The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1907-03-14
Matter s Compatibility
fOriginal.1


and repelIent currents which, though
invisible. are none the less forcible.
Just so there are attractive and re-
pellent forces in people which are not
only invisible, but are only brought out
under certain conditions.
A man stepped into restaurant in
South Dakota and, looking about for a
table, saw another man eating his sup
per whom ne approached.
Hello, Smith, he said. "What are
you doing here?'
''Hello. Runletv' said the other. "Sit
down"
Runlet sat down, and the two COM
pared notes as to what had happened
since they had last met several years
before. Then Runlet said:
"But you haven't answered my ques-
tion'
"Well. since you are an old chum
and I am pining for a confidant, I'll
tell you. Five years ago l married a
girl who promised to make me the
best kind of wife. She had apparently
everything to render her lovahle. We
married and on the honeymoon quar-
relied. That wasn't the worst Of It.
We kept on quarreling. In my treat
ment of her there was nothing
/ had not used toward other women
without antagonizing them-and was
Obliged to conclude that she had bad
disposition. | think she came to the
same conclusion about me, and after
MANY efforts on the part of both Of us
to reform our dispositions we finally
agreed to separate. 1t was arranged
between us that 1 should come out
here and get divorce"
Runlet listened to this with marked
attention. and it appeared to have con-
siderable influence over him.
"They say" he replied after some
thought, chat matrimony is something
half the world is trying to get into anu
the other half is trying to get out OF.
For q year I've been hunting woman
wish to marry. l met her last sum-
mer on a train between Chicago ana
San Francisco, and we fell in love with
each other on the journey. When ad-
mitted my part of it she turned pale
and told me that those were the only
words of love that must ever be spoken
between us. She wouldn't tell me why
or give me any information concern
ing herself. Had 1 known when we
parted that 1 could get no rest without
her I would never have lost sight OF
her"
81 hope" said Smith. ''that you will
find your love and be happy with her.
For me. l am only anxious to be free,
and when free shall remain So"
Neither converted the other to his
way of thinking. Runlet left the next
day, and Smith a week later secured
his divorce He did not see his wife
again and in a year lost track OF her
They had no children to continue be-
tween them either q pleasant or I'M
pleasant interest. They had come to.
gether as two ships passing at sea and
after q brief tarry together had passed
on with as little i1terest in each other
as when they had first met.
Five years after the meeting of
Smith and Runlet in a South Dakota
restaurant they met again. This time
it was in corridor of hotel. Runlet
espied his friend and, advancing cheer
lily, put out his hand.
did you ever find your lost iove|'
asked the other after the first greet
ings.
Indeed | did. or, rather, she found
me- Not long after | parted with you
l received q message from her. | Won
dered how she knew my name and adj
dress and discovered later that she
had seen it on my trunk while we were
travelling together. | went to see her.
She withdrew her objections to our
union, and we were married.
"And happiness followed the honey
moon"
Like a never setting tide. We are
happier every day.
''To what do you attribute such hap
piness?"
Carlyle says that genius is uncon-
scious. 1t is so with love. We don't
CUuSluCI WHY we dIC udppy COSoClLCi'
I sometimes think we don't realize that
we are happy. But when we are part
ed we are miserable"
'The woman must be jewell
"She is. Come and see for yourself
I shall expect you to dine with us this
evening"
Runlet gave his address, and his
friend promised to be on hand
When Smith called, Runlet was at
the telephone and asked Mrs. Runlet
to go down and receive the guest, ex-
cusing him till he should have finished
at the phone. When he want down
Smith and Mrs. Runlet were sitting
talking in a constrained manner nat
ural under the circumstances. Runlet,
to make them more easy, introduced
them, speaking words Of praise for
both. They soon went In to dinner
where Runlet recounted at the table
the story of his and Smiths meeting
some five years before. Then he went
on to say:
"Mr Smith, my dear, was not SO
fortunate as 1 in his matrimonial af-