The herald., 1898-11-09
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Throueh Etheps SpeCtaclcs
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l ike Ethel very much lnueeu. lndt Is
partly the reason, suppose, that l asked
her to marry me. She doesn't like me SO
well, not nearly; and that is partly the rea-
son, l am beginning to think, that she con-
sented to do so.
Ipresume it will all be very different when
we are married, though. But you can't
quite tell. l thought it would be different
too-very different, when we were engaged.
"Hope springs eternal in the human breast,
you know, and all that sort of thing.
Ethel doesn't really wear spectacles at all.
She never would in the world. Even If she
was obliged to she wouldn't all the more.
That is popularity of Ethels.
l used to think it was very cunning, but
now l sometimes stub my toe on it awfully.
| What she does wear is 'glawses." 10 help
her see? Oh, dear no; to help her not see.
She can see a great deal better without
them but she can't be blind quarter as easy.
Why, with her "glawses" on, more than
half the time she can't even "see the point;"
not even if l explain, and that is dangerous.
Ethel seems to be burdened with deep
responsibility to bring me up correctly
since we were engaged. That is one of the
things l thought would be different-and
isn't. had an idea was all brought up to
date some time since, and she used to appear
to think so too.
The other day we were about to board a
Grand avenue car and I held up my cane to
signal the motorman. Arthur" said she,
severely-and with the most school-ma-am-
ish air, "in large city when you wish to
hail car it is not necessary to make dem
onstration.
"Well, I'm glad you told me-" said I, ''if
you hadn't, like as not I'd have thrown my
self across the rails"
| / thought that rather neat and cutting
and glanced at her to see how she took it.
But bless you, she never saw the point,
through those specs. When got aboard the
car she asked me to tie her boot lace, just
as casually as if we had been conversing
about shoes for an hour.
| O o o
| EthePs specs are the hardest things ip the
world to bank on, as to just what is good
FORM" but they're mighty particular.
Now I like to look in at some of the shop
windows as we walk along Spring street, and
so does she-some.
| jewelers. windows are the very best form
of all, according to the 'glawses;" and they
Just revel in diamonds. "Oh, aren't those
rings just too sweet for anything?" she will
say, with little ecstatic twitter; "and see,
that lovely big one all by ITSELF" Then her
eyes will drop down under the spesc to
glance at that little lump in her own glove.
BY Jovs, she'd think that one big enough
too, if she was paying half her months sal
ary on the installment plan for the con-
founded thing.
When the diamonds are used up the next
on the list is the millinery shops and she
will keep me hours looking at shapes and
trimmings" she calls 'em.
But let me ask her to look at lot of com.
Portable looking furniture! "Why, Arthur,
she'll say, "people will think us straight
from the country" And do you think she
will help me select hat or a necktie? "Such
awfully bad FORM" she says. ! don't know
where the difference comes in unless through
those "glawses."
The other evening, walking down the
street from the theater we stopped group
of friends, and after moments chat
turned to find those dear little glasses hold
ing in storm. Ethel was crying! "Take me
home quick" she sobbed heart-brokenly.
1 yelled for cab and in about minute we
were rumbling down the street. Don't you
dare to touch me, sir" was her first tear
soaked and ineligible remark as tried to
take her and comfort her and find out what
was the matter.
Everything is over between u.s." she
went on in the same lucid strain. "Here,
take back your ring and she began to tug
at her glove
Was ever fellow struck by such sudden
lightning out of clear skies? wouldn t
have minded having that monthly drudge
ease up but if it meant giving up Ethel, too,
not much.
reflected with secret joy that the band
was mighty tight. She could never fetch it
without soap. Besides she was getting
calmer anyway. She had only got one
thumb out of her glove so far.
EthePs papa lives in the middle of the
Harper tract, and by getting the cabman to
take us there via Westlake and other sub
urbs we were reasonably long time in ar
irving.
And was l busy? you bet.
! When finally got her head on my shoul-
der and the hand with the vacant thumb in
mine, / said:
But what made you cry, sweetheartw
"Wouldn't any girl cry?" she sobbed.
"Of course she would, but what was the
reason Ethel?"
"Oh, Arthur" she burst out, chow could
you talk to that horrid Helen Heideman:' %
''Why, dear girl, you introduced her to
me yourself and told me she was one of your
dearest friends, don't you know"
Il never did, and anyway that was before
we were engaged, and besides she and l
quarreled yesterday and she said the mean
est things. And now the horrid thing will
think she has got you away from me and ]
shall die. Oh dear, oh dear"
o O O
/ might have told her that not having any
knowledge of this ebb of friendship, felt
less definitely guilty. But didn't. said
good many other things though. After
some time spent in said "other things" we
finished taking off the white glove, and-we
looked at the ring, and-we-agreed not
to take it off. Nothing but a saw could
have done it anyhow now.)
o O o
Though I may have had some disappoint
ments in the engaged line / can recommend
to inexperienced parties-that the break
ing engagement period, if it doesn't quite
come to the actual breaking point is all
right-all right. HARRY B. LUMMIS.
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