The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1894-10-13
You see, we can't abolish love-but the
calamity of marriage might be-might be
Avoided ? inquired Marina calmly.

There was hooking CLEAN in thos,
thoughtful gray eyes of hers as she spoke.
No; We must recognize the inevitable
| fear; but something might be done, sure
ly, to moderate its evils
well. what should you say 10 seven
or ten years lease instead of the present
lifelong contract
Let me see, how would that work :?
said the young sailor musingly Il marry
you-don be alarmed; the case is purely
hypothetical at the end of seven
years You have had enough of me. But
although you may then be glad of your
liberty, your chances in the matrimonial
market cannot be. seven years hence. as
good as they are now. That isa difficulty,
ism t it?'
Yes, sir; and allow me to say that
your chances will not be any better than
mine, if can help it.
Miss Mulgrove, you are feminine and
not philosophic, interrupted Walton with
severity.
Pardon me; | am merely practical
At the end of those seven years you will
certainly try to marry again; and the next
lady of your choice will naturally come to
me for references.
"Um-that will be awkward A gen
nine widower is snapped up by your sex
without inquiries-out of sheer sympathy
but this widower, by arrangement, must
needs be armed with first-class testimonials
from his previous partner.
'.Of course, said she with mischiev-
Gus smile
Still, there is this to be said; couples
will have all the more reason for renewing
the lease with each other, because of these
unpleasant consequences we have been dis
cussing. In fact, in the majority of cases
it seems probable that the partnership
would be lifelong one, just as it is now.
.'Only they would. to make that certain,
always be obliged to be nice to each other,
said the young lady, mockingly.
How dreadful -
However. there would be an entirely
new theme for tea-table gossip That
would be at least one advantage of the new
matrimonial method Mr.. and Mrs So
and-Sos lease will shortly expire won
der if they intend to renew? Neither of
them has said word yet How are they
behaving "
Evidently, there were elements of strong
mindedness in Miss Mulgrove' character
But she possessed beauty and grace of be-
hayior to neutralize these She passed as
an ''odd girl among her female friends
none of them ever said worse than this.
With men she was distinctly popular
Her personal charms, no doubt. partly &C
counted for the iae;:: still it was, | think,
chiefly due to her ready comprehension of
the masculine temperament As her own
brother said-he was a naval officer and
Walton intimate friend Marina makes
fun enough of us poor wretches; but at the
same time we are not such blind puzzle
to her as to most girls She seems to I'M
derstand by instinct what mans notions
are like, and to accommodate herself to
them in what she says.
1t must not be supposed, however. that
Miss Mulgrove was in the habit of convers-
ing with all her male acquaintance with
Just as much freedom as she did with
Richard Walton. Him she had known
for many years. He and the brother re-
ferred to began their naval career together.
When on shore, they, as lads, were in the
habit of spending part of their holidays to-
gether And although now both of them
lieutenants, and serving on different ships,
it was an understood thing that friendship
with their respective friends should be
maintained. On the present occasion Lieu
tenant Walton visit had been somewhat
longer than usual; for unfortunately he had
been invaded home from the Gold coast
But his month stay at the parsonage
Marina father wasrector of a small parish
in remote part of Essex, near the Laidon
Hills-his month holiday was just coming
to an end In another three days he
would have tosreport himself to the admi-
rally.
And yet | am afraid he had only re-
covered from one malady to become the
victim of another. Gold Coast fever had
been succeeded by the fever of love.
Readers who are skilled in the diagnosis of
the complaint will already have discovered
in his talk about love and marriage indica-
tons Of his true state, state of mild deli
rum, when the tongue is charged with bit
terness for that and for those commonly held
most dear.
Another eonfrmatory symptom, as it
seems TO me, was that the young man sill
chung to the theme which his companion
had 50 oddly started; for after another in
terval of silence he remarked rather so
berry:
II cannot help thinking after all the
arrangement is the best one. The
true difficulty lies in finding a satisfactory
method of courtship.
Can you suggest any rules and regu-
lations? inquired Martha, still in that
calm and slightly sarcastic tone which gave
L I