The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-24
The Philosopher
N THE
Apple Orchard.

IL was charuNngly mild and balmy
Gay. The sun shone beyond the orchard
and the shade was cool inside. a light
breeze stirred the boughs OF the old apple
tree. under which the philosopher sat.
None OF these things did the philosopher
notice, unless 1t might be when the wind
blew about the leaves OF the large volume
on his knees, and he had to find his place
again. Then he would exclaim against the
wind. shuttle the leaves till he got the right
page, and settle 10 his reading. The book
was a treatise on anthology; IL was written
by another philosopher, a friend of this
philosophers: il bristled with fallacies and
this philosopher was discovering them all,
and noting them on the fyleaf at the end.
He was not going to review the book Gas
some might have thought from his be-
havior). even to answer it in a work of
his own 1t was just that he found
pleasure in stripping any poor fallacy
naked and crucifying IT.
Presently a girl in a white frock came
unto the orchard. She picked up an apple.
bit it and found 1t ripe. Holding it in her
hand she walked up to where the philoso-
pher sat and looked at him. He did not
stir She took a bite out OF the apple.
munched it and swallowed it. The phllos-
opher crucifsd a fallacy on the fiy-leaf.
The girl flung the apple away.
Mr.. birmingham" said she. 'are you
very busy
The philosopher, pencil in hand. looked
up.
mo. Miss May" he said. mot very"
Because i want your opinion"
In one moment said the Professor,
spologetically
He turned back to the fly leaf and began
10 fF last 20
the cross. The girl regarded him, first with
amused impatience. then with a vexed
frown, finally with a wistful regret. He
was so very old for his age she thought
he could not be much beyond thirty; bis
hair was thick and full of waves; his eyes
bright and clear; his complexion not yet
Invested Of all youths relics.
Now, Miss May. I'm at your service"
said the philosopher. with a lingering look
book. keeping it, however. on his knee.
The girl sat down just opposite to him.
It's a. very important thing want to
ask you, she began, tugging at a tuft of
grass. and it's very-dlfncult and you
mustn't tell any one asked you; at least.
Il shall not speak of it; indeed. / shall
probably not remember it," said the philos-
And you mustn't look at me. please,
while I'm asking you"
u don't think was looking at you. but
osopher. apoiogetically.
she pulled the TUT of grass right out of
the ground and flung it from her with all
her force.
Suppose man" she began mo. that's
not right"
You can take any hypothesis you
please" observed the philosopher, but you
must verify 1t afterward. OF course"
oh, do let me go on Suppose a girl;
Mt. Jerningham-l wish you Woudn nod.
1T was only to show that L followed
call II. Suppose a girl had two lovers
you're nodding againi-or, / ought to say,
suppose there were two men who might be
IN love with a girl"
only two?'' asked the philosopher ..You
With"
May, with sudden dimple, they don't
matter"
Very we'll" said the. philosopher. III
they are irrelevant. we will put them aside .
suppose then that one of these men was
Oh. awfslly in love with the girl. and-and
proposed, you know"
"A momentr' said the philosopher, open
ing a notebook Let me take down his
proposition. What was it,
why, proposed to her-asked her to mar
ry him, said the girl. with stare
Dear me! How stupid of me. | forgot
that special use of the word. Yes?'
The girl likes him pretty WELL and her
people approve Of him and all that, you
know"
That simplifies the problem" said the
philosopher. nodding again.
But she's not in-in love with him
you know. She doesn't really care fol
hn-much. Do you understand
Perfectly. 1t is most natural state
of mind"
Well. then. suppose that there's an
other man-what are you writing?''
Il only put down (B)--like that" pleaded
the philosopher, meekiy exhibiting hi:
note book.
she looked at him in a sort of helpless
evaporation. with just a smile some
where in the background of it.
"Oh, you really are" she exclaimed
..But let me go on. The other man is :
friend OF the girls he's very clever
oh. fearfully clever; and he's rather hand
1T is certainly not very material" ad
mitted the philosopher o!pl and he crossed
mires him tremendously; she thinks hin
just the greatest man that ever lived
you know. And she-she-" The cir
I'm following, said the philosopher
with pencil poised.
Shed think IL better than the Who'll,
'.'You mean become his WIFE"
We'll. Of course. / do-at least, I sup
You spoke rather vaguely. you know"
The girl cast one glance at the philoso
wei. yes I did mean to become hi
Eyes. well"
But" continued the girl starting on an
other tuft OF grass. The doesn't think mucl
about those things. He likes her. l thinl
he Mixes her"
well. doesn't dislike herr" suggested tn
philosopher. Shall We call him indiffer
ent?"
II don't know. Yes. rather Indifferent
don't think he thinks about il, YOU know
But she-she's pretty. You needn't put tina
down"
II was not about to do so,' observed tn
philosopher.
''s:ae thinks life with him would be jus
heaven: and-and she thinks she woul,
make him awfully happy. She woud-woul
be so proud of him. you see..'
II see. Yes?'
"And-I don't know how TO put it, quite
she thinks that if ne ever thought abou
doesn't care for anybody else, and She
pretty"
You said that before"
'Oh. dear. / dare say I did. And mos
men care for somebody, don't they? Som
girl / mean"
Most men, no doubt" conceded the phi
losopher.
''Well, then, what ought she to do? It.
not a real thing. you know, Mr.. Jerning
ham. It's in-in novel | was reading.
She said this hastily. and blushed sh
spoke
Dear me- And it's quite an interesting
cause Yes. I see. The question is vii
she act most wisely in accepting the offe
of man for whom she entertains only
moderate Affection
Yes Just liking. He's just a friend
Exactly Or in marrying the other
whom she loves ex-
That's not 1t. How can she MARI.
him? He hasn't-he hasn't asked her. yo