The herald., 1894-04-29


81 don's know. Yes, rather indiffer-
ent. don't think he thinks about it,
you know. But she--shes pretty-you
needn pntfhat down. -
II was notsabout to do SO, !" observed
tho philosopher.
''She thinks life with him would be
just heaven, sand-and she thinks she
would snealza him aw9G1iy happy. She
would-wouldt be SO proud of him, you.
see
II see. Yes?''
"And--I don't know how to put it
quite-she thinks that If he ever thought
about it at all hemight caro- for her, be-
cause he doesn't care for anybody else
and she's prctty''--
You said that before "
''Oh, dear, i dare say I didl And
most men caro-. for somebody, don't they
some girl, -I1nean?"
''Most men, no doubt, " conceded tho
philosopher.
"Well, then, what ought she to do?
It's not real thing, you know, Mr.
birmingham. It's in--in a novel I was
reading" She said this hastily and
blushed as slle spoke.
Dear me, and it's quite an interest
ing easel Yes, 1 see. The question is
VIII she act most wisely in accepting
the offer Of the man who loves her ex-
ceedingly, but for whom she entertains
only q moderate affection -
eyes, just liking Hos just a
friend
Exactly Or in marrying. the other
whom she loves ex'---
That's not it, How can she marry
him? Hehasn't--he hasn't asked her. "
True. l forgot. Let us assume,
though, for the moment that he has
asked her. Sllo would then havo to con-
slder which marriage would probably be
productive Of the greater sum total
Of
"Oh, but you needn't consider that.
t'But it eceEns the best logical order.
We can afte-ward make allowance for
the element of uncertainty caused by"-
ooh, no, don't want it like that I
know perfectly well which she'd do If
he--the other man, you know-asked
her. y"
"You apprehend that
Never mind what L apprehend:'
Take it just as rtold you.
Every good. Ahas asked her hand, B
has not -
eyes -
"May take it that but for the dis.
turbing influence of B A would be a'sat-
isfactory-er-oandidate?"
"Ye-es. [ think So"
'She. therefore enjoys a certainty of
considerable happiness if she marries
Az"
"Ye-es Not perfect because OBJ,
you know"
Quite so, quite So but still affair
amount of happiness. Is it not so?'
Il don't-well, perhaps F"
"On the other haud, if B did ask her,
we are to postulate higher degree of
happiness for herr"
Eyes, please, Mr.. Jerningham-much
higher"
For both of theln?"
''For her--never mind him.,
Every we'll That again simplites
the problem But his asking her is a
contingency oHly?'
tS, lllstU , Rfll.
The philosopher spread out his hands.
My dear young lady, ~ he, said, SIR
becomes q question of degree. How
probable or improbable is it?,,'
81 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 howould probably take the
desired step-at least, that he might be
led to,do so. Could she not-er-indi-
cate her praference?"
''She might try--no, she couldn't-do
much. You see, he--he doesn't think
about such things.
81 understand precisely, and it,seems
to me, Miss Glay, that in that very fact
we find opr, solution. "
''Do wof' she, asked.
81 think so. He has evidently no nat
ural inclination toward hcr-~perhaps
not toward marriage at oil. ANY feeling
aroused in him would be necessarily
shallow, and ina measure artificial, and
in all likelihood purely Temporary.
Moreover, if. she tool. steps to,Frouse his
attention, one Of two things would be
likely to happen. Are you following
me?"
eyes, Mr. birmingham.
EITHER ne would be repellad by her
overtures, which you. must. admit IS not
improbable, and then the position would
be unpleasant and even degrading for
her, or, Oh the other hand, he might,
through q misplaced feeling Of ga:lan-.
try''--
"Throngh wbGt?"
"Through a mistaken idea Of polite
ness or a mistaken view OF What was
kind allow himself to be drawn into u
connection for which he. had no genuine
liking, Yen agree with. rae that ono or
the other Of these things would be Ike
ly?'
eyes, I suppose they would, unless
he did conao to care fcr her. y
"Ah, you rct5trsi to that hypothesis! 1
think it's an extremely faneiful one.
No, she needn't marry A, but she must
let B alone"
The philosopher closed his book, took
of his glasses, wiped them, replaced
them and leaned back against tho trunk
of the apple tree. The girl picked dan
delion in pieces After long pause she
asked: