Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-02-09
A Bachelors View
Orieiua!. j

DIe. Inc morning aItef Inelr arrival
the young husband gave his young
wife the cOnnubial kiss prescribed for
such people and went his way TO bust
ness. When he returned in the even
ing there were several letters for him
that had been brought by the pOstman
during the day. They lay on the little
antique desk in the library. every one
opened.
He frowned, but. picking them up,
perused them without saying anything
10 his wife. who was the only person
who would have opened them. There
were a few facetiOus remarks in one
from a bachelor friend upon the loss
OF liberty consequent upon marriage.
The rest were on ordinary affairs He
looked up at his wife. She was pout-
ing.
Il don't like those remarks of Ned
Stuart she said.
He thought a moment and then re-
piled in a soft tone, eff a wife is to
read her husbands letters. she must
expect to find occasionally something
that doesn't please her"
do you object 10 my reading them?"
''Not at all. 1 suppose I'm to take the
same privilege with yours?'
She said Certainly" but there was q
very doubtful tone to so pronounced a
word
of course il you happen on any con-
6dences intended only for me you must
keep them strictly to yourself" he
said
.Of course. Husband ard wife are
one person even in the secrets Of their
friends
There was a sound of the pOstman's
whistle in the street and a sharp ring
at the doOrbell He went to the door
and brought back letter for her. He
handed it TO her. She read it. He
reached out his hand for it, She held
the letter tightly clasped in hers and
drew back
aren't you going to let me see itT
he asked.
"ThlS is a peculiar case. It's from
Bertha and contains information in
tended, for the present, only for me-"
''But are we not one, even in the Sc
erets of our friends?-'
eyes, unless our friends say in their
letters that any information they con-
tain is only for the one to whom the
letter is written"
''But if we open each others letters
how can such Information be guarded
from the one for whom it is not In
tended?''
"You wouldn't wish to know what
Bertha doesn't wish you to know,
would you?"
II know it aiready-sheis engaged"
SIN not going to deny all your sur
misses. OF course you'd strike the right
one In the end
"She's engaged to Tom Fletcher. 1
noticed his attentions TO her at our
wedding
''It's not Tom Fletcher at all. She
wouldn't look al Tom Fletcher"
''Then who is III"
"That's one of the things you're not
to know
"Bob Arbuckle?''
II didn't say 500
"But you don't say to the contrary"
She was silent.
What do you think of the plan of
our not opening each others letters?"
She thought long while, then said.
Suppose you don't open any of mine
addressed in a wOman's hand"
but you continue to open any or
all of miner
"Yes.''
"Do you consider that an equable
agreement
Certainly. Men haven't the sensi-
t1veneSs that women have
do you think Ned Stuart hasn't any
objection TO your knowing what he
says about my loss OF libertyT'
HE has no business to say such hor-
rid things
"He didn't intend the remarks for
you
Il should think not. I shall take es-
pecial pains to open any letters he
may write to You hereafter"
"DO you think ii would be honor
able for YOU to possess yourself OF
what he says is only intended for me
mot for yOu at all?"
''Of course do. What an idea! It's
proper and necessary that l should
know what ideas he puts into your
head-ideas that tend to break up
happy domestic life.''
The husband frOwned.
How do l know" he said after a
pause. what ideas your friends are
putting into your head 70 destroy our
domestic happiness?"
II have no friends to DO any such
hOrrid things"
''But you ask me to take your word
for that, while you won't take my
word that my friends WON'T
"Has it come to this so soon? Oh,
that I should have married a man
who won't take my wordp
'My dear. I didn't
"You did"
She was dabbing her handkerchief
into her eyes. He went 10 her. put
his arms about her and To soofhe her