Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-12-02
LITTLE REAEA9SALS FOR MATR|M0NY

LITTLE REAEAlSALS FOR MA1R|MONY
'She's engaged again." remarked Pol
ly, nodding her head at the auburn
haired Downing girl, who went sailing
by in Arlington Dare's new cart.
Its his fifth or sixth trial, too, isn't
it," | asked, shaking out the reins and
tucking the rugs under Polly's infnitesi-
NAL toes. Some people never get Sc,
rious."
Polly looked meditative.
WELL" she remarked. jabbing the pin
into her hat moro securely. "that depends
on what you mean by serious An en-
gagement may be serious without ending
in matrimony."
Serious for the one who gets left::"
asked, swapping the whip viciously over
the back of the roam.
Nonsense! One always means to be
married when one gets engaged. That's
what makes it an engagement. Other
wise it would be merefy-er-that is
Merely what?" [ inquired, looking up
sidewise under Polly's hat.
ooh, Irritation, or an affair But a
real bona fde engagement is nothing
more nor less than a dress rehearsal
for matrimony. Sometimes the original
rehearsing company are married at once !;
but generally the leading man and the
leading lady are changed several times
before you can find two who just fit the
opposing roles"
"Why, Polly Lee. I'm surprised. I sup
posed all Your engagements have proven
invaluable experience. Doubtless even
this one, with me as leading man, is
proving
Invaluable experience" acquiesced
Polly, nodding her feathers; "oh, yes; in
valuable. I've learned every thing about
the stage business of managing man
since | became engaged to you. For in
stance, before then l used to take the
center of the stage on every OCCASION
I'd let man sit like a groom or an I'M
derstudy beside me all afternoon, while
| displayed my accomplishments as a
whip instead of letting him show off with
four in hand or tandem, while |
played the part of limelight and kept UP
with the applause. Why, what are you
whipping that horse for?'
"Was I?' [ snapped, bit startled
1t was the off horse, and it struck me
that ne was more off than usual that
afternoon.
L was wondering" I snapped, chow
many rehearsals it took to make you SO
letter perfect near .low many re-
hearsals before you graduated at my ex-
pense"
I haven't graduated yet. remarked
Polly.
I jumped. "Oh!''
The commencement exercises don't
commence until you go to the altar. That
IS when the rehearsals end, and the cur
tain rolls up, and the tragedy OF the COM
edy or the melodrama hegins in real
earnest"
Wont you set the date for the com
mencement exercises, Polly?" l pleaded
softly.
Have you no regard for etiquette, Mr..
Heavyfeather?" remarked Polly. chat
was Mrs. Gadsby Victoria, and she saw
you.''
Saw me what?"
"Saw you looking at me that way, and
try ing to get hold of my hand"
Il didn't" [ said Indignantly and am
biguously.
A girls first rehearsal for matrimony, .
went on Polly, ignoring me, usually
takes place when she is about II. She is
exactly like a young actress making her
debut in Juliet. She plays with fire, but
without poise or method She rants and
RACES and overdoes. There is nothing
subtle about her. If she should marry
the man that she thinks at that time she
is madly in love with
Well?" [ had to prod Polly, for Just
fho,, {1,,., I.o =. 4. I
the auburn haired Downing girl and Alb
bingdon Dare flashed past US, and Polly
turned TO stare after them
Well" she went on, there would be
about as bad a smash-up as there would
be if the man who sold you this team of
horses hadn't tried them in harness to-
gether before he mated them. Now, sup
pose both of these were off horses
l smiled comprehendingly
1T takes several rehearsals to make
d girl letter perfect in the little game
of matrimony. The first time a girl falls
In love all she knows about man is that
he is a good WALTER and wears the proper
collars, that his hair crlrls at the edges
and that he doesn't tread on her frocks. y
"Was your first leading man like that
Poily?''
"No-that is-I've forgotten. But
they're all alike. The girl who marries
her first love has a life lesson before her
It's like taking the leading part in a
difficult play at a few moments notice
She knows as much about handling a
man as small boy does about handling
gun. And man that is badly handled
IS like a gun. The first thing he does is
to go off-of to another girl"
Did ne do that, Polly?'' said, look
ing at her, sympathetically.
'sWho?" asked Pony.
Your first leading man. tie must have
been remarkably clever. Was he good
looking, and did he ever marry any one %
Polly looked at me witheringly.
Its this way, you see," she went on
"A girl gets such a good perspective on a
man when she's engaged to him. After
shn G ,ayrin1 che iS fr5, cloSo RI tho fc<,{