Evening journal., 1905-09-25
Oar Companion
QuorrelerS
torlsipail

We were enjoying our honeymoon
at the mountains. The air had In it
the exhilnration Of champagne. with
this difference effect was lasting.
The foliage was young and of a tender
hue. The streams gave sound to the
laughter In our hearts.
The evening OF our arrival we walked
around the side Of mountain and
found coy spot under a rock where
there was a rustic bench, the position
fanked by neighboring peaks rejecting
the last rays Of the setting sun. Far
beneath was the plain with what look
ed like gentle undulations, though some
Of them were high hills, patches Of
farms and woods. and the river, a mere
thread, running across the panorama
from north to south. We sat on the
bench and were wrapped in each other
and the view, speaking but seldom, for
there was no need for speech. We
felt, and with us TO feel was enough.
True, there were soft whisperings, but
they were not essential to the inter
mlngling currents Of happiness.
One morning during our stay awoke
with a headache did not tell Herbert
Of Il, but dressed silently, combing my
hair before the mirror without our us
ual chat I should have said that l
Cicn't feel well, but Herbert should
have noticed It and said something
soothing. Instead he said nothing,
and, when dressed, we went down
sullenly to breakfast. There was
nothing on the menu that ! want
ed. Herbert tried to decide for me
and spoke to him sharply. He turn
ed 20 his paper and didn't make an
other remark during the meal. Usually
sat with him on the piazza while he
smoked. This morning / went into
the drawing room When we met we
were both silent and sullen. Then be-
gan elimination and recrimination.
Come" said Herbert. "these people
have been watching our quarrel. We
must keep out OF their way. Let us 90
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
Time 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 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 IN concealed misery. We
said nothing till we had passed out Of
hearing and then only gave vent to our
mutual spite by a single thrust Of
mine, followed by one from Herbert,
after which we held our tongues till we
reached the rock. There we seated our
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
"Hark (" said Herbert suddenly.
] ceased TO speak, and we both lis
tened.
There's a woman over yondsr. She's
lighting some one~ said Herbert.
Il don't care II there is" ! replied,
and l finished, or tried 10 finish, what
was saying when Herbert interrupted
me with tho angriest words he had yet
spoken. When he had finished he saw
me listening mot to hirs. but Cor some
thing distant.
What Is it?' he asked.
There's n man with that woman.
just heard him taking to her in the
crueicst language"
We both listened. cut hoard nothing
more. Then We began again, this time
both talking at once. Suddenly
stoppcd, then Herbert. boni listening.
"Tnat mans a orute.r said Herbert.
Tho woman a vlrago-"
What ioolsr
Disgusting
The mans tho msanaT ~ tAe two"
said Herbert.
no worse than the woman. never
heard such words ana such q tone from
one Of my sex before. The worst Of it
Is she said just what said to you"
And I heard the insn say something
said % you. Sweetheart, let US make
up"
His arm was around me, and he drew
ne to him with sob, while I-well,
only wept
lie. us resolve said Herbert, that
hereafter when we speak an angry
word we viii think OF those horrid pco-
pic"
When we had recovered our com
posurs va walked back 20 the hotel.
our former happiness also partly re-
stored.
PLEASANT walkT asked the landlord.
Very pleasant We've beer 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 nle. we went into the house
ond up 70 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 as right by a simple echo.
II Is years since tho talking rock sent
back our words to US. such words as