Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-06-24
SANDRA is CHIDED BY HER
FRIENDS.
CHAPTER II.

EVEN as | declared that nothing
L. would make me marry Everett, l
felt l was not quite truthful. l
might after was older,
if he asked me.
The town boys anu girls teazed me
numerically about Everett. Some
of them dubbed him grandpa" and
made fun because Ne was as old as
my father. Dad was little older,
four years. He was forty-fve the
summer l met Everett. But didn't
mind their chaffing-very much. He
was so nice to me, l hardly think
any girl would.
"You are all jealous" l told Rose
Grandon, the prettiest girl in town.
Indeed, Pm not, honest, Sandra.
I'd rather marry a man without a
penny and as ugly as could be to
look at if / loved him, and he loved
me, than a man as old as Mr.. Ora
ham. Why when he is a real old
man all twisted up with rheumatism,
a girl your age would be real young.
The idea of marrying man to play
nurse to him never appealed to me-"
4 Really | never had thought seri-
ously of marrying Everett until
Rose put the idea into my head. At
terward | unconsciously looked at
him every time l met him in the
light of husband; not my husband,
necessarily, but some girls.
Everett Graham was tall, dark
and very handsome in an aristocratic
way. He was an accomplished man
of the world. That he was also
blase had no way of knowing, or
that he had been called tickle. He
dressed in perfect taste, and was
well-groomed. Rose said he looked
always as if he just that minute left
his Wallets hands.
| remember that l was a little
cross at Rose when she teazed me
when Everett visited Lakeville the
second time. | thought him very
wise, very generous, very kind. And
much more charming in his manners
than the boys with whom l had
romped and danced for years.
When he left the second time I
someway felt like crying,-but l
forced back the tears. | look horri-
bly, unattractive when / cry. Ny face
swells up, and my lids get so red.
/ choked a little when | said good
bye, however, and he must have no.
ticed it, because he squeezed my
hand, and his voice was almost like
a kiss, it was so tender. That was
the way / thought of it after he had
gone.
He brought me big box Of candy
and some magazines as a parting
gift, then after he had gone the next
town florist delivered me wonder
full box of roses. He bade mother
and father goodbye nicely, too, and
said he should be in town soon
again. That his business there
would require his attention.
l was awfully lonely after he left.
And for a day or two l "mooned"
about looking as if 81 had lost my
last friend; so Rose said. But Rose
never had been admired by a man
like Everett, SO forgave her. We
had been chums all our lives so she
felt privileged to say what she liked
to me. l wouldn't have stood it
from anyone else.
Mother was glad when Everette
went away, and said so. But father
rebuked her, and remarked:
"He is a good substantial man."
"But he is much older than San
dra, am afraid she will become in
terested in him. And such marriages
never turn out happily. l want my
girl to be happy, dear. AS you and
1 have been"
They didn't know l was where I
could hear them talking. 1t
once more made me think of Ever
EFT. in the light of a husband.
I wanted to be happy too! But
wouldn't it be nice to be married to
a man who was rich and generous,
and so good looking? He would be
50 kind to his wife she couldn't help
but be happy, OF course she would
MT be crazy in love with him like
the young people were in books l
had read, or like Rose seemed to
think was necessary But one would