Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
An ANALYTICAL Lover
[OriEinal.l

were built lie HaQ Deen professor,
| then 4 captain in the Spanish-American
| war, from which he had emerged colo
| mel by brevet, but minus an arm. lie
| couldn't lecture because his subject
was illustrated by experiments which
| required two hands. After returning
10 ciTil life he found himself in possess
sion of a small cash sum. He came in
| withuhe troops that landed at Montauk
| point and stopped over 1T one OF tie
seaside resorts between the point and
| New York.
She was u young widow. She owned
| q cottage on the seashore and this sea
son occupied it. At the bank il the vii
lage she deposited her funds. She did
not keep Il carriage. for she said she
was afraid of horses, but she dressed
well.
These two met. The colonel was de-
lighted with the widow because-be-
cause she was very well fixed with this
worlds goods. The widow was de-
lighted with the colonel for reasons
which she kept concealed. To all ap-
pearances il was because he knew so
much.
One morning they We're sitting on the
veranda of the widows cottage. The
colonel asked her if she had a blank
check in the house. She produced one.
and he filed it for 500, saying that he
was going 10 the village to get the
money. The widow asked him if lie
would kindly draw check for her ut
the same time. He complied. Her
check was also for 500. From that
time forward the widow drew her
money through the colonel. 500 every
five or ten days.
One evening they We're sitting on the
beach listening TO the plash of the
waves.
Colonel said the widow, suppose
you analyze love"
Love said the colonel. feeling his
chin thOughtfully with his only hand.
lis cOngeniality. Just as there are har-
moniouS strings 50 there are harmO-
NOUS souls. l do not admit that love
is long in coming. When it exists. we
feel it mt once. It reaches us not as
slowly rising water. but with all the
delicious eXhiIaration of the wave that
breaks over us. But | do admit that
the harmony is enduring in proportion
as those loving find that the image
each has built up TO worship is worthy.
What JOY can compare with that sweet
sympathy which exists between lovers?
The man feels an impulse TO nobility
from being thought noble. The woman
is inspired to sweetness of character
from Il like motive. Each takes care
to appear TO the other what lie or she
is thought TO be. Such stimulants TO
be better are always beneficial. 1t is
better TO look up than To look down"
When people who wish To be lovers
begin 10 talk of love i'll the abstract,
the transaction is easy TO love in the
concrete. The tide was at the ebb
when they first spoke of the sensation,
and before it reached the flood they
were bntrothed.
There was nothing to interfere with
the harmony of love till seven days
had passed. when they began to speak
Of their individual affairs as related
to their mutual comfort. Then they
were not long in uncoverinG that which
was TO the harmony of their souls
what a bass drum would be to church
music The bank account of each was
500, which each had drawn and re
deposited ad infnitUm. The colonel
was without any support whatever.
The widow usually lived on the rental
of her cottage which during the pres
ent season had not been rented
HIM said the colonel softly when
the secret was out.
II have usually supposed" remark
ed the widow tartly. that when man
proposes to 4 woman he has the where
withal TO support her"
In my analysis of love-" replied the
colonel, while l denied that it came
slowly. l admitted that its endurance
was proportionatc'-
Tut. tut" The widows toe was
waCging viciousIy.
The colonel paused. then continued:
The man feels an impulse to nObil-
ity from being thought noble
by fool"
"The woman is inspired TO sweetness
of character from like motive. Each
takes care TO appear to the other what
he or she is thought 10 be-
Pertaining especially to the man in
this case. It's lucky l found you out
before it was too late"
COlIu NISu- Tepsleu tue ColOlti
that we had never found each other
out. What JOY can compare with that
sweet sympathy -
Insane folly. you mean"
The colonel rose. took up his hat,
Rugged his mutilated arm aad said
good night" The kiss that had
marked their partings for n week was
omitted. The next day the warrior
proceeded on his way. He and the
widow never met again.
Later he met Il lady who did not IN
derstand his analytical nature. but
conceived 4 high regard for him on ac-
count OF the dangers he had passed.
He told her The story of his affair with
the widow. confessing his own part in
the transaction. The lady spoke of the