Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-10-15
Their Ideas on
Matrimony
(copyright.)
BY H. IRVING KING

whether she would marry sol
der or poet. One or the other she
was determined on. Her parents,
worthy but rather commonplace Mr.
and Mrs. Landers, wanted her to
marry a successful business man. Sol
diers and poets are picturesque but
seldom overburdened with this worlds
goods, and the fond parents desired
above all things, that Charlotte should
be surrounded with all the comforts
and little elegancies after her mar
riage to which she had been accus
toned before 1t.
There were many young men of
irreproachable character and good
standing In Bradstreet's who might
have proposed to Charlotte II she had
given them any encouragement--but
she didn't This was distressing to
Father and Mother Landers; but what
can you do with romancing young
lady to whom the twanglng of Apollo's
Tyre, or the clash of the sword Of Mars
is sweeter music than the sound of
the cash registers bell2 SO Mr.. and
Mrs. Landers gave 1t up and took
Charlotte to a winter resort where the
girl was very sure size could either
snare among the orange groves poet,
or lure into her net commissioned
demigod of war from the nelghboring
army station.
After all Mr.. Landers was exceed
ingly well to do so he decided to let
the girl have her way. He rather
hoped that the victim would be sol
der. He had an idea that poets cost
more to support than soldiers; but
he didn't know Charlotte had not
been In the place week when she
made her catch. And 1t was a poet
He Was a good-looking poet, too; none
of your long -haired sort with frayed
collars and fringes on the bottoms of
their trousers-legs, but healthy, Wig
orous young man who played tennis
and golf, and rode and shot and stood
six feet as straight as an arrow. She
was introduced to him at hop at
the hotel, and the woman who did the
introducing whispered: HE writes
beautiful poetry" And his name was
all that could be wished-it was Reg
inald Ridgeway. Charlotte introduced
the question of poetry at once and
they had most delightful talk on
that subject between the dances. The
next night they took a stroll beneath
the palms and palmettoes and Reggie
reclted to her some of his own verses.
Next thing he gave her little volume
OF his own poetic works beautifully
bound In gilded leather, and Charlotte
got some of the pieces by heart and
to rejoice him greatly. Then one day
she heard newcomer at the hotel
address him as Major
"Why did that man call you Major2'
asked Charlotte.
"Oh, | was major during the
World war" replied Reggie. an show
you some of the decorations | got, II
you are interested In such things"
Interested? Well, rather And for
the next two days she kept shutting
him of when he tried to talk poetry
and made him talk war. Could any
thing be more perfect2 A poet and
soldier Not regular soldier to be
sure, but still sOldier-he told Char
lotte he was still in the reserve. And
besides she was actually In love with
him-and he, apparently, with her.
She shuddered as she thought Of what
might have been had she yielded to
her parents wishes and married
common business man. Charlotte did
not fail to express to Reggie her de
testation of "tradesmen" and business
men'-whereat Reggie made no re-
mark from his Olympian heights Of
war and poetry he could afford to ig-
more such creatures. Then came the
day at last when Reginald intimated
that 1t was time he was getting back
to New York. That night, as the full
moon shed its light over sea and land
and the orange blossoms flung abroad
their perfumes upon the gentle winds,
Reginald opened his heart to Char
lotte said lot Of poetic things and
got permission to "see father" Mr..
Landers received the young man with
a rather mournful If resigned counte-
nance but after a few moments con
versatIon with him appeared to Char
lOtte all smiles and chuckles and
blurted out: "Rldgeway has been to
see me and It's all right. You are
sensible girl, after ALL That young
man has got money. take It that
the firm Of Rldgeway & Ridgeway Is
about the biggest wholesale firm Of
cheesemongers In Little Old New
York"
"Oh, Reginald" said Charlotte
about an hour after, as she sat with
her head reclining on her lovers broad
shoulder, you deceived mel thought
you we're a poet and a soldier"
80 l am poet" replied he, "and
a blamed good one, too--though the
critics won't admit It; and as for
soldering record speaks for
that"
True, true" said Charlotte, "and
TO me you will always be my poet, my
soldier. It's too bad cheese pays bet
ter than poetry-lsn't itT'
"Oh, | don't know" replied Reggie
poetry pays pretty well since 1t has
brought me you"