Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1914 — THE LAND OF FATRER TIME 1234588 [ARTICLE]

THE LAND OF FATRER TIME 1234588

Love’s Young Dream Has a Rude Awakening.

“Stranger, rnought I ask what time it’ll be when we git to Millville?" “Five.-flfteen," 1 replied. Looking behind me. I saw a man who appeared to be about fifty years old. He w.r; ill at ease about something, but whether it was in finding himself in a civilized land, for wnicti he was by no means fitted, or was approaching some crisis in his I could not tell. I encouraged Hir.i to talk, and he did so. Twenty-five years before hi hud been jilted He had gone to the gold regions and made a fortune. R*.:eutly learning that his former love was single, he had renewed his proposition of a quarter of a century l>efore. The woman had returned a prompt acceptance, and he was going to his home to be made happy after so many years of waiting. He opened a carpetbag and took from a soiled roll of papers a card photograph. It was the saucy face of a pretty girl of eighteen. “Thar she air, stranger; tbar’s Mahuldy. I bev kep’ thet pictur’ by me ever since I left her, an' she wrote me thet one of me. taken about the same time, hed been on the parlor mantel, whar she could see it every day. In her last letter she warmed up over it. sayin’ she was lookin’ anxiously fur that black mustache, that roun’ cheek, them raven locks she’d knowed years afore.’’

The man’s mustache was a yellow gray, his cheek a furrowed leather, and on the top of his head stood a fewscattered hairs like timber on a mountain that had swept by fire. 1 looked from him to the likeness of his early love, and it occurred to me that the same changes had doubtless occurred in her.

“My friend.” I said, “do you think you will know the lady w hen you meet her?”

“Sartin. D'ye suppose I could ever fufgit that purty face?” “I would like to bet you a tenner that you won’t know lier.” He dived into his pocket, drew forth a fat roll of bills and, wetting his thumb, selected a ten dollar bill, which I mated. Then I arranged with him to send for his fiancee to come to the hotel we agreed to stop at. and lip was to see her among other women, tie gave me his name. Mark Spellbinder’ while his betrothed was Mahuldv Rails. After Mr. Spellbinder and I had reached the hotel I mailed a note to Miss Rails, saying that if she would call at the hotel that evening a friend of her lover wofild give her informa tion of him. About 8 o'clock I was informed that a lady wished to see me in the parlor. I found a very fat person, with grizzly gray hair—wliat there was of it—the front teeth decayed and a look of chronic dissatisfaction on her face. “Miss Ralls, I believe?” “Yes. sir. Miss Rails. What ye got to tell me ’bout Mark Spellbinder?” “He is here in this house. He w ishes to know if you will recognize him." “Recognize him? Why not?” “He's older, you know.” “So am I. but I hope I'm not a fright.” I whispered to a waiter to tell Mr. Spellbinder to come in. There were several people in the room, including a girl of twenty-five. Before Spellbinder arrived 1 purposely left Miss Ralls and walked to a fireplace. The groom expectant came in and looked inquiringly about him. If his eye touched Miss Rails, it did not remain upon her for more than a moment. Then, after taking in several women, it rested on the young lady. It had been arranged between him and me that he was to leave the room without giving any evidence of having made a selection.

As soon as he was gone I returned to Miss Rails and after a brief chat on unimportant matters told her that her lover had lieen In the room. “Been here—in this room? I don't b'lieve it. Only one man has come in since I’ve been here, an’ he was an’ old conger, bald as coot an’ with cheeks like a new plowed field.” “That was he. I feared you wouldn’t recognize him.” And without waiting for more words I excused myself and joined Mr. Spellbinder. “Well, did you pick her out?” I asked. “Yaas.” he said, with a sigh. “She haiu’t near so purty as she war. but she’s kind o’ nice anyway.” “Which one was it?” “The girl by the winder.” “You’re mistaken. Miss Kails sat In the far corner.” “W h-a-a-t! The fat4d<l cat with snaggle teeth?” “You shouldn’t speak so disrespectfully of the woman you are to marry.” He\looked bewildered. Several times he started to say something, but failed to get it out. At last he took out the roll of |)Mls 1 had seen once before and handed it to me. "Stranger." he said. "I feel kinder, ’s though somepiu war goin’ to happen to me. If somepiu does, give that to Mahuldy.” He turned and walked away. I returned to the parlor. Miss Rails had vanished. The next morning I learned that Mr. Spellbinder had taken an early train for the west. 1 sent a messenger with the bills he had left to Miss Rails—l counted $2.q00-then took the train for home. I have never heard of either the man or the woman since.