The Washington herald., 1907-05-19

the child announced one morning At
breakfast, that It is all off, and when
pressed for "a reason. she as fippantly an.
swered, I could not stand that eternal
shifting. But. I argued. that is some
nervous affection. II certainly is. she
gayly retorted, and what's more. catch
Ing: for I've gotten so | find myself
waiting for him 20 sniff. and every time
he shifts, I do. Naturally,Td soon be as
bad rs he, so 1 just broke the engage
ment. and haven't shifted since
of course. Joined IN my second grand
daughter. these excuses do sound trfing.
bus really, grandma. you can't imagine
the awful impression a thing Of this sort
will .eave- Now. I've never before con-
fessed why / really broke my ngagemcnt
with dear old Jack. But Jacks socks
were the torment Of my life: always
loose. and looked as II they would tumble
over his shoes without a moments warm
ing. The instant he came into my sight
found myself looking straight at his
socks. and there my eyes stayed riyeted.
I got so after a while l never thought
Of him only in connection with socks. and
every other minute # was Pull up your
socks, Jack, it really looks awful and
each time the dear fellow would explain
how he could not wear tight garteTS-
something about poor circulation prevent
ed him from doing so. However. had
Jacks socks been as straight and well in
check as his morals I know I sfiauld
have married him; but ever and always
/ associated him I'm my mind TN some
ridiculous attitude, and l just laughed
myself out of the notion of marrying
him
This was really awful, again sighed
the grandmother I summoned up breath
and courage. bur could only look askance
at my third grandchild She needed no
urging. More than ever before I noticed
they were willing TO talk, each, Of course,
trying 10 help excuse the other
'WelI.' she began. even you would not
have blamed me- grandma, had you seen
Neds legs; they mere screams. How do
| know? Why. ne came for me one morn
ing to 90 play golf all dressed up in his
golf suit and | nearly had a fit on the
spot. This was last summer, and he got
mad about II and didn't wait for me to
get ready. but left.
The next morning he appeared on the
beach in his bathing suit. This time
had two fits, and begged him 10 go into
the ocean and stay there until | left the
beach. That. Of course. was the end. and
the limit as we'll. Whenever I'm blue
and want good laugh l just cali up in
my mind that awful picture Of kind old
Ned in golf and bathing attire.
We'll. IN positive amazement and fear.
I looked at my grandchildren. who seemed
to ne too busy in their "reminiscences Of
snifTles. socks. and bathing suits to re-
member my presence or to hear my ex-
carnations; but just the same I believe
the present man is running untold risks
in choosing a wife out of this genera
tiOn. Always before. I have considered
It was the woman who could exercise
care and judgment. but for all time. my
entire sympathy goes to the poor man.
In marrying a woman who is so easily
disillusioned by such unessential details
as I hear discussed by the modern girl
It is the man, think. who takes the
risk. and not the girl.
Isn't it funny how few men really
know when TO put on straw hats?" asked
the interesting wife of a local business
man. We'll" said she whose husband
is not a halter. Bob says the calendar
doesn't figure in 1t at all with him; that
he is tired Of being made ridiculous in
his own eyes, TO say nothing of the gen
eral public's; that even while a fellow IS
on his way to the store to buy one under
the strain of a warm day in the early
summer the temperature will drop to
freezing point, SO for the last two Or