The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-08-29
HO SO |b e
Shared Him.
[Origpal.]

the grapes, which were quite ripe We
lunches; then she asked what we
should do next. "Oh, l know" and she
ran into the house and brought out
book. On the left page were a number
of printed questions; on the right,
blank spaces in which to write the an
swers 1t was impossible to determine
which were the more stupid. the ques-
tioGs or the answers that had been
written in it. The book was about
half filed. the writer's having been
beth masculine and feminine
rem my eye down the column of
questions. such as what is your ia
vorite color? Your favorite proverb?
Your age?" When came to the last
| paused and asked if the women an
swered that question. She said only
one had, but she didn't count; she was
practical creature and earned her
own living. 1 went on down the list.
rs life worth living?" Think of that
to be answered by people from sixteen
to twenty-six, as most Of those who
had filled in the answers were. what
is your present thought" I paused
again and began to write, '"That the
| man who She stopped me.
Don't write anything disagreeable.
I won't have my book spoiled"
l had intended to write, '"The man
who got up this book did so for idiots
and to fill his pocket at their expense"
Instead 1 wrote, 1.-THE man who is
asked to write in this book should feel
highly cornplimented."
That's very nice," she said. 81
know how cynical you are, and
feared you were going to put in some
thing horrid."
Ny second thought was that had
narrowly escaped making an ass of
myself.
I went on down the list and paused
at what is your ambition?" These
questions were goading me to ruin,
and again came near making a slip.
started in to write ITO drink all the
champagne there is in the world" but
caught myself when / had written
ITO drink" and finished dew from
your sweet lips" / had no sooner
written this, which I had considered
a high flown compliment when / real
lied that it was tantamount to decla-
ration. She was looking over my
shoulder and to get a glimpse Of her
face 1 turned my head. My beard
came in contact with the almost invisi-
BILE down ON her cheek.
"Oh!" she exclaimed.
Excuse me- said.
The glimpse / got satisfied me that
had stepped off the river bottom and
must swim. 1 was startled at the dis
covery, had never been before beyond
my depth and an Indifferent swimmer
at that Still confess had been pad
ding around the girl who was about to
well, to drown me. She says I'm
cynical, and 1 suppose l am, though l
am somewhat excusable in this in
stance, for the word drown" carries
out my smile. struck out wildly.
"That won't do" said, Sin book to
be seen by any and every body. They
might think-I meanwhile it's true
it's-shall scratch it out?"
"Ohv
This was no reply to my question,
but it expressed lot ~ Others may not
understand what it meant, but / did.
/ was ratified I made dash for the
next question and read aloud do you
consider marriage a failure?"
/ wanted to write as I felt II wish
I knew which it will be for me if
settle this matter now" but of course
1 couldn't write that, so 1 temporized
and man who temporiZes with the
girl he courts is lost-that is, if mar
riage is failure. / wrote, "It depends
upon whether one gets a good wife,
It's a wonder she didn't laugh when
she saw what l had written, but she
didn't. This was a serious business.
Don't you think that a one sided
view to take of it?" she said in a soft
voice
upon my word!' 1 exclaimed I was
getting more and more ratified every
moment "I'll fix it," and 1 wrote on
"but in this CASE / stopped again.
what case? she asked in the same
soft tone
'Why, the case we were talking
weren't we talking about case? So
we weren't. How stupidv'
"Ohv'
What a convenient word and how q
girl can use it! I've since tried it my
self, but without the slightest effect.
Think of a man using it and with
out the softness Of voice, the surprise
in the eyes, the injured look about the
mouth. One might as we'll expect q
woman to produce an effect by the use
of swear word. And yet this girl was
sharing me with it.
"You seem to think I began and
paused Yes, she thought, and she had
q right to think, but what was about
to say wouldn't help matters. She
didn't say "Ohv' I wished she would,
or anything to start me afresh. I turn