Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1895-11-25

well, it proves that circumstances
alter cases. and that women are unrea-
sonable beings, and that everything de-
ponds upon the point Of view. .
Anything else?"
cit also proves that long engagements
are mistake and that there are some
trifies about which man does better TO
deceive his wife. =
1T must certainly be your own story
If it proves all that you say, | said.
"Why don't You write it out--make a
book of it, for example. and call it 'Ev-
cry Man His Own Don Juan?
But my friend protested
cit wasn't quite SO bad as that, " he
said. an tell you about it if you like
and you can judge. I"
So agreed to listen, and he told me.
"Ours was long engagement. but at
last we ended it,.
"You broke it OFF,"
"No, no. we married. 1t is not an I'M
usual alternative, believe, and ON the
whole it has turned ont very well. !
don't complain Only there have been
awkward moments l suppose there
nearly always are. Moments, for in
stance, when my wife has asked me If
have ever loved before.
''There is a stereotyped answer TO that
question, my friend, interposed.
81 know. used the eliche l was
even prepared if necessary to have the
cliehe printed and framed and glazed
and hung up in the bedroom. But the
matter did not end there. Pauline was
always fishing for confessions. Had
always been faithful TO her during that
long engagement i'll thought as well as
act? If not, must tell her-I must con-
fess. She was sure there hadn't been
anything serious, and she would forgive
me. mustn't think that she wanted to
live in FOOLS paradise.
"And do you mean to. tell me that
you are actually capable of believing a
woman when she says that she doesn't
want to live in a FOOLS paradise?"
"Not now, not now. / should always
use the cliches now. But l was holder
then
more rash, you mean. T"
"More rash, then, if you prefer the
word. You see, the truth was SO very
unimportant, and she might be imagin-
ing something so very serious. So I
thought that if l told her it would clear
the clouds away.
''You didn't understand that women
are happier in wondering what is behind
the clouds than in discovering definite
spots upon the sum-"
"Not then. Besides it was rather a
funny story in its way, and / relied on
Pauline s sense of humor. She had often
told me that she had more sense Of hui
NOR than the average woman"
EVERY woman" insisted, lis an
average woman in her appreciation of a
certain kind of funny story. But what
was the exact story that you had to
tell?"
And he told me all about it, quoting,
SO far as his memory served him, the
exact words in which he had told it to
his wife.
"sIt is nothing SO very terrible, Pau
line, / said. Such trifie that, till
you questioned me. had forgotten all
about it.
'.'But you must tell me, she urged.
ooh, yes, you must tell me or shall be
afraid that it is something dreadful
"'Ahl Well then, in that case must
confess, said. 1t was long time ago,
when we were engaged-that summer,
you know, when l was travelling in
Switzerland. was staying for few
DAYS at the little hotel that stands be-
side the falls of Tosa, in the Val Far
mazza. There was a girl there-a beau
tiful girl like you, dear, only in differ
ent way-a sweet, helpless, clinging lit
tie thing, with a complexion like a
peach in bloom, and the very loveliest
auburn hair.
"Pauline interrupted.
"You mean red hair. / hate it, /
think it very ugly 7 she exclaimed.
"My friend, that Earring note ought
to have warned you, remarked.
81 know. 1t frightened me, and /
tried to stop. but Pauline would not let
me.
And he resumed his narrative.
"'I hate red hair too, as general
rule, because your hair is black, I told
her But it pleased me then. You see,
was travelling quite by myself, and /
was feeling lonely and was glad to find
some one whom / could talk to- So
broke the ice at dinner, and afterward
the girl and / always chatted with each
other when we met.
"'You quite forgot to tell her that
you We're engaged to me-. / suppose?'
Pauline inquired.
81 had of course. That was the whole
point of the story, and it was inartistic
Of Pauline to pretend to be surprised. 1
did not reprcach her for that, however,
but continued.
"No, dearest. If / had told her.
there would have been no confession for
you to wiring from me now. II had told
her, she would never have walked out
with me that night to watch the moon
light shining Oh the Waterfall But she
came, and we sat on a rock together lis
tening to its music. You must not be
angry with me, Pauline, for have been
sorry ever since You must rather pity
me for being weak For the whole air
seemed full Of poetry and passion. and
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