Evening journal., 1912-02-14
GENERAL
FEBRUARY
And What He Brought About
By HARRIET c. THOMPSON


rely to drive out an enemy. these war
riors being General January and Gen
eral February.
Among those flying before the re-
doubtable General February was Peter
Apherson. middle aged bachelor. who
took train for Hampton Roads Mr..
Apherson. sitting one evening, when
the first 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, and the elder. seeing the op-
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 tin 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 a purse where they had been
sitting. He took It in charge.
Expecting 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 It. for there were not
many people at the place and they in
n narrow compass. Indeed. the very
next morning I'm n sun parlor of his
hotel facing the "roads" he saw the
younger OF the two ladies sitting
alone. Approaching her he handed
her the purse. She thanked him. II
seemed to him mechanically, or, rather
without surprise.
Place in company a man and a two-
man, both unmarried not tap 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
a home But they discuss the matter
in general terms. carefully steering in
the broad current, though sometimes
they get to particularizing before they
know II.
"Are you married?" asked the lady.
"No, ! am not. but confess ! would
Ike TO be. have grown to an age
wherein single life has lost its zest
| live at q club and am bored there
But what can l do? Marriage-mar.
riage with mating--is not a matter
that can be arranged as one would
rent n house or buy an automobile.
In my case there is a special obstruc-
ton. When l was twenty I was en-
gagged TO a young girl. whom lost.
was then impecunious, and her family
would not hear OF a match between
us. My hancee relied upon me as TO
what was best 10 be done, and felt
II my duty TO tell her that we should
part. My heart remains with her
Should / marry today honesty would
compel me to confess that I could
only give wife a companionable ar
fection.
81 am I'm 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
I and wealthy. l could not give him
my heart, but at that time I did not
consider It obligatory TO tell him so
I loved another during my married
life Of ten years and love that other
today. should / marry / should now
feel IL 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 mei
often after that in the sun parlor
Apherson gave the widow opportunity
to tell him more about herself, but eli
ther she did not take his hints or sh'
was not inclined TO give the desireS
information. One day Apherson sale
70 her:
"As / told you when we first met,
am very tired OF single life. wish
companion with whom to make
home. ] would be pleased-to exchang
information concerning ourselves wit
a view 10 marriage. You understan
that my heart was long ago given I
another and remains with that Othe
today. / understand the same with I,
gard TO you"
/ Il appreciate the compliment 70
pay me: but, now that / am free
I marry the man o. my choice, / wi
marry no one else"
Pardon me. supposed that ana
-. had ended as mine has ended"
1.-THE man who loved me has new
married"
. "Indeedr'
"No. and l have lately met him."
mot here"
"Yes. here. Not long ago viii
walking with my mother / passed hiI
He did not recognize me, but I reco
nized him. Returning we sat down {
the same seat with him. In order
bring about meeting left my pur
on tho
''Marionw
"Yes. / am Marion"
There are certain things about wor
en- that puzzle me. Why did Marie
recognize me. ! not recognizing hel
rhen why did she resort to a ridic
lous subterfuge to draw me TO her 4
stead OF coming out in frank. manly
I mean frank way and making he