The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1894-07-14

ent I don't think he thinks about it,
you know. But she-she's pretty. You
needn't put that down."
Il was not about to do so,' observed
the philosopher
"She thinks life with him would be
just heaven; and-and she thinks she
would make him awfully happy. She
would-would be so proud of him, you
see."
Il see. Yes?'
"And-I don't know how to put it,
quite-she thinks that if he ever
thought about 1t at all, he might care
for her; because he doesn't care for
anybody else; and she's pretty
You said that before"
"Oh, dear! I dare say did. And
most men care for somebody, don't
they? some girl, l mean"
"Most men, no doubt" conceded the
philosopher.
well, then, what had she ought to
do? It's not a real thing, you know,
Mr.. birmingham. It's in-in a novel
was reading" She said this hastily;
and blushed as she spoke
Dear me! And it's quite an interest
ing case. Yes see. The question is,
Will she act most wisely in accepting
the offer of man who loves her ex-
ceedingly, but for whom she entertains
only moderate Affection
Yes, Just O. liking. He's just a
friend"
Exactly. Or in marrying the other
whom she loves ey-"
'.D%t's .s~ ~ How can she marry
him?"
He hasn't-he hasn't asked her, you
see."
'"True. I forgot. Let us assume,
though, for the moment, that he has
asked her She would then have to
consider which marriage would proba-
bly, be productive Of the greater sum
total Of
"Oh, but you needn't consider that"
But it seems the best logical order
We can afterWard make allowance for
the element of uncertainty caused
by
Oh, no. I don't want it like that"
I know perfectly well what she'd do if
he-the other man, you know-asked
her,
''You apprehend that"
"Never mind what I apprehend.
Take it just as told you"
VERY good. A has asked her hand,
B has not"
Eyes,
''May I take it that but for the dis
turbing influence Of B, A would be sat-
isfactory ory-er-cand1date?'
'Ye-es. I think so''
'She, therefore, enjoys certainty Of
considerable happiness if she marries
Az?
''Ye-es. Not perfect, because Of B,
you know. ''s s
z"Quite so, quite so; but still a fair
amount Of happiness. Is it not so?''
II don't-well, perhaps"
''On the other hand, if B did not ask
her, we are to postulate a higher de-
gree Of happiness for her."
Eyes, please, Mr.. Jerningham-much
higher"
For both of them?"
For her. Never mind him.
every well. That again simplifies
the problem. But this asking her is a
contingency only?'
Yes, that's all"
The philosopher spread out his hands.
'My dear young lady" he said, ''it
becomes a question of degree. How
probable or improbable is it?'
II don't know. Not very probable
unless"
"Weu?"
''Unless he did happen to notice, you
know"
"Ah, yes. We supposed that, if he
thought Of it, he would probably take
the desired step-at least, that he might
II" led to do so. Could she not-er-in-
,llcate her preference?'
She might try-no, she couldn't do
about such things
Il understand precisely. And it
seems to me, Miss May, that in that
very fact we find our solution.''
do we?" she asked
Il think so. He has evidently no na-
tural inclination toward her-perhaps
not toward marriage at all. Any feel
ing aroused in him would be necessari-
ly shallow and in a measure, artificial
and in all likelihood, purely temporary
Moreover, if she took steps to arouse
his attention one Of two things would
be likely to happen. Are you following
me?'
'Yes, Mr.. birmingham
EITHER he would be repelled by her
oVeratureS-Whlch you must admit is
not improbable-and then the position
| would be unpleasant, and even degrad-
ing to her, or, on the other hand, ne
might through mistaken feeling of
gallantry-''
Through what?'
Through a mistaken idea Of polite
ness, or a mistaken view of what was
kind, allow himself to be drawn into a
connection for which he has no genuine
liking. You agree with me that one or
other Of these things would be likely?"
eyes, I suppose they would, unless he
did come to care for her."
"Ah, you return to that hypothesis
I think it's an extremely fancifu one.
No. She needn't marry A, but she
must let B alone"
! The philosopher closed his book, took
off his glasses, wiped them, replaced
them and leaned back against the
trunk Of the apple tree. The girl pick
ed 4 dandelion in pieces. After a long
pause she asked:
You think BIS feeling wouldn't be at
all likely toto changer"
'That depends on the sort of man he
is. But if he is an able man, with in
tellectual interests which engross him
] "a man who has chosen his path in life