The daily silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1903-1907, 1903-11-02
PER CONTRA


A0&rEA@EA
81 have always Intended said Ger
aldine-she was standing beside me in
the garden with a rose in her hand
"to test the man l marry. If you
stand the test my answer will be Yes
IL not it will be No
'In what respect am 1 to be tested
integrity, amiability, bravery or appre-
ciation?"
appreciation of whatY"
"Your good qualities"
THAT thrust is unkind and uncalled
for"
Don't spoil that rose. You are pull
ing it to pieces as though 1t had offend
ed. But this test-I suppose l am
not to know anything about it before
hand"
"Of course not; forewarned, fore.
armed"
"And I mast remain in suspense
till'-
"Oh, l shall not keep you waiting
long. Perhaps I'll get an opportu-
nifty
Don't give it any; I shall have to
wait all the longer"
Dinner was announced and we left
the garden. Guests had been invited
for the evening. and by 0 o'clock we
were in the ballroom.
May l have this dancer" I asked OF
Geraldine.
Certainly not. As hostess it is my
part to look after my guests. 1 shall
dance with no one tonight"
She hurried away. l was surprised
at her abruptness. but l was more sur
prised later to see her sail by me in a
waltz with the only man l feared as a
rival. Had the little mink not looked
up at me. a plain question on her ex-
pressiye face as to how l would bear
her test, l might not have known 1 was
being tested.
So it is ~forbearance she wishes in
the man she marries. l will be anna
bility itself.
Seating myself beside an old friend.
/ spent most Of the evening with her.
Sine . could not dance with Geraldine
! did rot care to dance at all. and my
companion was an entertaining woman
who did not dance. | saw no reason to
change my seat. Geraldine danced the
c~otillOn and so plastered my rival with
'~favors'' that he looked like a Spanish
captain general. l bore her sights
with excellent good nature, congratu-
lating myself that l was winning the
coveted Yes"
At last the dancing ceased and the
guests departed. l approached Gerald
inc and begged that she would give
me a short walk on the piazza.
Thank you. no." she said CURLY. II
am going to bed"
Disappointed. but thinking this a
without a murmur.
Good night" | said. "a rest will be
beneficial after the responsibility of en-
t%ertaining guests"
There are more trying things than
entertaining guests"
"Such as?"
being disappointed in the man
one
What? You have been testing mel
And | nave failed?"
"Oh. you stood the test well enough;
too well. People do not really love
who are proof against jealousy"
but that's what / was to do-bear 1t
with equanilnity. wasn't it,"
do you call it equanimity to sit all
the evening with one woman, a mar
ried at that?"
We both stood still. Geraldine with
flashing eye and heaving bosom, ! an
noyed at the turn the affair had taken.
Come | said kindly. The lights
are being put ont, and we must soon
part. Tell me, sweetheart
1T would not be safe to marry a man
who hlrts with every married woman
he meets"
"You were not testing me for that.
were your"
NO: you showed your natural pro-
clivity without a test. Heaven knows
what you would do with a Dellah
flung at YOU"
Her mother was In the ball waiting
for her to 90 upstair~ Considering
her dissatisfaction with Lie. | expected
her TO do SO. Instead she went to a
sofa and sat down. ! took a seat be-
side her.
LET us sit this matter" ! said. I'm
order to learn if You may depend upon