New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1892-06-01

tWhy?"
."Well, you know I've been paying
her some attention
etAnd before committing yourself
you wish to get the opinion4of your
friends"
ssYou state it bluntly, aunt, but l
suppose that is about the truth. +"
: tsThen, Cecil, can not give you my
opinion
Cecil withdrew. Asmay be inferred,
ne was an indecisive fellow, and OF
course was not now satisfied. Praise
OF Bessie from Aunt Mildred would
have decided him. But he was left
exactly as before, except that he
could draw two opposing inferences.
First. that If his auut had not favor
ed his suit she would have advised
against it; second, that her refusal to
give an opinion meant that she oppos-
ed it.
Such men as he adopt tests, but he
had not ingenuity to invent one. The
secret of such doubt is usually high
sself-esteem, which conjures an ideal
worthy of affection. Oddly enough the
luminous point in Cecil's ideal was
fidelity. Bessie's social position was
level with his, but would she be true?
Wasn't she a coquette?
Tom Potion was q downtown
commission merchant-one Of those
men who forge ahead on the voyage
OF life and by the twin propellers,
energy and determination, reach q
port OF commercial success. Cecil and
he had been college mates, but their
late acquaintance had only been casua,
confined to chance meetings at social
gatherings. An outspoken man, but
withal thoroughly galland, &C
rauainred with . all the manageable
sadies worth knowing, he was just
the man to render the opinion Cecil
.craved
He was found in his glass-inclosed
office millerishly white from flour he
mad been examining before buying.
"Tom," began Cecil, after greetings,
az came to get your candid opinion
of Bessie Fallington." Ar.
PIotton looked 'sfool" at him, but
replied: .".z s...
E'Well, it depends on what the opin-
1on is based. AS a commission mer-
chant, say, she'd be a prime failure;
as g. sea captain, ditto, and as
'As wife, for instance
Chat depends on the man who gets
her" t
well for me, say?"
"Ohop exclaimed Plotton, running
his finger through some coffee grains
in a, tin box, you're in love with her,
are you?'
Cranky, yes"
''And before you put yourself in
danger Of. making a matrimonal
blunder you're around getting opin-
ions"
"Well, bluntly, yes. The same as
you look into Bradstreets before sell
ing to a stranger.
THE strangers credit is doubtful
when | do.
"Well?"
<<You doubt Bessie Fallington?"
"Good gracious, noW
<'Then what do you.want an opinion
of her for? If you don't doubt her
you're sure of her That's as plain as
A, B, c. fyou love her and are sure
Of her worth an opinion ism worth a
coffee grain, or shouldn't be. If you
love her you'll pitch in and move
heaven and earth to get her. 4
"But / ask your opinion, neverthe,
less
Whether it cuts or not?'
eyes"
"'Give her up.'
'.Why?"
First, if you doubt her, she won't
suit you.
ri don't grant Ghat.'
Second, she's a pronounced CO.
quette; wants wealth in husband; is
willfal; demands continued petting;
admires men OF distinction, men who
can cut q dash, and especially men OF
decision, but will quarrel with him il
ner way is crossed; doesn't know a
saucepan from a griddle, etc, ETC., full
OF faults-but as pretty as q spring
morning"
Graham rose pettishly.
"You don't believe my opinion. /
see. Very good; it's one sign you love
the girl. OF course you're invited to
her progressive euchre party next
week. Go and criticise her-if YOU
Can in sight OF her beauty. Then we'll
meet and compare notes.
Agreed. Good morning.
The next Tuesday evening found
Cecil in Bessie fashionable home. He
had exactly poised his mind, but the
first sight of her unbalanced it in her
favor. She was rarely beautiful, and
her welcome rang with genuine hospi-
taIity. 1t seemed impossible to criti-
else her; q good, true heart must be
the center Of such physical loneliness,
but Doubt whispered: wait and
watch"
OF guests, there were seven ladies
and eight gentlemen. Bessie had,
therefore, to choose her first partner,
and Cecil watched eagerly to- see which
lhis would be. It was Alfred Donald