Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-06-25
While a Man Lives.

Phyllis and had been quarreling,
which wasn't at all unusual. But more
than half an hour had elapsed since
the last hasty words and We we're by
no means ready to make up, which was
unusual. | sat by the window, pre-
tending to look over box OF photo
graphs. Phyllis ostentatiously studied
volume of political economy. That
there were tears in her eyes | felt GER
tain. There would have been in
mine but for the mustache which grew
beneath them
Something had to be done, decided
Iy, but what? "The silence Jung that
'eavy you was alf afraid to speak,
and neither of us knew how to break
it. | had been tuning and fdgetting
for something to say more than
twenty minutes before Phyllis gave
me my cue by rising suddenly.
"'I'm sorry to seem rude or I'M
gracious" she said, stiff1y, "but you
really must excuse me now. I've got a
club paper to prepare tomorrow morn
ing, and must get to bed early"
l sighed Phyllis heaved sigh, too,
but depressed it. 1t was over the club
paper that we had quarreled. We had
begun by taking opposite sides of the
question treated just for fun, and
merely that Phyllis might be in good
condition to worst any possible OPP
ponent when the time for reading the
paper came around; we had ended by
hn
earnest, and with real anger. 1t had
been impossible to drop the question
unfinished, as we felt ourselves grow
ing warm, because Phyllis commended
that it was against her principles to
leave her opinion unstated for the sake
of peace and politeness, and well, |
don't make such fuss over principles
as Phyllis does, but always did be-
lieve in standing by your colors when
once you've declared them, so to
speak And now we had quarreled,
and were going to part in anger
Goodnight" said Phyllis, still
stif1y. But 1 fancied that | detected
signs Of softening about her eyes and
mouth, and I spoke up bravely.
II suppose it had better be 'good-by'
as WE'LL" I told her. ''You know we
long ago decided that we believed it
worse than foolish for two people to
marry unless they could promise to
think alike Jpn all subjects or agree
to differ pleasantly. We've clearly
demonstrated our inability to do either
tonight, so there seems nothing for it
but to shake hands regretfully and
part I, for one, have suffered
enough at the mere idea of saying
goodby to want to get it over quickly.
Shall we make up our minds to do it
now, Phyllis?"
Gust as you please answered
Phyllis, coldly, taking not the slight
est notice of the world of tenderness
and regret which l had thrown into
my voice for the last sentence; lit is
immaterial to me what you choose to
do about il"
But she did not appear to be in any
hurry about shaking hands, | noticed,
and my heart took courage again.
"Of course, we shall both be little
lonely for a while" continued, there
fore, ''and it will need the constant
recollection of the fact that we laid
down our happiness for the sake Of our
principles to console us, but I suppose
we shall get over it in time, and be
glad we had the strength to part be-
fore matters had gone too far. 1t
will be much harder for me than you"
| finished, meditatively, because you
will have so many friends and lovers
to console you, while Matilda Jorkins
is the only person l can think Of at
present who will try to console me-"
This last remark drew fire, as | had
expected it to do.
She'll talk you to death and let
you so hungry afterward,' snapped
Phyllis, who cordially dislikes Miss
Matilda.
Eyes, I confidently expect that she
will try my patience and love of life
sorely," I responded, "but what else
is left for me to do? 1t is not good
for man to live alone, you know,
Phyllis and after having known and
loved you | expect | shall have to-fiy
b to the opposite extreme" l concluded,
almost at loss how to finish that SEN
tence gracefully.
And Matilda Jorkins is the only
woman | know of who is willing to
own herself defeated in an argument
when this phenomenon actually oc-
ours. 1 began again presently. Il
know she is capable of this greatness
of mind and soul because She"
'Told you so herself" interrupted
Phyllis. l was obligel to admit tacit-
ly that this was so.
"And she thinks just as I do about
this subject, anyway" continued