Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-02-02

way" Aloud he said, Il should like
to ask you one more question, and I
beg that you will not think me
curious"
81 know your true friendship for
me- said Sir Basil. "and I feel that
nothing you might ask me would be
prompted by idle curiosity"
81 should like to know" pursued the
general, eff you have passed through
the fever called lOve?'
"No, I have not" said Sir Basil, 81
am heart-whole and fancy-free. I may
add that I thank Heven for it."
so do [" thought the general. He
was silent for some minutes, not quite
seeing his way to the next question.
eff the story of the marriages of one
generation could be written, it would
be wonderful volume" said Sir
Arthur, musingly. Some men are
led into marriage. I was; and my mar
riage proved a happy one. | had never
given a thought to it until some one
told me that certain lady favored me
very much. I found it was true and
we were very happy"
Sir Basil was surprised to see that
the general looked flushed and per-
picked. He was a little amused, too,
at his choice of such a subject for dis
cussion. He wondered if Sir Arthur
had any thoughts of marrying again.
"There are some very knotty points
about this same love-making," con-
tinued the general. 81 do not think
taking it as it is conducted now, that
the ladies have fair chance"
"Why not?" asked Sir Basil.
'The advantages are mainly on the
side of the man." said the general. eff
man sees a girl and likes her, he
has but to tell her so; she can say
Yes, or No. as she pleases."
"Certainly," chimed in Sir Basil.
Reverse the question. If young
girl sees a man and likes him ever so
much, she cannot say 500
cit is certainly not the custom Of
English girls!" laughed Sir Basil.
*'Do you think it fair to the weaker
sex that they should be obliged to
COuCSdl CuS1l SCnCll1S1CO
'T must confess I should not like
to see the custom reversed" replied
the baronet Besides, there is view
Of the matter which does not seem to
have struck you, Sir Arthur. Women
are more clever than men; they have
thousand quick instincts that we do
not posses; and l fancy that, if any
girl gave her heart unsolicited, there
are many ways in which, without los
ing either her dignity or her modesty,
she could let it be known"
The general looked hopeless, help
less. This view Of the subject had not
occurred to him.
Il mean" continued Sir Basil, that,
without saying one word, by her face
and manner any woman could make a
man understand that she liked him"
eff that be the case" thought the
general to himself, "why has not Leah
done 500"
Then he remembered that she was
too proud and cold; she would die
rather than stoop to that. But he
must save her. Even the duchess
admitted that at times an unhappy
love proved fatal.
Il should like to know your opinion,
Sir BASIL he said. Should you think
less Of a girl if she had a great affec-
ton for man who had shown no
signs of any for herr"
"Certainly not" he replied.
81 will put case to you," said the
general, warming now to his work.
Suppose that a lady, young and beau
tiful, all that is most gracious and
graceful, meets man and likes him
SO we'll that her liking grows into
love for him, and that love takes such
complete possession of her that not
only her happiness but her life is en-
dangered; would you think it prudent
or discreet if some Of her friends,
some one who loved her, told him Of
it?''
81 should think it the kindest thing
to do," said Sir Basil, carelessly.
''You would approve Of such line
of conduct" said Sir Arthur.
eff the man so loved were quite
free, I could see no objection to it,
said Sir Basil.
THANK Heaven I hear you say So"
cried the general.
'|Why, what has it to do with me?"
asked Sir Basil.
CT know some one," stammered
the general-"sOme one who cares
for you in that way, whose life is
wrapped up, so to speak, in yours"
I'm mine!' cried Sir Basil. 'You
must be mistaken, general"
''I am not, indeed. Think of all the
people you know. and see if you can
not find some clue"
81 am sure I canot," said Sir Basil,
quickly. 81 have not mixed much in
ladies' society, and of those know
cannot imagine one caring much for
me-"
"Yet there is one," declared the gen
eral, slowly. What the MONDAY sun
is to the flowers, you are to her. She
1o1yoc 1,o,, &c T ho1iovo vorv fou7 uuOnnN