Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1904-11-03
Her Splendid
Inconsis stenCy.
ROM the oncn Windows

lIlNl Il l|lll .'a ~ Wv o"''. ou" o'' Wv
.N!N-N .!.sN 1Ess further side of the house,
gI@1 softencd by distance.
Moonlight broken M by intervening
trees into bars and splotches of gold
on radiance. lay all about them as they
walked up and down the veranda.
THE right kind of woman always
appreciates a proposal of marriage
from any man n> Il great compliment
Coming from YOU it is the much more
to be valued, but | cannot marry YOU
said the woman.
II have 10 thank you for having lis
tened to me so patiently. Might |
trespaSS little more upon your good
nature and ask permission to discuss
the matter further with you?'
NO amount OF discussion can profit
either of us. so far rs | can see. But,
as have said. in asking me to marry
you Il great compliment was paid me,
aud in return for that compliment |
suppose that | owe you permission to
indulge your love for di>cusSiou or ar
gument."
Thanks for the permission" said
the man. still in his stolid maancr. II
cannot recognize my proposal as. in
any senSt, |. compliment, but | am
willing that you should, if YOU wish,
take the manner in which | made it as
compliment. Recognizing the splen-
did development Of your own logical
faculties, | have made my offer of mar.
riage in perfectly business-like form.
l have heard you often declare that Il
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 on
tirely conSisteut:' interrupted the Wo-
man.
The man looked trihe surprised
and replied
AT least | give YOU credit for hav.
ing Il Splendidly consistent mind. You
do not mean that | have erred in my
manner Of proposing. that you would
have preferred more or 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 in arguing an important case
before the Supreme Court. You are
twenty is it thirty years old.
have II reputation as Il beauty, and all
thot Won ram I knny marry npv nnn
of two or three men who can offer YOU
ut least as much rs !, but mOdeSty was
never Il prevailing characteristic Of
mine, and | have not feared to meas.
IRE myself with these other men.
"On tn" other band | can give you
pretty much anything YOU desire that
costs money. stand well in my pro-
feSsion. and have prospects of soou be.
ing near til" top Of ii. Altogether, |
am satisfied that any one would call il
d very suitable match al around"
docs the prosecution here close lis
case; inquired the woman laughing
little.
II hardly care TO regard The matter
as one of prosecution and defense
said the man mpertnrhablN ''hut ii
you wish To use the terms am forced
to admit their applicability. VIII the
defense rest its case on the testimony
submitted by the prosecution, or will
1t elect to submit an argument"
"Thc defense will submit an argu
ment," replied the woman. II admit
that the match would be. rs you say
pronounced suitable TO every one. AS
for the two or three other men whom
you aver that can marry at any time
/ cannot answer. | have noticed that
the number of my proposals has beer
falling off Of late, and ] attributed tho
tact ts,adyapclng age, You were rjgh'