The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-06-15
BITTER BITTERsWEET

Women aren't to be trusted. They
haven't any hearts and no considers
alton for people who do have. Per-
haps you think that sounds cynical
for man of nineteen, but, being a
Sophomore in college teaches a fell
low something, and I've seen bit of
the world.
When school closed this summer
came home for vacation as usual, but
things seemed awfully slow for
awhile. Williamsport is a good little
town, but dull, you know. Things
livened up bit later, though.
The Williamsons next door who are
darn near intimate enough with us
to be called members of the family,
always have bunch of people out
from the city in the summer time
They'd already started to gather
when | got home and that very night,
in spite of having just arrived, they
came after me for beach picnic in
the moonlight. We went altogether,
eight of US, and my married sister
along for chaperone, in Billy Will
iamson's big car. Introduced at a
record rate of speed and piled in in a
hurry, course | didn't notice anything
unusual about the bunch but when
we arrived at our final destination,
as they say I'M books-O, Geei Let
me tell you, she was the sweetest bit
of the well-known feminine sex that
ever | saw No use trying TO describe
her, but I'll never forget the CLINT of
moonlight on her bobbed golden hair,
and that shy, trusting way she had
of raising her eyes to look up at me.
| We had a jolly time, | suppose, but
the only thing ] remember is hazy
impression Of golden hair, golden
moonlight and-well, the lunch. we
took along was darn good!
When I got home mother came in.
| to my room to talk Il moment. A
fellows mother always acts bit
mushy after he's just got home, and
| don't generally appreciate it much,
but it was different this time. | asked
her lot about the people who were
staying at the Williamsons, particu
larly- Marjorie. That was her name
MARJORIE. She smiled kind of
queer and wasn't particularly en-
thusiastic. "Why she's nice
enough youngster, son." she said,
"but rather a fly-away, don't you
| think ?"
felt surprised that Mothers
Judgment wasn't better than that.
mo" told her quickly. Then ! shut
up FOR | realized that she couldn't
understand how fellow feels when
he meets someone who really appre-
ciates him. dreamed about her
that night, but dreams don't do jus'
tiee to people like her She was
well, she was a peach al right!
Next morning went around to the
Williamsons early-.to see Billy. Billy
wasn't. there. He'd taken Marjorie
out in the canoe. Seems like she
loves to be on the water i'm the early
morning. ! wondered how Bill had
ever managed to get around before
nine o'clock He's the LATEST white
man in this town.
Next morning Bill didn't get ahead
Nor the next, nor the next indefi-
nitely. Course all the gang hung
around but it was easy TO see that !
was the favored one. And SO time
passed until the night before she
left.
Man, ! felt badly about seeing her
go! But it wasn't all black. l felt
as if that last night were like thai
little red berry that they call the bit
tersweet for she was passing over all
the bunch. Bill included, to go out
in the canoe with me. Bill wasn't
angry, he was Just plain mad. | felt
sort of sorry for him for | knew, if
/ had been in his place how I'd have
felt.
There was a glorious moon like the
one that shone when first saw Mar
jorie. She was all in white and
looked dainty and unearthly-like an
angel We drifted along without
padi6ng much, or taking either.
| Just few murmured words and the
sound of the water. | felt sad, but
it was nice feeling, too. l mean
we'll, anyway, | was enjoying myself
in spite of the parting. | forgot that
my shoe pinched my foot and that
the mosquitoes were humming
around. l drifted into beautiful
daze and the canoe drifted against an
ugly snag. It capsized and we went
with it, naturally. She was soaked
and | felt rather damp, too, when we
reached the shore. came out of my
trance and Marjorie didn't look the
same either. The eurls in her bobbed
hair had disappeared and some of
the peach-bloom from her face. And
she was angry-boy! she was sore!
Wouldn't even let me walk along be
side her, and she called me names, for
| being so clumsy. ! went home and
there wasn't anything sweet about
those berries-they We're all bitter.
Next morning l went to the train
to see her off. She had asked me to
so before the baptism. When ! got
there her arms were full of flowers
and the platform full of fellows. And
listen: After all the time and money
and alteration that I'd spent on her,
she cut me dead Women are like
that-heartless, ungrateful. | I'M
6erstand now how killing felt whom
| ha ,xrr.sf., .sI'ha Vamni,,., IND I