Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-07-26
THE GIRL WHO
WAS TOO GOOD
[OEiginai.l

this had bTU&en down my health. I
was advised by my physician to go to
sonm quiet country place and do moth
ing from morning till night but lounge.
1 chose the village of N. When I
went there the leaves were budding.
the air was soft and baimy, the walks
were beautiful, and 1 gave myself up
to stroiling. On one Of my routes there
was young ladies' seminary sur
rounded by high brick wall. One
morning while passing heard a voice
1T was soft and melodious and evil
IDENTITY came from young girl-utter-
ing string of words that could only
be expected from one of the opposite
sex:
by thunder! A thousand devils! Con-
found it,
The explosives were not all as inno-
cent as these. There were many that
would have done credit to the forecas-
tie. A repetition of them would repel
the reader, though to me the words
came out with such apparent uncon-
seriousness of guilt that / was sinply
amused. 1t was like child just learn
ing to talk, getting hold of expressions
the meaning Of which 1t does not I'M
derstand. The girl did not seem to be
angry with any one. She was evident
~ fascinated with the sounds, bringing
them out with. great gusto, as we stu
dents fired from out our threats the col
lege yell. I was attracted to the girl
without hav Z via l.
as one of those little imps who by their
roguish ways fascinate all who come
within their influence. She must have
laughing eyes, dimple In each cheek,
the whitest of teeth constantly display
ed In smiles by the parting of pair Of
red lips. Then when romping with 9TH
er girls l fancied her kicking off their
hats. though if seen by a man she
would turn scarlet. With my concep-
ton Of her 1 fell in love, and, having
nothing else to occupy my mind, /
dwelt upon her charms constantly.
passed the school often, hoping again
to hear the incongruity Of a charming
voice uttering such rough expressions,
but this was not likely, and, though
often loitered for hours under the wall,
1 never heard the youthful swearer
Ten years later chose wife. al
ways regretted that fate had never
thrown the swearer in my way, though
l feared if had met, loved and won
her she might have been altogether
too peppery for me- My fiancee, the
daughter Of clergyman, was her very
opposite-a girl Of character, one who
took great interest in the charitable
work connected with her fathers
church-indeed, what might be called a
model woman. After all, thought 1,
my little swearer must have turned out
full Of the old Nick, If not positively
bad. Girls who have spice in them are
attractive. but one never knows when
taste for wickedness is going to
make them a trial to their husbands.
Nevertheless / wished that my fan
She seemed to me to be almost too
steady. Men Of my kind, men who are
themselves reserved. dignified, me-
thodical, always superior to tempta-
tion-because, l have often thought,
we are not Of a nature to be tempted
usually admire our opposites. i felt
myself getting trifle wearied by my
fiancee's similarity to myself. AS our
wedding day approached this feeling
grew upon me- Was I not about to
make a mistake-the mistake Of a
whole lifetime? This set me to brood
ing when / should have been looking
forward to the delights of a novel con-
dition.
In time this something on my mind
attracted the attention Of the girl who
was to be my bride. Instead Of up
braiding Inc, as another woman would
have done. she bore my condition with
out murmur. This only dissatisfied
me the more. IF she only had enough
wickedness in her." I said to myself,
ito tell me to go to the deuce I think
could be happy. AS 1t is, she is killing
me with her self control, her piety. her
interest in good works. should have
known better than to marry a min
ister's daughter"
My condition was such few days
before our wedding that after a bitter
mental struggle, which left me awake
all night, resolved to go to my bride
expectant and make a confession.
went to her house in the morning after
breakfast and asked for her. She came
down with a happy look on her face,
but when she saw my careworn ex-
preston 1t left her at once.
led her to the library and shut
the door
TAhave called" said lugubriously,
"to say before 1t is too late that fear
we are going to make a mistake, and
It is better to back out at the last mo-
ment than ruin whole lifetime. have
come to the conclusion that we are too
much alike-both too steady. too up
right too serious-indeed. you are too
good"
80 this Is what has been troubling
you," she said, her expression relaxing.
by thunder! A thousand devils! Con-
found itv'
"Are YOU gasped.
The girl you have told me about so
often? Yes. From what you said
about her I supposed you condemned
her 1t appears I have made mis-
take"
With that she went on with string
Of oaths so terrible that I put my
hands to my ears that I should not
hear Then 7 caupht hpr around the