The Van Buren press., 1894-10-27
LOVES PROBLEM.
How r Was Settled for Richard
and Marina.

How r. Was Settled for Richard
and Marina.
ssMr Walton"
MADAM"
s.What il your honest opinion about
iove7T
s'About love9 why-but you are moi
thinking Of proposing, are you?"
mot yet"
Then they both burst into laughter;
for the young man, as he made that
reference to proposing, shifted his po-
sition away from his companion with
On air of alarm; the result being that
the little table ON which he was seated
toppled over, and he unexpectedly
found . scat on the grass instead.
s'Miss Mulgrove," said he, when
their mirth had subsidized, and he was
beginning to gather up the materials
out Of which he had been constructing
: toy yacht for her small brother,
ssyou observe that chance has supplied
IN appropriate answer: the very men-
tion Of love upsets me-"
But II has brought You to your
knees o. we'll"
II beg your pardon; 1t is duty that
has brought me to my knees, not love.
Ihave promised Tommy that his boat
shall be flnished this morning. and
now can't find the rudder-bother
the thingl"
sThere It isr' exclaimed Tommy's
sister, dartinR from her seat, and pick
ing the missing article from out q long
tuft Of grass.
When order was restored once more,
and they had resumed their tasks-he
working 1t the little vessel with all .
sailors cunning, she making for It the
sails that he had planned-there was
allence between them for some min
utes.
At last Walton spoke In meditative
fashion. showing that his mind Ind
been pondering her unexpected ques-
ton:
II am inclined to think that love,
nowadays, is too often unreal; It has
lost IT. simplicity and spontaneous
ness, because 70 much 10 made Of It In
fiction"
That II exactly what have felt
mysel4," said Marina Mulgrove, quick
y. "And think we women are
chiefly to blame. We al know, in our
hearts. that modern civilization
doesn't admit of much romance in real
life, and yet we are not bit satisfied
unless mon make love TO us In high
y sentimental way. 1t Is delightful
II papa and mamma object; we get an
opportunity to pose like the heroine Of
three volumes, and 1t 10 delightful, too,
Il the dear man who offers his heart
and wants ours seems in q fearful
state Of agony while we are thinking
whether the exchange Ia worth maxi
ing; and the W worst ofall is. there is no
honorable retreat for either of the en-.
gagged ones, even II they find, on bet
ter acquaintance, that they don't like
each other we'll enough to get mar.
Red. No; the novelist has decided
that true love Is eternal. and there
fore the poor wretches submit TO
their fate. The girl especially Is afraid
TO return her engagement ring. be-
cause she has read 80 much about the
frightful effect of jilting man. He
was the pink of perfection yesterday;
tomorrow, II she says she has changed
her mind, and does not care to get
married, he begins life anew ss a
scoundrel, or is hopeless drunkard in
six months time"
"When, instead Of anything Of the
sort happening, the poor fellow would
jump for Joy to get his discharge, "
said Walton. ''I3ut that novelist has
decided for him that the girl must
necessarily break her heart, or end her
days as q miserable spinster; so he
also is afraid to speak his mind"
"And 80 they get married and lead a
cat-and-dog life," said Marina, pen
hively.
"But how IL this state Of things to
be altered. Miss Mulgrove? You have
thought 20 much about the problems Of
modern society. IL there any way OF
making marriage safer transaction
for both parties? You see, we can't
abolish love, but the calamity of mar
risge might be--might be-"
.Avoideds" inquired Marina, calmly.
There was . moclxing CLEAN in those
thoughtful gray eyes of hers as she
spoke.
mo; we must recognize the inevita-
BILE, fear; but something might be
done, surely, to moderate its evils"
well, what should you say to a
ssven or ton years lease instead Of
the present lifelong contract?"
Let me see, how would that work?''
ssid the young sailor musingly. II
marry you-don't be alarmed; the case
IL purely hypotheticsl-and 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, - good as they are
now That is difficulty, isn't it?"
Yes, sir; and allow me to say that
your chances will not be any better
than mine. II I can help It."
"Miss Mulgrove. you are feminine.
and not philosophic, interrupted Wal
ton. 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 nat
urally come to me for references"
'fUm-that will be awkward. A
genuine widower 10 snapped up by the
sex without inquiries : out of sheer
sympathy-but this widower, by ar
rangement, must needs be armed with
6rst-class testimonials from his previ
sus pArtner. 55.#.55l5sl
z