Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-05-04
Her Splendid inconsistency.

From the open windows came music
by the orchestra in the ballroom Oh the
further side of the house, softened by
distance Moonlight, broken up by inter
yening trees into bars and splotches of
golden radiance, lay all about them as
| they walked up and down the veranda.
The right kind OF a woman always
| appreciates a proposal of marriage from
any man as Il great compliment Coming
from you 1t is the much more to be val
ued, but L cannot marry you" said the
woman.
Il have to thank you for having lis
pass little more upon yanr good nature
and ask permission to discuss the matter
| further with you?"
| mo amount of discussion can profit
either of US, SO far as | can see. But, as
| have said, i'll asking me to marry you a
great compliment was paid me, and in
return for that compliment l suppose
that | owe you permission TO indulge
your love for discussion or argument"
Thanks for the PERMISSION" said the
man, still in his stolid manner. Il cannot
recognize my proposal as, in any sense, a
compliment, but | am willing that you
shrOuld, if you wish, take the manner in
which l made it as a compliment Rec
ognizing the splendid development of your
own logical faculties, | have made my
offer of marriage in perfectly business
like form. [ have heard you often de-
clare that contract OF marriage is like
any other contract. and should be entered
into only when both parties are fully
aware of what they are doing"
do you think women are ever en-
tirely consistent?' interrupted the wom-
an.
The man looked trifie surprised, and
replied:
AT least. I give you credit for hav-
ing splendidly consistent mind. You
do not mean that | have erred in my
manner of proposing, that you would
have preferred more of an air of ro-
nance, and all that sort of thing?''
Now the situation is something like
this, continued the man in very much
the same tone of voice that he would
have used Ill arguing an important case
before the supreme court. You are
twenty is it thirty wears old,
nave reputation as beauty, 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 prevailing characteristic of mine
ana l nave not feared TO measure my
self with these other men
"On the other hand L can give you
pretty much anything YOU desire that
costs money. l stand well in my profes-
SION, and have prospects of soon being
near the top of it. Altogether | am
satisfied that any one would call it Il very
suitable match all around
Does the prosecution here close its
case!' inquired the woman, laughing a
little
L hardly care TO regard the matter as
one of prosecution and defense.'' said
the man imperturbably, but if you wish
TO use the terms | am forced to admit
their applicability. Will the defense resi-
It's case on the testimony submitted by
/ the prosecution, or will it elect to sub
! init an argiunent"
The defense will submit an argu-
ment,' replied the woman Il admit
that the match would be, as YOU say.
pronounced suitable to every one. As
for the two or three other men whom
you aver that l can marry at any time.
| cannot answer. | have noticed that
the number of my proposals has been
falling off OF late. and attributed the
TACT TO advancing age-you were right
when you SAID !! WAS thirty. I NAV
close the discussion by saying that T
have made up my mind to become an old
maid.'
Far be it from me to say ANYTHING
against those estimab BILE memoirs of So
ciety-the old maids said the man, ''but
L do not think you will ever be one of
them. A wise man once said that the
coWl of monk always hides either Il
disappointed lover or q great rascal. and
While do not indorse his opinion I'M
quallfiedly, | am firm in the belief that
every old maid is Il woman who was dis
appointed Ill love or who was too cold
bioodedly selfish ever to marry. Surely
you do not come in either class?"
No said the woman refiectiyely 81
can't say that | do, and yet
Perhaps" said the man, and now his
voice was very gentle, as though he
feared he might here touch some old
wound unwittingly, there is in your life
some romance which l have not guessed.
Believe me, | would not wound you for
worlds, and | trust you will pardon my
clumsy speech
"Oh, | am not a blighted being, never
fear, this with laugh that did not ring
altogether of merriment.
Then your refusal to marry me is not
based upon the ground that you prefer
some other MANI
''No am not in love-with some other
man."
Then why not marry me?"
Il have given you the best of all q
wcman's reason, because.
But your refusal of HE is final, l may
take it,"
Eyes, the Eyes with an almost in
audible sigh, a sigh SO nearly inaudible
that it did not reach the man.
He had thrown away his cigar and
stood for moment gazing out toward
the trees. Then he began to speak and
his voice was harsh with feeling that had
been restrained.
Il think | quite forgot to mention one
thing in my proposal. | did not say that
| love you very dearly; that, not wishing
to be a beggar Of love, | have waited all
these years to be i'll a position to offer
you the things which | mentioned as rem
dering me eligible for your hand You,
who are SO cool and calm. what can YOU
know of love and passion? Now, | know
that | have worked all these years in vain
no, not altogether in vain-for / am
going to kiss you once, here and now, if
it means the loss of all the little that is
left me of your regard
He gathered her in his strong arms and
kissed her, not once, but many times, on
her forehead, on her eyes and on her lips,
and then released her, with the full con-
sclousness that he had done an unpardon-
able thing which he did not regret
But the woman held out her arms to
him and said:
"Oh, Jack, dear: why didn't you tell
me that you loved me at first ?"-W W.
Hines in San Francisco Call.