Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-04-25
~ ILL YOU WALK OUT WITH ME
MISS"


''Mr. Walton
Madam"
What is your honest opinion about
Iove?"
About love: Why-but you are not
thinking of proposing, are yOu?"
Not yet"
Then they both burst into laughter,
for the young man, as he made that
reference to proposing, shifted his
position away from his companion
with an air of alarm; the result being
that the little table on which he was
seated tOppled over, and he unexpect-
edly found a seat on the grass instead.
Miss MulgrOye," said he. when their
mirth had subdued, and he was be-
ginning to gather up the materials
out Of which he had been constructing
toy yacht for her small brother. you
observe that chance has supplied an
appropriate answer; the very mention
of love upsets me-"
but it has brought you to your
knees as we'll"
Il beg your pardon; it is duty that
has brought me to my knees, not love
| have promised Tommy that his boat
shall be finished this morning, and
nov | can't find the ruddCr-bOther
the thing"
There it is" exclaimed Tommy's
sister darting from her seat. and
picking the missing article from ont IA
long tuft of grass.
When order was restored once more
and they had resumed their tasks-he
working at the little vessel with all
sailors cunning, she making for it
the sails that he had planned-there
was silence between them for some
minutes.
At last Walton spoke in meditative
fashion, showing that his mind had
been bordering her unexpected ques-
ton:
Il am inclined to think that love
nowadays, is too often unreal; it has
lost its simplicity and spontaneOusness
because so much is made of it in
fiction"
THAT is exactly what | have felt
myself" said Marina Mulgrove quick
iy. And | think we women are chiefly
to blame. We all know, in our hearts.
that modern civilization doesn't admit
of such romance in real life, and vet
we ii, not a bit satisfied unless men
make love to us in q highly senti-
mental way. 1t is delightful if papa
and mamma object. we get an oD-
portuniiy to pose like the heroine of
three volumes. and it is delightful, too
if the Gear man who offers bis heart
and wants ours seems in Il fearful
state of agony while we are thinking
whether the exchange is worth max
ing; and the worst of all is, there is
no honorable retreat for either of the
engaged ones, even if they fine no
better acquaintance; that they don't
like each other we'll enough to get
married. No: the novelist has decided
that true love is eternal, and therefore
the poor wretches submit to their fate
The girl especially is afraid to return
her enga cement ring, because she has
read so much about the frightful
effect Of jilting a man. He was the
pinking of perfection yesterday: to-
morrow, if she says she has changed
her mind and does not care to get
married, he begins life anew as a
scoundrel. or is a hopeless drunkard
i'll six months time"
when, instead of anything of the
sort happening, the poor fellow would
jump for joy to get his discharge"
said Walton. but that novelist has
decided for him that the girl must
necessarily break her heart or end her
days as a miserable spinster: so he
also is afraid to speak his mind"
And so they get married, and lead
a cat-and-dog life" said Marina pen
siveIy
But how is this state of things to
be altered Miss Mulgrove? You have
thought so much about the problems
of modern society. Is there any way
of making marriage Il safer tranSac-
ton for both parties? 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 those
thoughtful gray eyes of hers as she
spoke.
Nc; we must recognize the newt
able. l fear; but something might be
done, surely, to moderate its evils"
well, what would you say to a
seven or ten years lease instead OF
the present lifelong contract?"
LET me see, how would that work 2
said the young sailor musingly. 81
marry you-don't be alarmed; the case
is purely hypothetical-and at the enc
of seven years you have had enough
of me. But although you may theT
be glad of your liberty, your chances
in the matrimonial market cannot be
seven years hence, as good as they arr
now. That is a difficulty, isn't it?''
Yes, sir; and allow me to say tina
your chances will not be any better
than mine, if l 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 Vol
will certainly try to marry again: ant