The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-09-23
IF CONFIDENCE
 IS SHATTERED

Unless you can think, when the song
 is done,
 No other is soft in the rhythm; Unless you can feel, when left by one,
 That all men else go with him; Unless you can know, when unpralsed
 c by his breath,
 That your homage itself wants prov
 ing;
 Unless you can swear. for life, for
 Oh. fear to call it loving" There is hardly a parent, brother or. sister who is not anxious for the best welfafe of a daughter who is go- ing out with her girl friends six even ings in the week. She is the merry, happy inclined girl who loves music, dancing and all that is joyous and nairthful.
 These traits in her nature bring low CTS, who come to her and whom, it Is noticed after a time, begin to show serious intentions. When the first beau ideal comes along steadily to the houses if he is a stranger to the home folks and has an air about him of inn portance and that he is desirable, he says deliberately: If you have a de- sire to inquire who am, will furnish you with the names of the best people in the town or community where l have passed my years"
 He hardly thinks Ithe good worthy folks, as he has found them, will take the trouble to search out his connec- tions and habits knowing how much their dear girl thinks of him, as all of her friends do.
 This bluff having been given. they get on tolerably well in their oddly matched romance, assisted, by the ap- plause of their young admiring chums. They like each other, and have every Iconfdence that tehir love affair is to be smooth and all that it should be. If they frequently have slight quar- Irels, and it is slyly whispered that the young man is under the influence of the wine cup midnights, is a gay rev Leler of sports and often. falls behind 1 in paying his bills, those who are nearest to their loved girl begin to lose confidence in what he is and it is talked over that they should break off the match before it goes farther. l Too often the girls are wilful and bemoan the fact that there should be interference between them. That 1t | is only hearsays and they are conf dent that he is good lover much tstnned against. Older, experienced relatives regret causing a disturbance, lrealfzing that often the more that is said against one who is said to be un- worthy the more determined the girl becomes to defend him and not forsake him.
 1 Not until later does the truth come i forcibly home to them that their in- terested home folks are ever ready to Egive honor to whom honor Is due. Even some of them are willing to meet him lha1fs way in reconciliation.
 I If there is determined opposition it is lastly, because it impresses them be-
 yond doubt that it is a match wholly
 united to be made or sanctioned. |SWhile she has a good, happy ydfspost- l ton. his. turns out to be brusque
 quick tempered, and given to moods to which a wife would find it very un- pleasant to yield.
 Thus it happens that a girl may bs
 considered attractive, and be highly regarded by score of young men lwhom she has known a. long time and yet she may fail to win the con fldence or to influence worthily .the lone man whom she believes she cares most of. all for. Often her choice falls lon the last person in the world whom lone would think would attract her But she has the tenderest of sympa- thy, the oHtstretched hands of all who love her, when her eyes are opened tc
 the truth that her confidence is shat tered beyond reparation,