Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-12-07
SHORT STORY
OF THE DAY
A PRELIMINARY sKIRMIsH.

Tudor jerks. in Truth.
A young man and a young girl sat in
a pretty reception room in a city house.
They had been engaged for four days,
and were yet in the edges Of rosy
cloud that had descended about them as
soon as they were assured that there
were no obstacles to their early union.
The pleasant sense of belonging to one an
other was still delightfully."- novel and de.
lcious. After some slight discussion OF
ways and means-a simple matter, since
there was wealth on both sides-there came
George. dear, hope you won't think
me foolish. but l have a. request to make.
i want you to give up smoking.
George turned and looked at his fancee
with strangely blank expression. Then
he gave a nearly noiseless whistle.
But, my dear girl. L didn't know you
objected to smoking"
Il know 1 never said anything against
it before We were engaged, but now l
feel more responsibility about you, don't
You know" 800 .-..
More responsibility? Do you feel that
you are to blame for all my imperfec-
tons? I'm afraid you will find you have
Don't you think 1t will be best if we each
go on as before, without trying to look
after each others minor shortcomings"
---.'N0,~ George, do not l shall always
consider myself bound in honor to aid
you in reaching the highest attainable
ideal And you are such a magnificent
And imagine Lancelot with a horrid pipe
in his mouth!-faughi"
Well. my dear, let us understand one
another clearly: is this quest of a higher
and nobler being to be confined to the
masculine side of our life together, or am
! TO be expected to contribute my share
toward painting the lily and gliding refined
gold? Or. to put. it in everyday English,
do you mean to aspire. with my help. as
critic to the queen to the realization of
George, am net Joking"
Neither am i, assure you. You pro-
pose to aid me to become something nearer
TO the ideal man. Very good. Now / am
TO do my feeble best in aiding you to reach
some higher sphere?"
Il hope so,' she replied, with slightly
puzzled look.
All right Then If 1 am to give up
smoking-and / certainly shall not waste
time In attempting to deny that l should
be the better for it, suppose 1t becomes
my duty TO suggest any little changes in
your own habits that would aid in reach
ing the noblest ideal Of womanhood?"
Why. yes. George. Yes, OF course But
really, 1 CANT think of what you can find
..'oh. trifies. trihes! But we are talking
Of ideals. The average man may smoke
If Re likes. but but, for a L LAM
We'll. never mind, Lancelot If 1 am to
give up smoking. 1 am not sure shall be
1po yoa to Su give by y0 few things dc not Gall
Wen begin with some things of slight
Importance Pointed shoes are an es-
pecial adherence of mine so I think we'll
put them first on the list Next, / shall
venture, now that We are engaged, to name
corsets. in which I have never believed.
Third. think l shall prescribe the curling
iron, which my sisters have Informed me is
a usual aid to feminine adornment-"
My curls are natural, SIR
SO / have believed, but thought 1t
best to be on the safe side. I'll propose
substitute. Third then. wen put candy.
except in hygienic doses, and fourth, /
should strongly advise the giving up of
coffee and tea-especiaily the O'Clock cup.
And s
George, I do wish you would talk of
something sensible. Let us go back to
some OF the arrangements about the we'd
ding. She'll we ask the Burnets?"
mo- Why. he smokes
II think you're simnlv Silly"
But how about this great reform of
yours?"
George; you'll never let me be foolish,
will you. love?"-
No. pet. And I'll be careful about not
Then we will ask the Burnets?''
''Of course. They're harmless"