Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-11-05

@-N further side of the house,
g4@ softened by distance.
Moonlight, broken up by intervening
trees into bars and splOtches of gold
en- radiance, lay all about them US they
walked up and down the veranda.
'The right kind of a woman always
appreciates proposal Of marriage
from any man as a great compliment.
Coming from You 1t is the much more
to be valued, but l cannot marry YOU"
said che woman.
II have Q thank you for having lis
tened to !he so patiently. Might l
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 as l can see. But
as have said, in asking me to marry
you a great compliment was paid me.
and in return for that compliment !
suppose that I owe You permission TO
indulge your love for discussion or az
gument."
Thanks for the permission" said
the man. still in his stolid manner. II
cannot recognize my proposal as. in
any sense, y compliment but l 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, 1 have made my Ofar of mar
riage in perfectly business-like form.
l have heard you often declare 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 wO-
man.
The man looked a trife surprised
and replied:
"At least give You credit for hav-
ing splendidly consistent mind. You
do not mean that l 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 All important case
before the Supreme Court. you are
twenty nlne-Or is 1t thirty?-years old.
have Il reputation as a beauty, and all
that. You can, ] know. marry any one
OF two or three men who can offer You
at least as much as I, hut m0aesty was
never prevailing characteristic of
mine, and | have not feared to meas
ure 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-
fession, aud have prospects Of soon be-
ing near the top Of it. Altogether,
am satisfied that any one would call it
u very suitable match all around"
Does the prosecution here close its
case!" inquired the woman, laughing
a little.
II 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. VIII the
defense rest its case on the testimony
submitted by the prosecution, or will
1t elect to submit an argument"
THE defense will submit dn argll-
ment,' replied the woman. 81 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 can marry at any time.
l cannot answer. I 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 I was thirty. I may
close the discussion by saying that
have made up my mind to become an
old maid'
Far be 1t from me to say anything
against those estimable members Of
society, the old maids" said the man,
but | do not think You will ever be
one Of them. A wise man once said
that the cOwl of a recluse always hides
either a disappointed lover or great
rascal. and, while do not indorse his
opinion unqualitiedly, | am Arm in the
pVhci 'Hut every OIu lllHlu is woman
who was disappointed in love'or who
was too cold-bloodedly selfish ever to
marry. Surely, you do not come in
either class"
mo" said the woman. refectively.
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 touch some old
wound unwlttingly, there is In your
life some romance which | 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 net
ring altogether OF merrlment.
Then your refusal to marry me is