LITTLE foolishness of fearsome little man, justifies that of 

 JOURNEYS which man hotly disapproves. 



To be a widow of thirty-six, fair of face and comely in 

 form, to own a beautiful home and have an income 

 greater than you can spend, and still not enough to 

 burden you what nobler ambition ! 

 The Baroness had a little encumbrance a son aged 

 ten. I would like to tell of his career, but alas, of him 

 history is silent, save that he was heir to some of his 

 father's proclivities, grew up, became an army officer 

 and passed into obscurity in middle life, dishonored 

 and unswung. 



Such a widow as the Baroness von Hollwede is not 

 apt to mourn for long. She was dourted by many, but 

 it 'was Major Humboldt who found favor in her heart. 

 I assume that all of my gentle readers have in them 

 some of the saltness of time, so details can safely be 

 omitted let imagination bridge the interesting gap. 

 QThe Major was a few years younger than the lady, 

 but like the gallant gentleman that he was, he swore 

 i' faith before the notary that they were of the same 

 age, just as Robert Browning did when officially in- 

 terrogated as to the age of Elizabeth Barrett. Thomas 

 Brackett Reed avowed that no gentleman ever 'weighed 

 over two hundred pounds, and I also maintain no 

 gentleman ever married a 'woman older than himself. 

 CJThe marriage of Major Humboldt and the Baroness 

 von Hollwede was a most happy mating that fully 

 iustified the venture. The Major had done his work 

 bravely in the Seven Years' War, and was now an at- 

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