can / dor Marriage-mar-
riage 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 was en-
gagged to young girl. whom lost i |
was then impecunious. and her family /
would not hear OF q match between
us. My iancee relied upon me as TO
what was best TO be done. and felt
1t 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 a wife a companionable af-
lection.
Il am in very much the same situa-
ton" replied the lady. AT nineteen
] married a man selected for me by
my mother. He was much older than
] and wealthy. / could not give him
my heart. but Mt that time I did not
consider 1t obligatory to tell him so.
! loved another during my married
life of ten years and love that other
today. Should | marry l should now
feel ii 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 me-,
often after that in the sun parIor
MI. a..
TO tell him more about herself. but ei
Their she did not take his hints or sh,
was not inclined to give the desired
information One day Apherson said
10 her:
AS told you when we first met.
ana very tired Of single life. ! wish
companion with whom to make y
home would be pleased TO exchang,
Information concerning ourselves with
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.
gard to you
Il appreciate the compliment Won
pay me: but, now that ! am free to
nr;rry the man 0: my choice, will
marry no one else"
PARDON Lac. ! supposed that affair
had ended as mine has ended"
The man who loved me has never
married"
''Indeedw
No. and 1 have lately met him"
mot here?"
Yes. here. No: long ago while
walking with my mother | passed him
lie did not recognize mo lint I ro,<.