The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-22
The Monument

tttQ HtOtt4fttQtatH
I think may fairly claim TO know
more Of Nonty's peep1safities than uest
people for have knoRns him al ny
Therefore. when he told me one after.
noon that he was going TO be msFrsed
felt in q position to pity the sirl from
the bottom Of my heart. Monty BY the
way - contraction Of 'AonumenL 9
name / specially invented, as summing
aspect.
He IS tan and extremely handsome, af-
ter the style Of the later ana mora degen-
ture and In every movement The stamp
OF languor and Of iazlness.
He Is Incidence personiAed, and indeed.
II you take that away. there remains
little or nothing but Obstinacy with
big o.. This computation. blended to-
getheF by q thick solution OF self-ccn-
placency. produces, metaphorieally speak
ing, stone wall
You cannot argue with him; he VIII nei-
ther be convinced himself nor at the trou-
bic of convincing you. You cannot inter-
est him against his will, and he seldom
wishes to be interested. Finally, you can
not even have the satisfaction or quar-
reling with him, for he will not be reused,
and looks on your supremest efforts To
anger him with the easy tolerance OF
victorious Perseus watching Aedusa's
snaky locks entwine themselves around
his fingers, and strive to make him relax
his hold.
At one moment OF our lives he would
have had me believe In his lordly way
that he was not unwilling to LAX my oes-
tiny with his. But, strange to relate,
remained unmoved by the golden pros
pect Of his companionship. protraeted In
neutrality-suspicious. eteFnally-and his ten
tative hints lapsed. easily into oblivion.
To return to the afternoon In question:
Being aware OF his artistic temperament,
naturally jumped to the conclusion that
his choice had fallen on "a daughter OF
the gods"
20, mol" ne said, IN his slow way, "a
beautiful woman Is delightful to look at,
but not to marry. She would be impossi-
BILE to manage"
Then, is she youngT asked. though
my curiosity was somewhat damped.
"Just IL" he observed, thoughtfully, and
was surprised at my exclamation. But,
my dear Monty, you are old enough to
DE"
Excuse me, Minnie, would rather
she were still younger. Marry a child
and you may hope to educate her into
the wife you would cherish In your old
age"
''op gasped. "then. what is she
uke?"
''InclIned to be frivolous. but shall
soon remedy that. The poor girl Is only
too glad to find a man who Is not hunt
ing for her paltry five or six hundred a
year."
That could really believe, and, in jus
tice to Monty, / must say that money,
as mere money, does not In the least ap-
peal to him. Perhaps that is because he
has always had enough to be comforta-
BILE.
But he was not a good lover. He was
even then far more interested in the
academy than in his fiance's charms.
There were three or four portraits OF
lovely women that he spoke of In a way
that made me glad the originals did not
come within his sphere Of acquaintance
for the girls sake.
He did not carry his photo In his pock-
ct. It took him several months OF hard
thought to remember her address, and
when you are intimate enough to call
her by her Christian name" he remark
ed, 'tplease call her Euphemia, and not
Effie''
'swhy?' asked, determined on no ac-
count to do so.
BECAUSE" he answered, impressively,
''Effie is too insignificant for married
woman, and have a strong objection to
pet Names" y.
when" inquired, sternly, when did
you ever In the whole course OF our nves
call me by my baptismal manner" Monty
smiled indulgently.
'SThat is different You are not going
to be my wife"
confess I reveled in this consoling
thought, for nothing In the world could
ever reconcile me to the peculiar atroc-
ity of my name, and IL its full hideous-
ness were to be the hourly accompani-
ment Of my married life I should be
afraid OF the consequences II IS Jemi-
ma. Now, You may say (and with perfect
TRUTH that Minnie" is not particularly
melodius. but at least you will admit that
nothing could be worse than Jemima, and
anything might be better;
''By the way" said Monty. after
pause, ST believe there was time when
/ had a fancy for your, Minnie, and
thought you might not make me bad
wife"
"There may have BEEN" I answered
calmly, "for I can distinctly remember
a time when decided that certainly you
would make me bad husband"
And Monty bestowed upon me one OF
those aH-fo-giving, albeit sad. glances
that are so at1ominably irritating when
one is trying ones best to snub him.
Ate: Monty's casual remarks. I was
surprised to find Effie a nice-looking girl,
though with, OF course. no pretensions TO
the Junoesque that Monty demands of his
ideal woman. She was young, indeed, but
had an old-fashioned way with her that
was Infinitely attractive. I had guessed
intuitively that she had neither father
nor mother, although many people might
say that this was judging my cousin too
harshly. Her guardians were an elderly
uncle and aunt, who didn't mind what
she did as long as she didn't worry them.
so was glad to help her wtth her trous-
seau, and see as much Of her aspossi-
ole.
soon observed that Monty objected to
her having 70 many friends.
"ancelot," as she was made 10 call
him, thought "gadding about" showed
"empty-headedness
But. my dear child" exclaimed. che
surely doesn't expect you to drop your
friends Just because you are going to
marry him? Why. you will want them
more than ever. what do you suppose
you'll do when he's at work all day?'
Then. he hasn't told you he Is going
to resign the partnership" said Effie.
timidly.
MY heart freze, and the fact must have
been clearly evident to herh for she has
tened to add: ''You don't think he spoils
me too much. do you. in giving II up for
my sake?''
And the recording angel should put Il
to my credit that only answered:
''ERie. II he ever sDoIls sou. let me
know
Yesterday tackled him
what do you mean?" I asked. by re-
firing from business at your ageT