Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-24
bellows and losing flesh like succi, warrant

bellows and losing flesh like Succi, warrant
you"
well, of course we did what all Young eOu-
pies DO under such circumstances. We bathed,
we rowed, we danced together, we even read
poetry aloud, and throve upon it, too, a des-
perate diversion as shall prove to you in 3
few moments Yes, and we quarreled too.
pecially il we missed being together for a single
half hour during the day. How marriage molds
our natures. With its daily blows it FORCES SEN
timent into senses. Now we might be separated
for weeks without the slightest recrimination.
"She liked me, too. was sure. more from
unconscious avowals than from anything che
said Had attempted to follow the purport
OF her remarks, indeed. / should have been ike
one who wanders in a maze and continually re-
turns to the starting point. She was contra
dictory that memory was always waging war
upon hearing. Besides she was frivolous when
she should be earnest and earnest when she
should be frivolous She had an embarrassing
habit OF laughing at nothing, which she would
render more exasperating by explaining that
she was laughing at me. used to cali her Miss
Contrariety; and DO you know, sometimes now
Will so call her without thinking. and then you
should see the children stare and cry: oh,
mamma, what pretty red cheeks you haver
Il often think that the pretenses which young
girls put forth during courtship are like thick
foliage which prevents tho sun from wooing
the tender flower too ardently. There is a del
icate essence which otherwise Mould escape for
ever"
a
| about jerked becfS''
You vandal You would interrupt a noe
turne by whistling 'McGinty' really believe.
but to continue-like brotherly love. We. of
| course, had many q discussion regarding the
tender passion. just as children like TO play
| with hay cutters and razors She would main
| tain that woman, and that man, was more
capable OF pure, constant regard. She would
| instance Penelope and Griselda; would coun-
ter with Orpheus and Werthoer. When we be-
no TIA kA-% Al
| love Is thing apart and would retort with
frallty, thy name Is woman. And then the
| sparks would fly! She had habit of drawl-
ingly saying, oh. you think so, do you? which
would fairly madden me, and yet would love
| her the more for her sauciness. Such conduct
| in our dear ones is like their photographs
| makes us think more of them, for We know how
much nicer they really are
1t would never recall Jezebel ss q conserva-
| tive type, would it,
Perish the unmannerly thought We used
TO have many a fierce encounter. too. about
consistency. WAS wont to say that ii was the
| only Jewel that women did not crave. She
would reply that in man it could be found only
IN his brains and that they were apt TO possess
the consistency Of pudding One day she was
boasting of her own steadfastness of purpose
IN comparison with my vacillation. So sud-
denly said, We'll, be consistent for once. Marry
me, for l know that you love me- II had
thrown my arms around her neck and had
yielded. for the first kiss is the rubicon of love-
There was invitation, too, in the ebb and how
or her cheeks. But L stood like a gillie in
pillory. So she plucked up courage and smartly
answered. Despite your superior knowledge Of
| my affections, say no, and I'll stand by it,
too TO prove my consistency until that same no
means yes
''She swept Martha Washington courtesy
and then glided away over the lawn like Daphne
escaping from dunder-headed Apollo; nor did
ia oh ,r1aa ID h.
hazel eyes tighten the midnight of my soul.
Il spent the rest of that day in little room
| under the piazza, where a white-coated
magician named Mike evoked spirits. never
/ have cared for cocktails since, there is some
| thing sickish about the sugar in them, isn't
there? Well, l was so tired by bedtime that
Mike had TO help me to my room, for which
| service gave him my watch and all the money
j had. And yet could not sleep. Her fatal
words, that she would be obdurate until no
meant yes, haunted me like ones shadow at
| twilight L resolved to make one last deter
mined effort. / would WOO her through my
muse, taking her cruel dictum for my text.
| With infinite labor | first selected the rhym-
ing finals and then sufxed the rest of the lines.
know that was aWfully thirsty when l fin
ished, but that may have been caused by the
sugar
perhaps the verses were dry" suggested
| My friend Smith ignored this hypothesis
He opened his pocket book, and drew out a
| PesPNA sSAAo" "Aeh obO. NC fSfSAcAls
| kissed.
''See," he exclaimed, there they are. She
| gave them to me after We were married. Shall
l read them TO you?''
''Yes," hesitated, ''if they are short as well
as sweet" And he read as follows:
IF No were Yes, and Yes were No,
| The world would topsy-turvy 80.
| A veto then would be assent.
| Defeat would JON haaus with Content,
| And war would Ilesn arOlTranent,
| No were Yes. and Yes were No.
IF No were Yes, and Yes were No,
| The tlid would the bollier grow,
| A blush OF shame would urng delight
And harsL reDuifs would = an tae fyht,
| The b ackest night would then be light.
| II No were hes, ana Hes were No.
| ..If No were Yes and Yes were No.
The poor woud harvest well from woe,
| Fer Plenty, with q sU.en face,
| Would seek them out in every place,
| And UelIness would then be grace,
| If No were J Is, and Yes Were NO.
| "If No We're Yes. and Yes We're No.
| The weak were strong. the E,lh were low,
| Grim disappointment would be bliss
| Who won would lose, WHO hit would miss,
| A frown would thus presl-e a kiss,
| If No were Yes, and ! Is were No.
| ''If No were Yes. and Yes were No,
| Thy scorn would be my dearest foe,
| Thy coquetries, which now lear,
| Would bring tiny day OF conquest near,
| For through thy w.ies I'd " N thee dear
II No were Ies, and Yes were No."
| SIS that alp asked, as he folded the pre-
| cious paper.