Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-07-14
DAILY SHORT STORY
Per Contra.
[Original.l

TO test the man mdIIy' IL SOu
stand the test my answer will be''Yes;'
If not it wllltbe No
'Tn what respect am to be tested
integrity, amiability, bravery or appre-r
clation?"
appreciation of what7"
"Your good qualities"
THAT thrust is unkind' and uncalled
for"
Don't spoil that rose. You are pull
ing 1t to pieces as though'it had Offend
ed. But this test-I suppose L am
not to know anything about it before
hand"
"Of course not; forewarned. fore
armed
land I must remain in, suspense
till
"Oh, 1 shall not keep you waiting
long. Perhaps I'll get an opportu-
nifty
Don't give it any; shall have to
wait all the longer"
Dinner was announced and we left
the garden. Guests had been invited
for the evening. and by 8 o'clock we
were in the ballroom.
MAY have this dancer" 1 asked of
Geraldine.
Certainly not. AS hostess it is my
part to look after my guests. L shall
dance with no one tonight"
She hurried away l was surprised
Mt her abruptness. but 1 was more sur
or3soJ Iotor 70 con bor coil nv mo IN a
waltz with the only man 1 feared as a
rival Had the little mink not looked
up at me. a plain question on her eX-
pressive face as to how / would bear
her test. might not have known was
being tested.
So it is forbearance she wishes In
the man she marries. 1 will be amia-
bility itself.
Seating myself beside an old friend,
[ spent most of the evening with her.
Since / could not dance with Geraldine
I did not care to dance at all, and my
companion was an entertaining woman
who did not dance. l saw no reason to
change my seat. Geraldine danced the
.otillon and so plastered my rival with
|
lcaptain general. l bore her Sights
with excellent good nature, congratu
ating myself that 1 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. 81
am going TO bed"
Disappointed. but thinking this a
continuation of the test, acquiesced
without a murmur.
Good night said. "a rest will be
beneficial after the responsibility of en-
pertaining guests"
There are more trying things than
Entertaining guests"
such asp
Being disappointed in the man
,ne"-
What? You have been testing me?
And have failed?"
"Oh, you stood the test well enough;
too well. People do not really love
who are proof against jealousy"
But that's what l was to do-bear 1t
with eQuanimity, wasn't it?'
| DO you Cdl IL W cll all
the evening with one woman, a mar
ried woman at that?"
We both stood still, Geraldine with
flashing eye and heaving bosom, an
noyed at the turn the affair had taken.
Come 1 said kindly. 1.-THE lights
are being put out. and we must soon
: part. Tell me. sweetheart
at would not be safe to marry a man
who fiirts with every married woman
he meets
You were not testing me for that
were you?"
mo; you showed your natural pro
: clivity without n test. Heaven knows
J what you would do with n Delilal
flung at you"
Her mother was in the hall waiting
: for her to go upstairs. Considering
her dissatisfaction with me, expected
3 her to do so. Instead she went to O
| sofa and sat down. 1 took a seat be
side her.
Let US sift this matter" l said. ar
order to learn if you may depend upor
, my not showing jealousy without cause
you decline to dance with me and dance
several times with another man."
at didn't seem to trouble you much.
did you wish me to show jealousy 2
81 certainly did not wish you to show
, indifference"
every well. I think 1 see what you
mean. Now. per contra, supposing tina
7 in sitting so long beside my old FRIEND
had been testing your forbearance
T How would you have stood my test"
Admirably. I'm supremely indiffer
/, ent to your old friend 1 don't care
T that for her" And she snapped hel
Singers viciously.
ITO sum up, l stood the test as t.
equanimity, but failed by showing al
indifference which was all apparent
1t only remains for me to prove that
am not Indifferent by a lifelong devo
ton"
This defense moved her. She sa