The Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Ark.) 190?-current, 1906-03-24
HER INCONSISTENCY.
BY W. W. HINES.

BY the orchestra in the ballroom on
the further side of the house, softened
by distance. Moonlight, broken up by
Intervening trees into bars and
splotches of golden radiance, lay all
about them as they walked up and
down the veranda.
"The right kind of woman always
appreciates a proposal of marriage
from any man as great compliment.
Coming from you 1t Is the much more
10 be valued but I cannot marry YOU"
said the woman.
81 have to thank you for having lis
tened to me so patiently. Might |
trespass little more upon your good
nature and ask permission to discuss
the matter further with your"
mo amount of discussion can profit
either of us, so far as | can zee. But,
rs | have said, in asking me to marry
you a great compliment was paid me,
and, in return for that compliment, |
suppose l owe you permission to in
duge your love for discussion or argu-
msnt"
Thanks for the permission" said
the man, still in his stolid manner. Il
cannot recognize my proposal as, In
any sense, a compliment, but | am
willing that you should, If you wish,
take the manner in which l made II as
a compliment. Recognizing the splen-
did development Of your own logical
faculties. have made my offer of mar
rage in perfectly business-lke form.
have heard you often declare that
contract of marriage is like any other
contract, and should be entered into
only when both parties are fully aware
Of what they are doing"
DO you think women are ever en-
ttrely consistent" interrupted the
woman.
The man looked trifle surprised and
replied
"At least give you credit for hay
ing a splendidly consistent mind You
DO not mean that have erred in my
manner of proposing, that you would
nave preferred more of an air OF ro-
nance, and all that sort of thing"
Now the situation is something like
this," continued the man, IN very much
the same tone of voice that he would
have used in arguing an important
case before the supreme court. "You
are 2o-or Is It 30!-years old, have
reputation as a beauty. and all that.
You can, | know marry any one OF
two or three men who can offer you at
least as much as I, but modesty was
never a prevailing characteristic OF
ure myself with these other men"
Does the prosecution here close it,
ease?" inquired the woman. laughing
q little, "if SO the defense will sub
NIT an argument, | admit that the
match would be, as you say, pro-
nounced suitable to everyone. AS for
the two or three other men whom
you aver that l can marry at any time,
] cannot answer. | have noticed that
the number of my proposals has been
falling off of late. and attributed the
fact to advancing sge-you were right
when you said | WAS 80. | may close
the discussion by saying that l have
made UP my mind TO become an old
maid"
Far be It from me to say anything
against those estimable members of So
ciety-the old maids" said the man.
"but l do not think you will ever be
one OF them. A wise man once said
that the cowl OF a monk always hides
either disappointed lover or a great
rascal, and while do not indorse his
opinion unqualifiedly am firm In the
belief that every old maid is woman
who was disappointed in love or who
was too cold-bloodedly selfish ever to
marry, Surely you do not come in
either ciass?"
NO" said the woman, refectively, Il
cant gay that do and yet"
"Perhaps,' said the man, and now
his voice was very gentle, as though
he feared he might here touch some
old wound unwitingly, there Is in
your life some romance which | have
no< guessed. Believe me, would not
wound you for worlds, and trust vou
will pardon my clumsy speech"
"Oh, | am not a bighted being.
never fear" this with a laugh that did
not ring altogether of merriment
Then your refusal to marry me is
not based upon the ground that you
prefer some other MANI"
mo, l am not in loye-wIth some
other MANI"
But your refusal of me is final, /
may take it?"
eyes, the yes" with an almost in
audible sigh, sigh SO nearly inaudible
tina 1t did not reach the man
He had thrown away his cigar and
stood for a moment gazing out toward
the trees. Then he began to speak.
and his voice was harsh with feeling
that had been restrained
81 think l quite forgot to mention
one thing in my proposal | did not
say that | love yow very dearly: that,