The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-16
painful
Experience
BY SADIE OLCoTT

but when nave caused tue btpuiatioh
of lovers. This led to narration OF
experiences. Miss Dartmore said that
she had broken with lover because
she had invited him to dinner and, in
stead OF appearing In evening dress, he
had worn a business suit, Miss Win
tiers confessed that she had shown tenn
per while playing tennis with a man
who would doubtless have proposed to
her. He had sent ball that struck
her on the nose, drawing blood that
had stained a newly Numbered skirt.
There were other omissions, mishaps
and displays of natural imperfections
which lovers do not expect to find in
each other and which had the par
ties been wedlocked would not have
been considered of the slightest conse-
quence.
One lady of the party, still young
enough to repair any such damage,
sat mutely listening to these recitals,
wearing the while woebegone coun-
tenance. Being asked IL she had not
had such an experience, she admitted
that she had, but she had suffered so
severely In consequence that she could
not bear to talk about 1t. Every one
present urged her to tell the story,
promising sympathy, and all We're sure
that she could not herself In anyway
have been at fault Being finally per-
suaded, she spoke as follows:
'In my girlhood | always favored
boys older than myself, and since |
have been grown | have admired not
youths who talk of trivial subjects, but
men of caliber. Professor Poindexter
caught my fancy by his dignified APP
pearance and the depth Of his under
standing. / first saw him at lecture
he delivered ON Antiquity Of Litera-
ture.' 1t seemed to me that every
word he uttered weighed ton. The
party / was with remained after the
lecture, and | was introduced. / shall
never forget the courtly bow with
which he greeted me, and my heart
fiuttered at the look OF admiration he
gave me.
1.-THE very next day was informed
by one of the ladies of the party with
whom I had attended the lecture that
Professor Poindexter desired to know
me, and she asked permission to bring
him to call upon me. OF course / as
scented and, / admit, counted the days,
almost the hours, till he came. He
was very formal, but this only added
- a \ 81 fnr u Inn lar
ing the rest OF our acquaintance he
never unbent, but always treated me
with the most profound reverence,
which at times melted to tenderness.
aware that IL would be fatal for me
10 make a display OF my shallowness,
l contented myself with leading him
TO speak on ponderous subjects, then
listened, with my eyes fixed upon him
In rapt admiration, though i confess
| seldom understood what he was say
ing. Occasionally when n glimmer OF
his meaning permeated my dull brain
would venture some question per-
tanning to the subject, whereupon he
would kindly say that what ] failed TO
grasp had puzzled many of the strong
est intellects, and he would thus en-
ter upon an explanation that would
drown me in a sea of unintelligible-
ness.
MY admirer was twenty years old
er than /, but that only added reyer'
ence 70 the love felt for him.
Il cannot refer 10 the evening he
TO me without emotion" Here
the speaker wiped away tear. we
were I'm the drawing room. lighted by !
lamps with shades Of various hues.
was sitting on a sofa, he in an easy
chair directly before me. He took my |
hand in his and
The narrative was interrupted by a
nood OF tears.
Never mind the proposal. dear"
said several ladies' az once. Its too
affecting. Pass on to what caused the
The speaker composed herself, wiped
away her tears and proceeded:
I'VE had been engaged a month.
had introduced Professor Poindextc
20 my friends. proud OF him and b
learning. one day we went shoppin
together. Among other things my
aanoe bought was an alarm clock. lie
said be wished 10 put IN a few hours
OF study before breakfast and needed
10 be awakened. The clerk showed US
bow 70 set ii and gave Us a specimen
OF the alarm, which was loud enough
10 wake the dead. Ny fance conclud-
ed 20 take Il home himself since he
needed II the next morning, 50 be put
Il in his coattnn pocket We went
home IN a trolley car. Among the pas
seugers I recognized several of my &C
quaintances. 50 proud of my capture
was ] and 80 DESTROYS Of showing OF
biz learning that led him % talk on
m abstract subject Those who were
pear enough 20 bear what be said
we're listening intentiy when
The speakers sobs burst forth again.
shaking her utterance.
Poor thing calm yourselfT' came
from TIE listeners. while orc curious
ady cried fmrafientiv. stop voar
ard - on Finally the DE-
guuerneut cane.
The alarm clock IN Ms pocket weu.
o.
Nothing uas hsnrd for tine but
fe speakers sots tin lady staec.
aIJiH 81 ring very long