The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-17
ENGACED--AND kFTERWARD

t~~-0-~-~-~~~-o-0-~.0-~. ~Joo-o~--o-@J~o~O0O0~~~
why is it, said Polly. breaking out o
the path and trailing her skirts over The
dead grass. that the frost has to conner
For the same reason. Polly, perhaps
1 explained, that after a night out the
next morning headache has TO follow
''Or that the play has to end
''Or that homogeneous wane. It's in
evitable"
And the parks in winter" said Polly
reAectively putting her muff up TO one ear
TO warm it, are so blank and dismal.
Like matrimony after summer love
affair." 1 suggested.
And the trees stand bare and gaunt.
Like the facts Of life, after the ro-
nance has all been rubbed Off I sighed.
"And the wind blows up little clouds Of
dust that blind you"
Like the little storms and quarrels that
blind you to one another's attractions af-
ter you are married"
81 don't believe it" said Polly.
Women never do" said !, until they
experience it. You're only engaged, you
know"
Polly put the mun across her little
nose.
But I've known lots of married peo-
pie" said she. and. besides. it isn't po-
it. 1t looks as though you either wanted
lite or pleasant for you to remind me OF
to lecture me-or to break the engage
ment.
/ caught PoIly's muff and pulled it down
from her face.
DON'T cried Polly. backing away from
me and putting her hand over her lips.
DON'T
Did you mean it?" said I, looking into
her eyes.
''No-o-o." cried Polly. and besides the
park policeman is looking"
Anyhow" she went on after pause
talking through the hole in her muff, If
marriage isn't d continuous courtship it
is always the mans fault. The very day
after he gets back from the honeymoon
trip, he rushes off and buries himself in
stocks or-or something"
stocks buy stockings" l remarked /
couldn't see Pollys face, because her
mun quite covered the side nearest me.
And it is only a very few weeks before
he forgets to kiss his wife in the morn
Ing. because he is so busy criticising the
GOODNESS of the coffee"
Perhaps" l suggested, it is the cold
ness Of his wife that is affecting him
He seems to think, said Polly ,ignor-
ing me, that the compliment he pays a
woman by marrying her is the last he
need ever pay her He forsets how to say
ell the pretty things he used to say before
they were married. He even forgets now
h used to look d her. If she comes down
in a new frock that she has spent days
and days worrying over just to please
him he merely gives grunt of approval
or disapproval remarks that she is get
ting too matrOnly TO wear pink and turns
to the morning paper"
.Or the bill" I murmured.
If she tries to tell him what she thinks
is a joke, he makes scornful remarks
about her sense Of humor. He raises his
eyebrows coldly when she attempt sto
be cute or clever. If she is hurt. her tears
get on his nerves. When she tells him 4
piece Of news he advises her to not gos-
sip. He forgets that it was not his good
Judgment hut his chivalIy that won her
heart; that it was not his remarkable
common sense, but his charming manners
and the way in which he told her that
her hair was pretty that first made her
take interest in him. lie remarks to him
self that when you have caught a street
car there isn't any further need of run
ming after it. but he doesn't remember
that there is great dealing in having a
pleasant journey in that car. and that
there is a lot in getting on the right side
of it. where you can catch the fair winds
and the scent of the bowers along the
roadside and escape the squalls and
storms Of matrimony.' And Polly sat
down on a park bench and began kicking
the dead grass with The toe Of her boot.
We'll" remarked. of course / don't
know as much about it as You seem to"
Polly glanced furtively at me over her
mun.
Put" I went on imperturbably y
don't suppose a wife ever forgets that il
was the curl in her hair that first caught
fellows eye when she comes down to
breakfast with her pompadour slcket
back. And doubtless no woman ever al
lowed the butcher hin II worry her to the
extent of making her forget 10 toll her
husband every evening how she loved
him. And no woman ever forgot that it
was her soft voice that first touched a
mans heart and allowed her husband to
hear her railing AT te servant OF arguing
wit The butcher. And
Jack" said Polly, getting up and shak-
ing out her skirts. the sun is going down
and it's time to 60 home"
But. I remarked pointing to the park
policeman. he viii think YOU got up just
because you saw him coming"
Polly sat down again.
Polly. love
Polly Lee" corrected Polly.
Polly. love" repeated. lit isn't any
body's fault that November and the frost
must come and it isn't auybodys fault
that two young people who marry must
wake up from their summertime dream
10 face the bare. cold facts OF common
place everyday life. The trouble is that
they blame it all on one another; that is
all Both Of them ought 10 prepare for it. .
just as the squirrels take the summer
time in which 70 prepare For winter"
What" exclaimed Polly. for once let +
tins her muG fall in her lap. spend your
whole courtship studying cook books and
economy"
Yes, and giving up tobacco and the /
club"