The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1922-07-13
come to your senses sometime !"

subtle change in certain matters,
however. And as | look back at it
now, am sure | can trace it's origin to
my "affair" with Paul Mayhem. Evi-
dently Mother had no intention Of run
ming the risk of any more cCurtships;
also evidently she intended to know
who my friends were At all events.
the old Anderson mansion soon be-
came the rendezvous of all the boys
and girls Of my acquaintance. And
such good times as we had, with
Mother always one of US, and ever pro-
posing something new and interesting
And because bOys-not a boy, but
boys-were as free to come to the
house as were girls, they soon seemed
to me as commonplace and matter-of-
course and free from sentimental in
terest as were the girls.
Again, wise little mother!
But, of course, even this did not
prevent my falling in love with some
one older than myself, some one quite
outside of my own circle Of intimates.
My especial attack Of this kind
came to me when I was barely eigh-
teen, the spring was being gradu-
ated from the Andersonville High
school. And the visible embodiment
of my alteration was the head master.
Mr.. Harold Hartshorn, a handsome,
clean-shaven. well-set-up man of q
should judge) thirty-fve years Of age.
rather grave, a little stern, and very
dignif1ed.
But how adored him. How hung
upon his every word, his every glance!
How maneuvered to win from him a
few minutes conversation on a Latin
verb or a French translation! How I
thrilled If he bestowed upon me one
of his infrequent smiles How l
grieved over his stern aloofnessl
By the end of a month had evolved
this: his stern aloofness meant that
he had ceen disappointed In love! his
melancholy was loneliness-his hear.
was bresking. How l lopged to bel
to heat, to cure! How thrilled at the
thought of the love and companionship
could give him somewhere in rose
embowered cottage far from the mad
ding crowd! (He boarded at the An
dersonville hotel alone now.) If only
he could see it as saw it. If only by
some sign or token he could know OF
the warm love that was. his but for
the asking! Could he not see that no
longer need he pine alone and unap-
preciated in the Andersonville hotel?
Why, in just a few weeks I was to
be through school. And then
On the night before commencement
Mr.. Harold Hartshorn ascended our
front steps, rang the bell, and called
for my father. knew because I was
upstairs in my room over the front
door; and saw him come up the walk
and heard him ask for Father. -
Oh, joy! Oh, happy day! BE knew.
He had seen it as I saw it. He had
come to gain Fathers permission, that
he might be a duly accredited suitor
for my hand!
During the next ecstatic ten min
utes, with my hand pressed against my
wildly beating heart, I planned my
wedding dress, selected with care and
discrimination my trousseau, furnished
the rose-embowered cottage far from
the madding crowd - and wondered
why Father did not send for me. Then
the slam Of the screen door downstairs
sent me to the window, d sickening
terror within me.
, Was he going-without seeing me,
his future bride? Impossible!
Father and Mr.. Harold Hartshorn
stood on the front steps below, talking.
In another minute Mr.. Harold Harts-
horn had walked away, and Father
had turned back on to the piazza.
As soon as could control my shak-
ing knees, I went downstairs.
Father was in his favorite rocking
chair. I advanced slowly. did not
sit down.
"Was that Mr.. Hartshorn?" I asked,
trying to keep the shake out Of my
voice.
"Yes."
"Mr. H-Hartshorn," I repeated stu
pidly.
Eyes. He came to see me about the
Downer place." nodded Father. "He
wants to rent it for next year."
ITO rent it-the Downer place" (The
Downer place was no ose-embowered
cottage far from the madding crowd!
Why, it was big, and brick, and right
next to the hotel! I didn't want to
live there.)
"Yes-for his wife and family. He's
going to bring them back with him
next year." explained Father.
"His wife and familyp' can mag
inc about how I gasped out those four
words.
Eyes. He has five children, be-
lieve, and"
But had fed to my room.
After all, my recovery was rapid. I
was in love with love, you see; not
with Mr.. Harold Hartshorn. Besides,
<ba pavt vaor won't to college And