Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-04-14
LOVE-
WHILE YOU
WAIT &
By Joseph NeyIn Doyle
HYR. PERCIVAL S. GARDEN
GH was very superfuous man,
Copyright. 1908. bu JOSEPH Nertn Doyle
belt he had struggled desper

II I'd WIS NSkS
ia or ut least he felt he was, al
belt he had struggled desper
ately and manfully to disprove his OWL
convictions OIL that point. He was
standing near to a marble group in the
drawing room Of the Madison avenue
home of the divers, his most intimate
friends. 1t occurred to him vaguely
that the group might have been Cupid
and Psyche. though the matter was not
exactly essential to his reflections, rath
er shadow lowering about them-as il
were, a mere neutral tint. He was i'm
mediately occupied with the foolishness
of society and the deplorable frittering
away of precious time which these
sparkling, vacuous bubbles of social di,
version induce.
Garden was not very popular mem
ber of his set on account Of a perilous
faculty he had of avoiding these very
amenities he now so mercilessly rated
He was to be found at this reception
well, if the matter were probed to the
bottom, principally because he was
rather fond of the divers, and Jack
Oliver had reminded him he must not
send a regret at the peril of serious
breach in their friendship, adding:
But l know you'll not be so cruel as
to deprive Mrs. Oliver of such an excel
lent attraction. Think of all the whis.
pering over fans: That is the wonder
full Mr.. Garden. Such charming. dar
ing fellow. Abhors dancing: does not
believe in love as it is; considers society
a sublunary purgatory.' Come: you'll
not deprive Florence of such jolly
subject for discussion"
notwithstanding all this. Garden
went to the reception and occasioned
little comment. or surprise even, except
among his most intimate friends who
alone were aware of his pcculiaritics, 50
nicely did he disguise them. He was
cne of the busiest men in New York.
That fact was patent.
Now he touched the nose of Cupid or
Psyche Che was not precisely certain
which, with his glasses, and said he:
There are times when even the fine
passivity of a marble group is not the
least desirable state. Had the lamp
of Aladdin | should desire instantly to
he transformed into Il statue Of
Some one plucked his sleeve. 1t was
his hostess.
You remind me very much" said
Mrs. Oliver. 'Of Il statue ! once saw
of Achilles. think it was. Why this
heroic abstractedness!"
Garden had not yet shaken off his
embarrassment when she put an end
TO it prettily. sparing him the addition.
al confusioN of an explanation,
Come; let us descend 10 things more
substantial than dead heroes. if not
less poetical. have Il pleasant sur.
prise in store for you. Let me take
you to an old friend just returned from
overseas"
Then. when they were alone. said
Garden to Alice Coates:
81 can assure you am heartily glad
to see you again, Miss Coates"
"You may call me Alice. as you did
before went abroad" said the petite.
charming girl with whom Mrs. Oliver
had left him. and then mischievously.
though you may not chuck me under
the chin as you did then, because am
quite young lady now, you see"
Dear me. yes. quite young lady.
Do you remember our chats when we
used to poke fun at the cOurtly old
danes at your mothers affairs: have
never found congenial company since
you went abroad and have quite gone
out of society entirely: become Il kind
of commercial anchorite."
How fortunate you are! But then
you never really cared for society. did
you?"
mo, indeed. nor did you. Are your
ideas unchanged. Alice"
"Well. in way. | still think. as you
used to say. the world would be better
off if there were not this terrible tri'
fling with precious time. Yet, and l
know you will pardon me, am sur
prised to find you single. Is 1t possible
there has been no one charming enough
to break through the-yes. | shall say
it-pessimistic ice of your nature"
mo one. indeed. But though | will
not be so vain as to say it is entirely.
yet will be bold enough to say to my
old confidant it has been largely, due
to the fact that have not had the time
to devote to lovemaking. And you
know it takes great deal Of gadding
about before q man may even evidence
his affection slightly. Don't you think
yourself that the conventional wooing Is
q very lamentable sacrifice Of time"
"If the woman in me concludes, no;
but if / persevere along strictly com.
mon sense lines. perhaps yes"
"How charming you are! Jove. you
have not changed jot. Alice. since
your hair has been turned up and you
have donned the harness Of social slav-
cry! But. TO continue our subject, ]
honestly think this business Of love and
marriage might be expedited. for in
stance, in the commercial way. A man
comes into my office with proposition
that is almost as important to me as
marriage, for 1t affects my life's affairs
very radically. might even say 1t Is
quite as important as marriage, for 1t
Is sometimes irrevocable, while with
marriage there is always the divorce
court. l should like to give a years
serious thought to his proposition, but
II cannot reasonably be done. He wants
an answer that same day-immediate-
ly, if possible. True, l take, say, half
an hour or an hour to turn the matter
over in my mind and view 1t In every
light. AS rule. in that length of time
| am come ut a satisfactory conclusion.
Now, if | could but find woman to
abortion Prevented