Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-16

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 ought she to do:
Its not u 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 inter-
estjng case! Yes, l see The question
Is, VIII she act most wisely in accept
Ing the offer Of man who loves her
exceedingly, but for whom she enter
talns only moderate Affection"
Yes. Just a liking. He's lust a
friend"
Exactly. Or in marrying the other
whom she loves eX-'
That's not it. How can she marry
him?''
He hasn't-he hasn't asked her. YOU
see."
True. | forgot. Let us assume.
though, for the moment, that he has
asked her. She would then have to
consider which marriage would prob
ably 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. 1 don't want it like that
| know perfectly well what she'd do
If he-the other man, you know
asked her.
You apprehend that"
Never mind what [ 'apprehend.'
Take it just as told you"
Very good. A has asked her hand.
B has not
Yes"
May l take it that but for the dis
turbing influence Of B, A would be
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.?
'Ye-es. 1 think So
''She, therefore, enjoys a certainty of
considerable happiness if she marries
APP
Wees. Not perfect, because of-B,
you know"
Quite so, quite so; but still fair
amount of happiness. Is it not SOP
L don't-well, perhaps"
'On the other hand, if B did ask her,
we are to postulate higher degree
of happiness for her?'
Yes, please, Mr.. Jerningham-much
higher"
For both of them?"
For her. Never mind him.
Very well. That again simplifies
the problem. But this asking her is
contingency only?
Yes, that's ALL
hands.
My dear young lady," he said, lit
becomes a question of degree. How
probable or improbable is it?'
Il don't know. Not very probable
unless
'Well?"
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 be led to do so. Could she not
-er-indicate her preferenceY'
''She might try-no, she couldn't do
much. You see, he-he doesn't think
about such things
1T =
seems to me, Miss May, that in that
very fact we find our solution"
DO WEI" she asked.
''l think so. He has evidently no
natural inclination toward her-per-
haps not toward marriage at all.
Any feeling aroused in him would be
necessarily shallow and, in measure,
artiicial-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?'
Eyes, Mr.. birmingham"
EITHER he would be repealed by her
overtures you must admit is
not mprobable-and then the position
would be unpleasant, and even de-
grading to her, or, on the other hand,
he might. through a mistaken feeling
Of gallantry-'
Through whatF'
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 had no
genuine liking. You agree with me
that one or the other af these things
would be likely?'
Yes, I suppose they would, unless
he did come to care for her"
'Ah, you return to that hypothesis.
[ think it's an extremely fanciful one.
No. She needn't marry A, but she
must let B alone"
The philosopher closed his book,
took off his glasses, wiped them, re-
placed them and leaned back against
the trunk of the apple tree. The girl
picked a dandelion in pieces. After
long pause she asked:
You think BIS feelings wouldn't be
at all likely TOTO change"
THAT depends on the sort Of man
he is. But if he is an able man, with
intellectual interests which engross
him-a man who has chosen his path
in life-a man to whom woman's so.
ciety is not a necessity"
Hes just like that said the girl
as she bit the head off a daisy.
A silence followed.
Then" said the philosopher, Il see