Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-02-28
THE LUCKY MAN.

"Aunt, what is your true opinion of
Bessie Fallington?"
Old Mrs. Graham smiled over her
gold spectacles at her nephew Cecil, and,
with just a touch of humor, asked:
"Why"
"Well, you know I've been paying her
some attention.
"And before committing yourself you
wish to get the opinions of your friends. "
"You state it bluntly, aunt, but l sup
pose that is about the truth"
"Then, Cecil, cannot give you my
opinion"
Cecil withdrew. As may be inferred
he 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 the
opposite differences. First, that if his
aunt had not favored his suit she would
have advised against it, second, that her
refusal to give an opinion meant that she
opposed it,
Such men as he adopt tests, but he
had not ingenuity to invent one. The
secret of such doubt is usually self es-
TEEN, which conjures an ideal worthy
of affection. Oddly enough the lumi-
nous point in Cecil's ideal was fidelity
Bessie's social position was level with
his, but would she be true? Wasn't she
coquette?
Tom Plotton was down city commits
sion merchant-one of those men who
forge ahead on the voyage of life, and by
the twin propellers, energy and deter
mination, reach port of commercial
success. Cecil and he had been college
mates, but their late acquaintance had
only been casual, confined to chance
meetings at social gatherings. An out
spoken man, but withal a thorough gal
liant, acquainted with all the marriage
able ladies worth knowing, he was just
the man to render the opinion Cecil
craved.
He was found in his glass inclosed
office, millerishly white from -four he
had been examining before buying.
"Tom," began Cecil, after greetings,
II came to get your candid opinion Of
Bessie Fallington."
Plotton looked "fool" at him but re-
piled:
"Well, it depends on what the opinion
is based. AS commission merchant,
say, she'd be a prime failure; as sea
captain, ditto; and as"-
"As wife, for instance"
"That depends on the man who gets
her."
"Well, for me, say?"
"Ohoi" exclaimed Plotton, running his
finger through some coffee grains in tin
box, "you're in love with her, are your"
Cranky, yes."
"And before you put yourself in dan
ger of making matrimonial blunder
you're around getting opinions"
"Well-bluntly, yes. The same as you
look into Bradstreets before selling to a
stranger"
''The strangers credit is doubtful
when do"
"WellY'
"You doubt Bessie Fallingtong'
"Good gracious, nor
"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
ABC. If you love her and are sure
of her worth an opinion isn't worth a
coffee grain or shouldn't be. If you love
her you'll pitch in and move heaven and
earth to get her."
"But ask your opinion, nevertheless" :"
HWbether il cuts Or nOt?"
"Yes."
"Give her up"
"Why?"
"First, if you doubt her, she won't
suit you"
81 don't grant that"
Second, she's pronounced coquette;
wants wealth in husband; is willful;
demands continual petting; admires
men of distinction, men who can cut a
dash and especially men of decision, but
will quarrel with him if her way is
crossed; doesn't know a saucepan from
a griddle, etc., full of faults-but pretty
as 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