Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-07-05
Her inconsistency.

ballroom on the further side of
the house. softened by distance. Moon
light, broken up by intervening trees
into bars and splotches of golden ra-
dance. lay all about them as they
walked up and down the yeranda-
The right kind of a woman always
appreciates proposal of marriage
from any man as a great compliment.
Coming from you it is the much more
to be valued, but L cannot marry YOU"
said the woman.
II have to thank you for having lis
tened to me so patiently. Might l tres
pass little more upon your good ma
ture and ask permission to discuss the
matter further with you?"
NO amount Of discussion can profit
either of us, so far as 1 can see. But,
as l have said, in asking me TO marry
you a great compliment was paid me,
and, in return for that compliment l
suppose l owe you permission to in
dulge your love for discussion or argu-
ment"
Thanks for the permission" said
L
cannot recognize my proposal as, in
any sense, compliment, but l am
willing that you should, if you wish,
take the manner in which l made 1t
as a compliment. Recognizing the
splendid development of your own
logical faculties, have made my offer
Of marriage in perfectly buSiness-like
form. | have heard you often declare
that a contract of marriage is like
any other contract. and should be en-
tered into only when both parties are
fully aware of what they are doing"
@Do you think women are ever en-
tirely conslstent?" interrupted the wo-
man.
The man looked a trlfe surprised
and replied
"At least 1 give yor credit for hav-
Ing a splendidly consistent mind. You
do not mean that have erred in my
manner of proposing. that you would
have preferred more of 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 inn
portant case before the Supreme
Court You are twenty-nine-or is
1t thirty ?-years old, have reputa-
ton as a beauty, and all that You
can. I know, marry any one of two
or three men who can offer you at
least as much. as l, but modesty was
never a prevailing characteristic of
mine. and l have not feared TO meas
ure myself with these other men.
ION the other hand can give you
pretty much anything you desire that
costs money. l stand well in my pro
fession, and have prospects of soon
being near the top of it Altogether,
I am satisfied that any one would call
II q very suitable match all around"
Does the prosecution here close its
case?" inquired the woman, laughing
little.
Il hardly care to regard the matter
as one of prosecution and defence"
said the man imperturbably, but if
Won wish to use the terms l am forced
to admit their applicability. Win the
defence rest its case on the testimony
submitted by the prosecution, or will
ST elect to submit an argument?"
.Tbe defence wilr submit an argu-
ment." replied the woman. Il 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,
I cannot answer. l have noticed that
tba number OF my proposals has been
falling off of late. and attributed the
fact 10 advancing age-you were tight
when YOU said | was thirty. l may
close the discussion by saying that
have made up my mind to become an
old maid
Far be il from me to say anything
against those estlmable 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 monk hides either
n disappointed lover or great rascal
and while do not indorse his opin
ion unqualiaedly. am firm in the be
lief that every old maid is woman
who was disappointed In love or who
was too cold-bloodedIy selfish ever to
marry. Surely you do not come ii
either claSs?f
"No." said the woman. refiectively
Il can't say that L do. and yet
Perhaps" said the man. and now
his voice was very gentle. as though b.
feared he might here touch some OH
wound unwittingly. there Is in YOU
life some romance which l have no
guessed. Believe me, l would no
wound you for worlds, an9 trust yo'
will pardon my clumsy speech"
4'Oh. am not a lighted being. new
or fear" thi with n laugh that dix
not ring altogether of merriment
Then your refusal to marry me /
no, based upon the ground that yo'
prefer some other manf"
Ne. am not in love-wtSh som
other man."
Then why Tot = AIRY meg
Il have given you the best of a
a woGssa's reasons. because.
But your refusal of me is final.
mev take ity'
Yes"-the ''yes- with an almos
iaaudible sigh, a sigh so nearly inauc
sble that it did not reach the man.
He had thrown away his cigar an
stood for moment gazing out towar
the trees. Then he began 70 speai
and his Voice was harsh with feelinl
that had been restrained