Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-04-25

the officer"
mo"
We'll" impatiently. "what is it,
then? You always tell me things in
the end, so you right as we'll go ahead
and save me the trouble of dragging it
from you"
Jim stared modify out of the win
dow and vouchsafed no reply.
You've not quarreled with Clarice,
have your
A swift change in her brothers face
told Ruth that she had touched on the
truth, and she followed up her advan-
tage promptly.
THAT is it, I know. Now, what
was the fuss about?"
There was no fuss and no quarrel,
my sapient sister, only"
go on, dor
Il made a trifling error when 1 sup
posed she cared for me, that was ALL"
Are you crazy, Jim 1 am sure
that Clarice cares for you. Don't jump
at conclusions"
Il didn't jump at any conclusions,
assure you. 1 asked her to marry me
and she fatty refused"
But why? why? why?' Ruth asked
in honest bewilderment II know
something Of girls and 1 am positive
that Clarice cares for you"
Il had sometimes entertained such
an idea myself, but you see that we
both made slight mistake"
HnOn't ha Jfoo 5oo-.
tell me all she said. l am awfully sor
ry for you, but cannot help feeling
that there is mistake somewhere"
Not much chance for it." Jim Ruth
erford said grimly; ''She had fifty un-
answerable arguments against mar
riago. She liked me, she was good
enough to say, but she did not dare try
the trials and tribulations of domestic
life with any man. Servants were al
ways leaving on moments notice.
and generally, too, when the mistress
was i'll. She had seen so many men
act like brutes on such occasions that
she had not the courage to face it.
tried to laugh her out Of the mood.
told her to ask you if did not behave
like an angel in all crises of that kind
-
You really do" Ruth interposed
warmly.
Jim nodded his thanks and then re-
sumed his story with a discouraged
air
1T was all no use, for Clarlce said
that she had observed that mems ma
lures changed after marriage, and that
some who had been models of courtesy
to their mothers and sisters were the
embodiments of selfishness and incoa-
siierateness toward their wives"
"Well, Of all things!'
ooh, there was lots more of it. too
and she was in deadly earnest
never saw her in such a mood. | had
a good business, but l was not rich
and l would probably expect her to run
the house and dress herself, too. on
about five dollars a week-Ruth. |
say breaking off suddenly with a pa
thetic appeal in his voice, what do
you suppose made her talk SOP"
Il haven't the least idea. I've not
seen Clarlce for three or four days. but
] cannot see how she could have al
tered so radically in such a short time
I'm going to see her, though. before
am an hour older and find out the
truth"
Il don't suppose that there Is any
thing to find out She seemed to know
her own mind" Jim returned gloomilv.
Now that is just what she didn't
do. 1t is no use for us to argue. Jim.
but if l can find grain of comfort
for YOU l viii. The whole thing is
beyond my comprehension"
When Ruth Rutherford ian allitera-
tive name which the girl detesteD was
putting on her wraps preparatory TO
belligerent cal on her friend, she heard
Clarice's voice in the hall below. She
went down hurriedly to meet her.
Come into the library" she said
hastily. knowing perfectly we'll that
Jim was in the room just beyond
''Now. / want you to give an account
OF yourself. What have you been do
ing TO Jim? He is just about broken
hearted. for he believes all the non
sense that you were talking to him
Yesterday. What did you mean by il.
Clarice? You know that you think
that Jim is kind and lovable and bril-
liant"
II don't Clarice flashed indig-
nantly, although her voice trembled a
little. ''he is not brilliant at all, He
is the most stupid man that ever
lived"
Perhaps you will kindly explain,
Ruth said coldly.
But this Clarice stubbornly refused
80 do. and it was not until Ruth put
of her dignity and descended to ten
der coaxing that she drew the truth
out of her friend.
"He-he came around yesterday
morning-and l had been suffering for
three days with an liberated tooth. l
didn't have wink of sleep during ali
OF that time and l was too great 8
coward to 80 to a dentist at first. Well.
Jim came then, and of course my
nerves were ali on edge and the world
loked blue and l was all unstrung.
and | couldn't see anything In is
proper perspective. Everything was
distorted and out of proportion-oh.
YOU understand how l felt
Perfectly" said Ruth. with sympa-
thetic comprehension.
You called him brilliant Just now.
but it seems to me that even man
might have known better than 70 make
"A proposal OF marriage at such time.
i thought at once of all the skeletons
had seen In married lives, aud Of every