Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-10-03

am to do. When man says he can
not afforl . thing. you are not in doubt
concerning his meaning. y
Then you mean simply that I have
not enough money to satisfy you?"
- don't see any particular benefit to
be derived from pursuing this subject, "
was the evasive response. Il would
not hurt your feelings for any thing,
Jack" she added, ..and I do not wish
to be personal"
"But it is mighty personal mat
tor. !" I insisted, land please answer
this question: If you loved me would
you still say you couldn't afford to mar
ry9" I did not have to wait for her re-
ply.
The more love I had for man,
Jack. the more I should insist that I
could not afford marriage"
'Great Scott!" said l, out OF the most
acute hewilderment, ''what mess this
Is" And then neither of us spoke for
some moments, though my tormentor
laughed till the tears ran down her
face, and, like the susceptible fool I
was, laughed with her.
''There wouldn't be any marriages,
kate." 1 remarked, after awhile; 1T
all girls reasoned as you do. Look at
so-and-so;" mentioning two girls in
her set who had married within the
year. %.i
Eyes, look at them," she replied,
with flashing eyes. Zone of them has
gone home to live with her father be-
cause her husband has lost his situa-
ton, and the other will be seeking a
divorce in less than a year on account
OF her lord and masters dissipation.
They didn't think, Jack, whether they
could afford to marry or not. They
believed themselves madly in love,
and argued that love would last, and
love would provide; but it hasn't.
''But I can PROVIDE I remarked;
and just at this critical juncture Hates
father walked in. and I was again
tripped up.
The only satisfaction to be extracted
from this call was that Kate had been
kind. She had made use of me, and
hadn't snubbed me. Two very dry
crumbs of comfort, and only just lit
tie better than starvation. Her ques-
ton at our garden-party interview,
show much have you saved?" has also
been continually present with me; and
from that moment began to save, not
because saving would find me favor in
her eyes, but because it seemed to stir
up some element of thrift that had
lain dormant in my nature. What
couldn't that girl do with me if she
were only willing to take me in charge!
Clay in the hands of the potter would
be adamant, in comparison.
The next time we met was on Broad
way. had been abroad three months,
and though I had thought of her con-
stantly and been sorely tempted TO
write her, 1 had refrained, for fear of
being laughed at.
''How long have you been back?'
she asked, in her old, kindly, otf-hand
manner, as we shook hands.
''Just arrived. Engaged yet? or
can't you afford it?''
''Not yet," she answered, with her
most radiant smile.
''When do you expect to be able?"
Her reply was the most astonishing
statement l ever heard in my life.
That girl is insane. There is no doubt
about it. But she is the loveliest
lunatic that ever breathed the breath
of life.
''When I can take care of myself.
Jack, with my own hands, she an
swered, with a gravity and earnestness
she had never shown me before, ''and
can support my husband, also, should
misfortune or illness overtake him, I
shall feel as if have divine right to
marry. But not before.
At this point I could not help ex-
claiming: "Ridiculous!'' What man
could?
''Thank your said she. my hus-
band will be too broad and too sensi-
BILE, to say nothing of well-bred, to
make such a remark as that
Hang your husband!' I retorted,
stung to madness by her cool, prac-
teal words.
'Catch him first," was the laughing
answer, and now the violet eyes danced
with fun. ''But honestly, Jack, that
man must be paragon of all the Writ
ues."
Economical, to begin WITH" 1 re-
sponded, ''stingy, parsimonious, mig
gardly. And while I am on this close
listed subject, let me say that ever
since that night, several hundred years
ago, of Mrs. Wyndham's garden-p party,
when you asked me how much had
saved, I have worn the bank steps
thin, hieing thither with my deposit.
Whenever am inclined to buy q suit
of clothes, consult the spirit of my
great-grandfather, who was down on
any fellow who had more than one
suit year; and the restaurants and
billiard rooms that once knew me,
know me no more. I am getting now