Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-08-02

ed Herbert tried to decide for me
and spoke to him sharply. He turn
ed to his paper and didn't make an
other remark during the meal. Usually
I sat with him on the piazza while he
smoked. This morning l went into
the drawing room. When we met we
were both silent and sullen. Then be-
gan elimination and discrimination.
Come" said Herbert, "these people
have been watching our quarrel. We
must keep out of their way. Let US go
somewhere"
what matter? We shall probably
quarrel all our lives and must get used
to being seen quarreling."
THAT depends upon you. If you con-
tinue to-
Don't you see" interrupted, that
young fellow looking at you. He knows
by your expression that you are angry.
He may have a sweetheart"
Perhaps our case may induce him
to keep his neck out Of a halter. How
ever, we must get away. Let us go
around the mountain to the rustic seat
beneath the rock. There'll be no one
there at this time of day"
We strolled away, followed by the
glances Of all on the piazza. A few
days before they had noticed our DEM
onstrative happiness; now they COM
mented on our i'll concealed misery. We
said nothing till we had passed out Of
hearing and then only gave vent to our
mutual spite by single thrust Of
mine, followed by one from Herbert,
after which we held our tongues till we
selves and continued our quarrel. Feel
ing safe from being overheard, our
voices were gradually raised higher
and higher. We forgot where we were,
what we had come to the mountains
for-all but to repay cruel words with
words more cruel.
"Harkw said Herbert suddenly.
1 ceased to speak. and we both lis
tened
There's woman over yonder. She's
fighting some one.' said Herbert.
II don't care If there is" replied.
and l finished, or tried to finish. what
I was saying when Herbert interrupted
me with the angriest words he had yet
spoken. When he had finished he saw
me listening-not to him, but for some
thing distant.
"What is itY' he asked.
''There's a man with that woman. /
Just heard him talking to her In the
crueiest language"
We both listened, but heard nothing
more. Then we began again, this time
both talking at once. Suddenly !
stopped. then Herbert, both listening.
THAT mans BRUTE" said Herbert.
1.-THE woman's a virago."
what foolsv'
"Disgusting."
"The mans the meaner of the two"
said Herbert.
mo worse than the woman. I never
heard such words and such tone from
one Of my sex before The worst of it
is she said just what said to you"
"And / heard the man say something
I said to you. Sweetheart, let us make
up"
His arm was around me, and he drew
me to him with a sob, while well, j
only wept.
LET us resolve" said Herbert, ''that
hereafter when we speak an angry
word we will think of those horrid peo-
pie"
When we had recovered our com
posture we walked back to the hotel
our former happiness also partly re
stored.
Pleasant walkT' asked the landlord
"Very pleasant. We've been to the
rock around the mountain"
'Oh, the talking rock! There's the
finest echo there of any In America"
looked at Herbert, and Herbert
looked at me. We went into the house
and up to our room. There l claimed
to have been the cause of our trouble
Herbert made similar self accusation,
and we both thanked heaven for hav.
ing set us right by simple echo.
1t Is years since the talking rock sent
back our words to us, such words as
we have never spoken since. Many Q
time an angry speech has risen to our
lips, but the remembrance Of what we
were when our voices were given back
to us by an echo has always stopped IL
before uttered. In time Herbert came
to use no other reply to a hasty word
from me than
Talking rock"
ROSE TREAT THURBER.