The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1904-06-23
her Splendid
inconsistency
BY w. w. HINES
Copyright, 1904, by w. w. Hines

s rom the open windows came music,
lie by the orchestra in the ballroom
he farther side of the house, soften
by distance. Moonlight, broken up
intervening trees into bars and
otcheS of golden radiance, lay all
nut them as they walked up and
On the veranda.
hey were two, man and a woman,
befitted the waltz tune and the
onlight.
The right kind of woman always
1reciateS a proposal of marriage
IN ANY man as great compliment.
ming from you it is the much more
be valued, but cannot marry you,"
ID the woman.
Turning in their walk, the woman
the veranda, and the man seated
mself on the railing. He was taking
rejection with admirable GOODNESS,
the woman knew he would take it.
MAY I smoker" he said politely.
The commonplaceness of the request
ruck the woman's vein Of humor, and
was with little laugh that she gave
sr consent. The man lit cigar, look
/ out toward the trees and the moon
ght and said:
Rather pretty waltz they are play
e, isn't it?''
Then he pulled away at his cigar
effectively and continued:
''I have. to thank you for having
Stoned to me so patiently. Might l
respass little more upon your good
.ature and ask permission to discuss
ne matter further with your
His manner, as calm as though he
sad been discussing some abstractly
sthical question, was very Characters
dc. Perhaps the knowledge Of this ir-
sttated the woman little, for she re-
Jlied:
mo amount of discussion can profit
either of US, SO far as l can see. But,
Is 1 have said, in asking me to mar
y you a great compliment was paid
me, and n return for that compliment
suppose that I owe you permission
% indulge your love for discussion or
argument"
Thanks for the permission" said
he man, still in his stOlid manner.
II cannot recognize my proposal as,
IN any sense, compliment, but 1 am
willing that you should, if you wish,
lake the manner in which I made it
IS compliment. Recognizing the
splendid development of your own
logical faculties, have made my offer
If marriage in perfectly businesslike
'OrIn. I have heard you often declare
hat contract of marriage is like any
her contract and should be entered
.oonly when both parties are fully
aware of what they are doing"
do you think women are ever en-
ireIy consistent? interrupted the
woman.
The man looked a trife surprised
ind replied:
AT least, 1 give you credit for hav-
ng a splendidly consistent mind. You
manner of proposing, that you would
nave preferred more of an air Of ro-
nance and all that sort of thing"
Not at ALL" the woman FASTENED
% assure him. Perhaps one more
skilled in woman nature would have
placed little credence in her words,
nut the man to whom they were ad
dressed never presumed to doubt their
ruth.
Now, the situation Is something like
his" continued the man in very much
he same tone of voice that he would
AVE used in arguing an important
ease before the supreme court. "You
re twenty nine-or Is 1t thirty P
Fears old, have a reputation as a
yeauty, and all that. You can, know,
marry any one of two or three men
Who can offer you at least as much as
(, but modesty was never. a prevailing
characteristic Of mine, and | have not
feared to measure myself with these
Dtber men.
ION the other hand, I can give you
,retty much anything you desire that
Osts money. I stand we'll in my pro-
ession and have prospects of soon be-
ng near the top of it. Altogether, I
Ina satisfied that any one would call
t g gerry suitable match all around"
Does the prosecution here close its
aseT' inquired the woman, laughing
little.
81 hardly care to regard the matter
rs one of prosecution and Defense"
said the man imperturbably, "but If
Fou wish to use the terms 1 am forced
% admit their applicability. Will the
fefense rest its case on the testimony
submitted by the prosecution, or will
It elect to submit an argument?"
1.-The defense will submit an argu-
ment," replied the woman. 81 admit
that the match would be, as you say,
pronounced suitable by every one. AS
Tor the two or three other men whom
you aver that 1 can marry at any time,
r cannot answer. I have noticed that
he number of my proposals has been
falling off of late, and attributed the
tact 10 advancing age-you were right
when you said l was thirty. I may
Hose the discussion by saying that !
have made up my mind to become an
aId maid