Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-03-16

HerDeIiverer
He Was Old and
Feeble
By AGNES q. BROGAN
By AGNES @. BROGAN

Wundm AOWne Wueu no DeBdu "
take notice Of girls had an idea that
love was a kind of disease that came
unawares on person, but which Eas
incurable except by marriage with the
object that had excited 1t.
This idea never entirely left him.
But there comes to every young man
a period when he feels the necessity
OF q home, and he knows that there
cannot be a home for him without a
wife Such period came for Billy.
But he had never become inoculated
with love; he had never found his af-
hnity. He was growing out Of his
youth and longed for companion and
o home, but he still chung to the idea
that he must yet meet his mate, that
he would know her the moment he laid
eyes OIL her and that the rest depended
on him. Romance had not faded with
his increasing years, and he still pic
tured winning his wife by some brave
deed.
One day Billy boarded a trolley car
bound for the suburbs. When he was
about to do 30 young lady advanced
up to the steps, and Billy courteously
stood aside. She entered the car and
seated herself. Billy entered the car
and took care to seat himself on the
opposite side where he could gaze upon
her fair face for she was good to look
upon. She was tastefully dressed,
which Indicated that she was refined
On the whole, Billy was much pleased
with her appearance.
Billy regarded the young lady with
admiring eyes from the time they
entered simultaneously the trolley sub
urban. She was such an unusually
nice girl. Nice" in Billy's opinion,
was the all embracing word which
expressed her And as they few on
through the rlpening fields his fertile
mind was busy with possible schemes
for making her acquaintance. But the
girls absorbed aloofness forced Billy
to abandon these schemes one by one.
She was most provokingly compe-
tent person. The very car windows
moved obedlently up or down at her
touch, and she was supplied with all
the evening papers.
"YOu can meet EN-" unused Billy aft
err another longing glance at the girls
perfect profile meet 'em by the score
everywhere dances. dinners, theaters.
Some fellow who knows no more Of
you than your name comes along and
says, Mr.. Towne, Miss Jinks,' and it's
all right But here when the one girl
who seems worth while sits before you
your high standing with the syndicate,
your natural charms, count for moth
Ing. You Just have to let the miles
carry her on and on and out OF your
life"
After which bitter reflection Billy
whistled low and sadly.
The girl, whose face had been avert
ed, now turned II about, and there were
queer little wrinkles at the corners OF
the long dashed eyes. bent In ostenta-
tious interest upon the paper
'Jove," breathed Billy, and his heart
gave a queer thump, 'its the real thing
with me for sure-'love at first sightp y
His destination should have been the
stopping point just passed. Billy
Towne's business In that place was OF
some import. but unhesitatingly he re
malned In his seat. Whether or not
Cupid, the unreliable and facetious,
should see Ut to intervene, Billy deter
mined to give himself the rather un.
certain pleasure of keeping his divln
ity In sight until the last possible mo
ment. But what place should he name
IN asking for an extended hcket2
The girl herself settled the question,
leaning forward to speak to the con.
ductor az he came down the aisle.
"Will you please tell me-" she asked
and her voice was mice" too, how
| may best reach the D. and l.. railroad
station when we stop at Sherman ]
am going on In the train to the next
town above"
Certainly" the conductor replied
Take thesshort cut across the fields
You'll see the red station roof"
The same old wayT smiled the girl
Same old way" assured the conduc'
tor.
Billy knew that short cut too. It led
10 other routes than the one which the
girl was taking. The thick trees would
be all red and golden now. II was o
very romantic walk.
The girl, alighting with her suit case
threw back a quick glance OF annoy
ance as he followed her down tho car
steps. But. swinging his own yalise
Billy trudged on in apparent uncon
Germ. He knew that she still came be
hind him down the narrow path from
the constant stirring Of the leaves be
meath her feet. Ridiculous little boots
abe was wearing for rough walk like
this, he reflected. Billy wished desper
ately that he might at least relieve heI
Of the vnllse, but instinctively he real
lied the cold snub this offer would oc
casion. so before him the long patti
led, brown and dismally, to the red
rooted station.
II was all very hopeless. There IN
that second car he might sit, as before
In seat behind hers to wonder at the
soft wave Of her hair. the slumberine
mirth Of her eyes. Billy felt as poetical
as unhappy. On behind came the reg
ulnr rustllng OF the leaves
or all the foolsr' he told himself