The Washington herald., 1906-12-23

TOP step Of the ladder. and leaning her
chin in her hands, because it's never
the most deserving person. the good lit
tie boy OF the good little girl. who fares
best but the one who has the most luck"
And the most money. added the bach
elor, crossing his arms on the ladder and
looking up at the widow, and who can't
half appreciate what he's getting
Yes" unused the widow, staring
thoUghtfully up at the pink-and-g0ld an
gel I've always believed that Love car
ried a pack like Kriss Kringle. instead Of
CULVER Of arrows-a pack fun Of hus-
bands and wives that he just deals out at
random. That's why tall men get short
women. and girls with their souls IN the
clouds marry men with their souls in the
kitchen, and poets marry cooks and
saints marry sinners. and fools marry in
tellects, and widows marry-aJ ALL What
are you staring at, Mr. Traversy'
live got an Illusion stammered the
bachelor, coming back 20 earth again,
that I'd like 10 take down and"
The widow got up quickly and began
tying things on the tree at random.
rs it woman she asked, studying
tinsel ball with deep interest.
Il don't know" said the bachelor. but
it's at the very top and it's got on a lace
dress and a bunch Of holly and
Because if il is" Interrupted the
widow huTTiedly, and its still iiiu-
sive--'
oh. very nlusive!' broke in the bache-
l0r.
Then don't try to know all about her
pleaded the widow. nor TO get near
enough TO find out what she's made Of,
nor to discover the seamy side 10 her.
nor the patches and sawdust and paint
There are some women. sighed the
bachelor, as he stopped TO fasten a red
wOrsted ball 70 the very lowest branch Of
the tree. that you never can get near
enough 10 find out anything about They
are so intangible. They beckon you with
one hand and hold you Of q distance with
the other. and they seem 20 carry round
with them the magic invisible veil. Just
as you are about 10 snatch them in your
arms they disappear and elUde you. Low
ing them is like being IT in game Of
| hide and seek all your life, ana as for
knowing what they're made Of"
Well" quoth the widow. warmly.
what Do you want TO know what they
are made Of fOT2 The moment YOU find
out they'll be as uninteresting as a Chi
nese puzzle that has been solved or
game that has been finished. It's the IL
lusive elusive women who make the
game Of life fascinating and keep up your
interest"
oh. ! don't know" The bachelor stood
of TO admire the wOrsJed ball I've
known chaps who were married to Chi
nese puzzles for years and they weren't
any happier than IL they had been tied
UP 10 sawdust dolls. You get tired of
even working at a Chinese puzzle after
L Ii
going TO solve IL: and then you go of in
/ search Of some nice. easy little thing that
/ is as simple and comfortable as a game
| of checkers or 2 sofa pillow. Illusions
are all very delightful at a distance. but
they are like ghosts, uncomfortable 20
/ have around the house A man likes
! something he can understand and"
Feel superior TO-" inteTjecled the
widow
Something" proceeded the bachelor
that doesn't keep him strung up 10 the
guessing point all the time and that he
| can always be sure OF finding in the
same place
Like an old piper" suggested the
widow.
Yes. or his razor or his Bible" agreed
| the bachelor. The best wives aren't or
naments or mental exercises, they're com
| forts.
THAT you put on in the evening" re-
| marked the widow. scorufully like your
| smoking jacket or your carpet slippers.
| and fling aside after breakfast and for
| get all about-until you need them again"
| They don't grow at the top of the
| tree" proceeded the bachelor, where You
| have to strain to reach them, but right
| down on the earth beside you, where you
! can tuck them under your arm
''OT in your buttOnhOle or on the kitch-
| en- shelf" added the widow, scathingly.
Elusive woman. pursued the bachelor,
/ calmly. generally manage 10 eIude matri-
mOny. They're good TO dream about"
! And to call on once in a while" in
| terpolated the widow, when you get
| tired of your game of checkers or your
| sofa pillow or your old pipe"
Yes" cried the bacnelor enthusiast
cally. they're like the holidays awfulIy
| jolly and distracting-onc in while.
I know one Of them. for instance
IF you've quite finished admiring that
worsted ball, Mr.. Travers," interrupted
the widow. colby, I wish you'd come
and help me
She's a delightful person" continued
! the bachelor, dreamily. when you feel
keyed up to the heights Of her ideals"
What
And equal to the strain of her con-
versation"
Billy Travers," The widow was bal
ancing dangerously with one foot on the
top step Of the ladder and one hand grip
ping a swaying branch.
But as for marrying her
Crash,
The bachelor sprang forward and
caught widow, ladder, and all, with one
sweep of his arm.
How dare you" cried the widow, ex-
Treating herself a moment later. after
saying such horrid things about me2"
About YOU?' The bachelor looked at
her in amazement. I wasn't talking
about you. / was talking about Miss Gun
ming. the plain one with the high forehead
and the high ideals. There's nothing
about you elusive, nor straining, nor"
''Tiresome2" asked the widow, sus-
piciously.
NO, nor uncomfortable. nor un-get-at-
able, nor anything that a man couldn't
| tuck right under his arm-like this"
stop cried the widow. "Thats-that's
ridiculous illusion.
But this, declared the bachelor,
STOPPING over swiftly, and touching her
| lips, is a perfect reality.
Certainly Had.
/ From the Florida Times Union.
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