Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-09-11
My Two
Love Affairs
By JOHN VERNHAM

was, TO say the least, feVer1Sh. / was
to start for China the next day, to be
gone how long no one knew. A man
about to 30 to foreign country to
live permanently would not think of
buying a house in the country from
which he departs, but thought moth
ing of engaging myself to girl be-
tween whom and me would be half the
globe-and water at that-neither of
US having the wherewithall to reach
each other.
1t was early spring, and wood blazed
on the hearth. We drew a sofa up be-
fore the fire and sat locked in con-
tinuous embrace. l told her that the
moment my salary reached sufficient
her back with me. thought it might
be year. Even that interval seemed
interminable to both of us.
Happy youth-happy in not know
ing what lies before it! Had some
unkind fairy shown me picture of
the future I would have been miser-
able. As it was, lived in a delirium
of joy, marred only by those twelve
long months that were to intervene be-
fore l could return to claim my bride.
I was destined to pass from one con-
dition to another so gently that l
would not realize the transition.
But for the moment was happy and
miserable-happy that loved and was
beloved; miserable that l must be part
ed from her to whom / had given my
whole being. But there was a kind of
delight even in my misery. Young per-
sons sometimes find pleasure in mis-
cry; old persons never do, or if they
do it is because by exhibiting their mis-
cry they may make those about them
miserable.
The small hours were growing lar
ger when. after long kiss, tore my
self away and after two or three hours
sleep was driven to the ship on which
I was to sail.
I went on board with a heart like
lead. Ny heart was not only heavy,
but there was smell of bilge water.
The weather was bad too. Neverthe-
less remained in the clouds, not rose
ate clouds, but lowering clouds. The
face of my fancee was still floating
among them, and l was floating with
her. Ny surroundings had not yet
destroyed this mingled happiness and
misery. For awhile longer l lived in
the clouds.
My first coming down to earth oc-
Cured on the third day out. For two
days the sea was smooth, and wrote
love letters most of the time, to be
mailed when we should reach the first
port. Then the waves began to dance
about us and l fell from lovesickness
to seasickness. And oh. what a fall
was there! My dreams were dissipat-
ed. didn't care to live long enough
to return to claim my bride. l wished
the ship would sink and swallow me
up in oblivion.
When l recovered l didn't resume
my love letters. l concluded that had
enough written to make sizeable
packet. sat on deck in steamer
chair, where l could keep my eyes on
the ocean surface, for in this way l
avoided seeing things turned topsy-
turvy.. could think of the girl left
behind me if wanted to, but prefer
red to concentrate my mind on mathe-
NAUTICAL problems for the purpose of
avoiding that COMPOUNDED seasickness.
Meanwhile we were sailing on. In
fin0n tho 7
in Shanghai, clerk in an American
mercantile house. l wasn't worth
much to the concern. Indeed, would
require to learn enough of the busi-
ness to be of any value in it. l kept
myself up during this year in an &C.
casional dream Of some future happy
day when l would return to claim my
bride. But she and l had different
worlds about us. nothing in short to
keep us together. and we fell apart.
I have forgotten who wrote the last
letter, but 1 think l did.
A bachelor may keep, or at least
appear, quite young at forty. My hair
at that age was not at all gray, and
1 kept it cut short. l was also always
we'll shaved. l returned to America
with competence-not for the girl l
had expected to make my wife, for she
had been married eighteen years.
reached America in summer time and
went to the mountains where l would
find a pure. dry air, which l hoped
would take some Of the Chinese lethar-
gy out Of me.
l met girl about the same age as
the one I had left twenty years ago.
1 was fattered that she set her cap
for me. wasn't very old, and I was
well able to support wife. The love
making between US. at least on my
part, had not the freshness. the zest,
of my first affair, but it was very
pleasant.
My fiancee was chaperoned by
sharp featured woman with a sharp
voice, who was having her strength
Slapped by the care of six children.
or rather four. for the two oldest
thought they knew how to think for
themselves. Soon after we were engag-
ed I was introduced to this lady, who.
in Offering me congratulations, said:
~ congratulate you. especially on
making an engagement that is practi-
cable this time.'
"This timer
Eyes. Your first was ridiculous,
considering that you were going to
live on the other side Of the world
"What do you know about that at
fair?''