The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-03-03
IL Err MANIA
torisinall

| rVonl we were IN iouk out on the wa
tiers wistfully and 80 awayY'
Il did. She interested me-"
she's harmless lunatic, I'm told
Miss Dudley She has mania-thinks
every man she meets wants to marry
her; must be mortifying TO her family,
Just think! She declines offers before
they are made"
IF she would accept one from me be-
fore 1t was made I'd be tempted to con,
slider II a contract"
"Not with lunatic, Billy. That
would be crime"
The next day party was made up
to so on the boat to Norfolk and return,
Harley and included. We had scarce
ly left the dock when Harley passed
| me and said:
shes aboard"
| "Who?'
"rhe lunatic, Miss Dudley, the girl
who declines offers Of marriage before
they're made"
well, poor girl, ! hope the trip will
benefit her"
Later i saw Miss Dudley standing
with some people l knew and Joined
the party purposely TO secure an intro
duction. was curious to know II she
would decline TO marry me without an
invitation. i made an excuse TO get her
away from the Others, and we were
soon in snug corner out of the wind
beginning an acquaintance, The topic
of conversation turned on the artillery
corps and our stations.
1T seems TO me-" said Miss Duoioy,
that you gentlemen of the red have
the pick Of the service-at least In
peace times. You never 80 out into
the western wilderness most of your
time is spent on the coast"
That accounts for more Of the ar
tillery officers being married, / sup
pose" replied.
Are there more of them married
than in the other corpsY
replied that thought there were, !
but was not sure. had only asked |
the question to lead her on TO what !
wanted.
II think" she said. that clergymen /
and soldiers should never marry"
why soT'
''The clergy should be free from a
responsibility of making a living for .
a family; the soldier should carry his
life in his hands"
Il don't agree with you. / believe
that every man is better man and
consequently better able to do his duty
in any field when married than when
single"
What would you, for instance, do
With wife? You are ordered from
pillar to post, and every time you
move your wife would have to pack
and unpack household goods What a
life for woman to leadp'
But think Of the certainty Of the
income Uncle Sam is the best of
pay. A clerk marries, loses his posi-
ton, and poverty stares him in the
face. The officer holds his commission
for life"
But not for death. / have heard
that 1t is the part of a soldier to die"
There was not In all this one word
to indicate an unaalanced mind, and
instead of leading up to point where
she might decline to marry me her
words tended to keep me away from
such an event.
death is such an uncertainty"
said, "even in the army, that 1t is
TO be considered The army
S delightful circle. We are all broth
srs and sisters in the service, and the
lives Of officers families, | believe,
contain more than an average Of hap
1iness. think any girl, whether rich
,r poor, could not do better than mar
y an officer. If poor, she is sure of
/ fixed income; II rich, the army may
yive her a social position she would
lot otherwise attain"
She turned her head away and made
10 reply for few moments, then spoke
With her head still averted.
Captain, you surely cannot blame
ne for this. have endeavored to keep
'ou from saying what you have said
md cannot conscientiously permit you
o say more. II Is useless for you to
Irgue. | will never marry In the ar
n.y."
Though had angled for II, expected
t, l was surprised when 1t came. In.
Iced / was heartily ashamed Of the
art had played.
my dear Miss Dudley | said in
oice melting with pity, 'let US Join
our friends"
We arose and Joined a group sitting
ear. Somehow It struck me that the I
oor girl had led to show her mental
wore look akin to distress
During the evening while at the hotel I
saw Miss Dudley at distance. She I
owed to me, and with the bow ! {
bought | noticed an embarrassed,
aimed look.
At any rate, was curious to know
lore Of the emotion that possessed her,
nd, joining her, led her to a window, {
vhere we sank into easy chairs in view
t the water. ....... {
Captain" she said, forgive me. {
m not the poor girl who declines offers
( marriage. Your friend was mistak- {
N am her cnI1aIr, ,