The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1904-06-15
Her Splendid
inconsistency
BY W. W.. HINES
Copyright, 1904, by w. w. Hines
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


made by the orchestra in the ballroom
ON the further side of the house. soften
ed by distance Moonlight broken up
by intervening trees into bars and
splotchcs of golden radiance, lay all
about them as they walked up and
down the Veranda
They We're two Il man and II woman,
as beiltted the waltz tune and the
moonlight
The right Kind of woman always
appreciates Il proposal Of marriage
from any man AS a great compliment
Coming from you ii is the much more
10 be valued, but | cannot murry YOU"
said the woman
Turning III their walk. the woman
leaned back against one of the pillars
of the Neranda, and the mun seated
himself on the railing He was taking
his rejection with admirable coolncSs
as the woman knew he would take IT,
MAY smoke" he said politely.
The commonplaccneSs of the request
struck the womun's vein of humor. and
II WIS With II little laugh that she gave
her consent The man lii cigar. look
ed out toward the trees and the moon
light and said
Rather pretty waltz they are play
ing, isn't it,
Then he pulled away nj his cigar
reilectiveiy and continued:
Il have To thank You for having
listened to me So patiently. Might
trcspass little more upon your good
nature and ask permission to discuss
the matter further with YOU
His manner. rs calm as though he
had been discussing some abstractly
ethical question, Wis very Characters
tie. Perhaps the knowledge of this ir=
ritated the woman II little. for She re-
piled;
No amount of discussion can profit
either of lis, SO far as | can see But,
rs | have said, in asking me to mar
~ you II great compliment was paid
me, and III return for that compliment
| suppose that owe you permission
TO indulge your love for discussion or
argument"
Thanks for the permission" said
81 cannot recognize my proposal rs.
in any SENSE. II compliment. but am
willing that you should If you wish.
tulte the manner In which made il
rs compliment. Recognizing the
splendid development of your own
logical faculties, | have mnde my Offer
of marriage In perfectly husuessll,e
/ # ,sp 4l,ts
that contract of marriage is like any
other contract and should Ice entered
into only when both parties are fully
aware of what they are doing.
DO you think women are ever On
tlrcly consistent" interrupted the
woman.
The man looked trlfc surprised
and replied
AT least. give you credit for huv
ing splendldly consistent mind You
do not mean that | have erred In my
manner of proposing, that you would
have preferred more of an air al To.
nance aud all that sort of thing
Not Mt MI. the woman FASTENED
to assure him. Perhaps one more
placed little crcdcncc in her words
but the man 10 whom they were al
dressed never presumed to doubt their
truth
"Now. the situation Is something like
this" continued the man IN very much
the same tone of voice that he would
hive used in arguing an important
A,,t
are twenty nine or r. 1t thirty
years old have II reputation as II
beauty. and all that. You can know.
marry any one of tWo or three men
who cnn offer you at least ms much Hs
|, but mudcSty WAS never II prevailing
characteristic OF mine ami | hive not
feared 10 measure myself with these
other men
"On the other hand, can give you
pretty much anything You desire that
costs money | stand well IN my pro
tcssion and have prospects of soon be
Ing near the tep of IT, Altogether, |
pm satisfied that any one would call
1t n very suitable match Ill around"
Docs the prosecution here close ita
little
Il hardly cnrc IL regard the matter
"a one of prosecution and defense,
said the man imperturhably. but If
you Wish to use the terms / am forced
to adult their applicability. Will the
defense rcst its case on the testimony
submitted Icy the prosecution, or Will
a.
"lhc defense will submit an argn-
meut."= replied the woman II admit
TINT the mateh would be. ms you say
pronounced suitable by every one. As
for the two or three other men whom
you aver that ! can marry nj ANY time,
| cannot answer. ! have noticed that
the number of my proposals has been
falling OFF Of late and attributed the
fact to advancing age you were right
when YOU said was thirty. | may
close the discussion by saying that
have made up my mind to become an
old maid
Far be It from me to say anything
against those cstimable members of
society the old maids" said the man
'Dut 90 not tilllik you VIII ever bt
one Of them. / am firm In the belief
that every old maid Is woman who
was disappointed in love or who WAS
too cold bloodedly selfish 10 ever mar
ry. Surely you do not come In either
Glass;
"No" said the woman reAectigely. 81
cant say TINT do aud yet
"Perhnps." said the mnn and now
his voice was very gentle as though
he feared he might here touch some
old wound unwlttlngly, there Is in
your life some romance which | have
not guessed Believe me, | would not
wound you for worlds, aud trust you
Will pardon my clumsy speech
"Oh, AIN not n blightcd 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 man.
NO, | am not in love with some