Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-08-17
!, The Practical lover.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

pros ANU tOIS VI llic III upupic hli
ness. ut is simply Impossible to COM
bne the two. Marriage is II prosalc.
practical condition, make the court
ship what you will. There should be
no silly love-making in the business at
ALL"
"I've heard all that sort Of thing be-
fore" said Jack quietly, putting rings
of smoke scientifically into the air.
"And you, like the rest, only want Il
smile from a pair of bright eyes to
bowl YOU over and set YOU by the ears.
It's fate, my boy, that's what 1t IS"
"Bosh," said l contemptuously.
"When l marry it will be woman
who does not expect any nonsense Of
that kind. We shall conduct our part
nership on business-like baSis--I to
provide the money, she to take care of
the home"
Left alone I took down photograph
and regarded it intcnt,y.
Here's the wife for mc--a nice, sen
sible, intelligent girl, with no nom
sense about her at all. I'm tired of
bachelor life: It's wrctchedly dull.
Yes, I'll go and see her tomorrow and
get it over"
Miss Sylvester did not blush, cast
down her eyes or tremble OF appear
| agitat2d in any manner. She looked
thoughtfully out of the window for
some seconds, then she looked up and
| regarded me soberly.
.,N"npll
your annual income is?' she asked.
This staggered me Bit but l told
her $500 without any hesitation.
Its not a great amount" she unused.
"But still we might manage on 1t with
prudence. haven't very expensive
tastes, and you--"
l murmured that I was most unpre-
tentious In my way Of living. and
asked whether she would consider
smoking an unnecessary luxury.
Not Mt ALL" she answered promptly.
II hope l am not so foolish as that
You see l am practical woman. and
You will quite understand that in ac.
ccpting your offer sentiment Is not
brought to bear upon me at all, and l
think | may depend upon you not to
subject me to any foolish demonstra-
tons Of affection"
"Certainly," l returned. "You have
but echoed my sentiments. | trust l
shall be able to make you happy, and
that You will not regret your decision
to-day"
And then we talked over matters in
very satisfactory manner. There
was no need to delay the marriage she
agrced-a couple Of months would be
quite sufficient to make all necessary
| arranSements-and after a cup of tea
and the congratulations of mamma, q
| gawky sister and a rather handsome
young brother, returned home to my
diggings in the dignifed character of
1 formally engaged young man.
Mary would not allow me to buy her
an engagement ring; 1t was quite I'M
| necessary, she said, and we should
want all the money we had. In the
matter of house furnishing she eXhib-
tied practical, matter-of.fact inter.
est which was most commendable, and
she detcrminedly discountenanced any
idea of honeymoon.
I'VE shall get tied of one another
in week." she said. II shall be quite
content to remain at home, and per-
| haps go to a concert OF lecture in the
| evening""
One memorable day something oc-
Cured which opened my eyes to the
real state of things. / surprised Mary
In the act of saying goodbye to her
smart young brother at the door. She
| put both arms around his neck and
kissed him with a warmth of affection
l had never deemed her capable Of. A
very demon of jealousy rose within
| me.
l followed her into the room, talking
wildly and as idiotically as only a man
| In love can. / caught her hand,
pressed 1t to my lips. and implored her
| to be kind to me. She told me not to
make myself ridiculous. Her disdain
and contempt for me goaded me be-
You'd bearing. l told her life was a
bowling wilderness without her love,
| ana l adored the very ground she
walked on. and that unless she reclp-
rocated my affection 1 should never
find peace on this side of the grave.
| She Informed me that 1 was talking
| like scEoolboy, that she was sorely
disappointed in me and could never
respect me again.
1t was all up. l left her presence
with the fixed intention of going
either straight to the dogs or finding
q home in some watery grave. But
did neither. After pacing the roads
for good hour and half, I suddenly
found myself ut my own door. Me.
chancally l walked up the stairs and
into my own room, and sat down by
my solitary hearth, picture of de.
spair and misery. How long brood
ed there l hardly knew, but l was
aroused from the lethargy into which
l had fallen by slight step crossing
the threshold of my own door. and be-
fore l could turn pair of small
hands caught me from behind and
softly imprisoned my aching eyes.
Guess! guess said strangely In.
miliar voice in an excited mood
My heart thumped like steam en-.
CINE but before l could gather nv
scattered wits and answer l was re-
leased, and Mary, smiling. blushing,
TRANSPORTED Mary, hung over the arm
of my chair and actually Rugged me