Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-01-06
PER CONTRA
tOriginal.)


integrity, amiability. bravery or appre-
ciation?'
Appreciation OF whatT"
"Your good qualities"
THAT thrust is unkind and uncailed
for"
Don't spoil that rose. You are pull
ing it to pieces as though 1t had offend
ed. But this test-I suppose / am
not to know anything about it before
hand"
"Of course not; forewarned, fore
armed"
"And I must remain in suspense
till-
"Oh, shall not keep you waiting
long. Perhaps I'll get an opportu-
nifty
Don't give it any; shall have to
wait all the longer"
Dinner was announced and we left
the garden. Guests had been invited
for the evening, and by 8 o'clock we
were in the ballroom.
MAY l have this dancer I asked of
| Geraldine.
| Certainly not. AS hostess 1t Is my
part to look after my guests. I shall
dance with no one tonight"
She hurried away. l was surprised
at her abruptness, but was more sur.
prised later to see her sail by me in a
waltz with the only man l feared as q
rival. Had the little mink not looked
| up at me. plain question on her ex-
pressive face as to how would bear
her test, might not have known was
being tested.
So it is fOrbearance she wishes In
the man she marries. I will be amia-
bility itself.
Seating myself beside an old friend,
l spent most Of the evening with her.
Since could not dance with Geraldine
did not care to dance at all, and my
| companion was an entertaining woman
who did not dance. l saw no reason to
change my seat. Geraldine danced the
cotillon and so plastered my rival with
| "favors" that he looked like a Spanish
captain general. l bore her sights
with excellent good nature congratu-
lating myself that was winning the
coveted Yes"
AT last the dancing ceased and the
guests departed. l approached Gerald
Inc and begged that she would give
mn hnr IL 4
THANK you, no." she said CURLY. 81
am going to bed
Disappointed, but thinking this a
continuation of the test, l acquiesced
without murmur.
Good night" said. "A rest will be
beneficial after the responsibility of en-
Pertaining guests"
There are more trying things than
entertaining guests"
"Such as?"
Being disappointed in the man
one"-
What? You have been testing me?
And have failed?'
"Oh, you stood the test well enough;
too well. People do not really love
who are proof against jealousy"
"But that's what was to do-bear it
with equanimity, wasn't it?"
do you call it equanimity to sit all
the evening with one woman. mar
ried woman at that?"
We both stood still, Geraldine with
flashing eye and heaving bosom, l an
noyed at the turn the affair had taken.
Come" l said kindly. 1.-The lights
are being put out. and we must soon
part. Tell me. sweetheart
1T would not be safe to marry q man
who fiirts with every married woman
he meets"
"You were not testing me for that,
were you"
mo; you showed your natural pro-
clivity without a test. Heaven knows
what you would do with a Delilah
flung at you
Her mother was in the hall waiting
for her to go upstairs. Considering
her dissatisfaction with me, 1 expected
her to do so. Instead she went to q
sofa and sat down. took seat be-
side her.
"Let us sift this matter" said. "In
order to learn If you may depend upon
my not showing Jealousy without cause
sou decline to dance with me and dance
several times with another man."
1T didn't seem to trouble you much"
"Did you wish me to show jealousy? 2"
II certainly did not wish you to show
Indifference"
Every WELL l think / see what you
mean. Now, per contra, supposing that
in sitting so long beside my old friend
had been testing your forbearance.
How would you have stood my testY
Admirably. I'm supremacy indiffer-
emit to your old friend I don't care
that for her" And she snapped her
fingers viciously.
ITO sum up. | stood the test as to
equanimity, but failed by showing an
Indifference which was all apparent.
1t only remains for me to prove that I
am not Indifferent by lifelong devo-
ton"
This defense moved her. She sat
turning the matter over In her mind