The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-13
A QUESTION OF METHODS.

E-"-N~f HNN~AAAAA6 We hoN NA~
drawing-room to ourselves, so 1 could Go
this to my hearts content-conditional,
of course, upon MurieTs pleasure Nuriel
was apparently lost in contemplation of
the freight on her shoes.
BY the way, you were to answer my
question today" 1 remarked, breaking
the silence.
to my face. and she murmured, Err
um-yes.'
wei, and what is it to be finally %
asked as lightly as could to mask the
eagerness beneath. l have discovered,
after long experience, that Muriel is apt
to become particularly frivolous upon a
display of earnestness on my part
L am not sure that I have quite de-
cided." she said. slowly.
1 felt annoyed, but refrained from
showing it.
why not? Haven't you had sufficient
timer" 1 asked. 1 had first asked Muriel
this same question some three years
ago, exclusive of sundry amatory ad-
Vances Of my childhood days. The sar-
casm, however, was apparently thrown
away upon her. for she merely said,
thoughtfully. as she resumed her scru-
tiny of her shoes:
Elsa thinks you are too young"
Elsa Is her elder sister. That is be-
cause Elsa is going to marry an old
togy,' was my prompt reply. This was
unkind. for Rossiter is not 40 and does
not look more than 35.
Muriel made no comment. though she
knows he is not a "foggy," and is my
very good friend She observed still
more thoughtfully,
"Efie thinks 1 am too young"
Effe is her younger sister. THAT is
because Effie wants to have longer lib
erty, and knows she will have to settle
down when Elsa and you have gone" l
answered severely. This was still more
unkind, for Effie, if inclined to be Eighty
is a dear little thing. and has proved
herself a staunch chum of mine on more
than one occasion. 1 felt rather mean,
but a man cannot stop at trifies when
big game is at stake. Besides, Effie
would never know, and she should have
a box of chocolate in the morning as
salve to my conscience.
There was a silence. Muriel trans
ferred her gaze to Worcester vase on
the mantlepiece, but said nothing. 1
began to feel angry, for her seeming
indifference covered 1 knew not what.
But / held my temper in check, re-
membering many occasions on which
the loss of my temper with Muriel had
meant the loss of my battle. So I asked
quietly. well, is that the end of the
advice you have received, or did you
consult Walter and Archie and your
three cousins2''
At another time this would have had
the effect of rousing Muriel to retort,
for 1t is an old cause of contention be-
tween us that she will seek the opinion
or comment of her sisters. knowing my
rooted objection to such a course To-
day for some occult reason, she failed
to rise to the occasion. She simply
said:
I didn't say anything to them
Then perhaps you will favor me
with your own opinion. now that I am
made aware of what your sisters think
IN the matter?' l inquired. What was
the meaning of this hesitation? Muriel
was not often at loss for words. still
less often disinclined for them.
She dropped her eyes to the fire. gave
me a heeting glance that told me moth
Ing, looked down at the fire again and
finally said in a low voice:
Il don't know ------
This was too exasperating. I said
Really, you force me to come to the
conclusion that you simply have no
mind as you seem utterly unable to
form an opinion of your own"
Muriel is not vain of her undoubted
good looks; she does not boast of the
style" which is the admiration of her
masculine acquaintance or of the per-
rect taste which is the envy of her fem
mime friends; but there is one thing of
which she is proud, and that is her
mental capacity. She considers herself
the possessor of a mind built on the
broad plan of the mind masculine, lift
ing her above most If not all of the
RNAAg ldlAiASo VI the lnlnQ FEMININE. 80
this remark, as I guessed, could hard
ly fail to rouse her to some show of an
imation, let the rsult be what it might
There was a moments pause Then
Muriel rose from her seat, carefully ad-
Justed her skirt, turnd to face me, and
said. with note in her voice which 1
knew of old:
IF that is your opinion, and you in
tend to choose your wife for her mind
alone. we may consider the matter
al mi OF
mistaken in asking me; surely you had
better request the honor of Alma Mar
tins hand-and mind"
She was calm. but that note in her
voice and tiny CLEAN in her eye told
me that the calmness was but outward,
and my spirits rose accordingly.
Now Muriels mind is a thing of adj
miration to me for while possessing
much OF the "broadness' on which she
prides herself, she is really a most de-
lightful bit of femininity. But Alma
Martini She is person to be avoided
by the ordinary frivolous or peace-lov-
ing mana person of spectacles and
opinions. of short hair and long words
I'm fact a veritable advanced woman
of the most pronounced type
After this shot Muriel swept past me
on her way to the door, but I sprang
after her, reached it first and deliberate
ly placed my back to it.
but 1 refuse to consider the matter
by any means closed" 1 declared. You
have given me no definite answer yet.
and I mean to have one before you leave
this room"
Muriel was for moment taken aback
by this unwonted show of energy on my
part for she is of the opinion that my
laziness in all matters (even love max
ingJ is thing to make the angels weep.
Then with a very fine assumption of
dignity she said:
Il have nothing further to say Be
good enough to permit me to pass
And believe she thought I would do
so: but by now 1 was thoroughly reused
and meant to let my lady see that it was
not to be always hers to command and
be instantly and meekly obeyed. So I
said quietly:
Il will do nothing OF the sort You
will please go and sit down again."
She was so surprised at this that after
one glance at my face. and a breath
which was almost a gasp. she actually
went back to the armchair. This was