The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1907-07-31
Ho sO Ch
Shared Him.
[oaslnal1

We were sitting III The arbor under
the grapes. which were quite ripe. We
PACKED and ate number of huge
lunches; then she asked what we
should do next. "oh, know" and she
ran into the house and brought out a
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-
lions or the answers that had been
written in it. The book was about
half filed the writer's having been
both masculine and feminine.
ran my eye down the column of
questions, such as what is your ia
vorite color? Your favorite proyerb?
Your ageT' When l came to the last
1 paused and asked If the women an
swered that question. She said only
one had. but she didn't count; she was
a practical creature and earned her
own living. 1 went on down the list.
lis life worth livingT Think of that
to be answered by people from sixteen
to twenty-six, as most of those who
had Allied in the answers were. what
is your present thoughtf" 1 paused
again and began to write, 'gThat the
maa who She stepped me.
Don't write anything disagreeable.
! won't have my book spoiled"
I had intended to write, 1.-THE man
who got up this book did so for idiots
and to fill his pocket at their expense"
Instead wrote, 1.-THE man who is
asked to write in this book should feel
highly complimented"
That's very nice" she said. az
know how cynical you are, and
feared you were going to put in some
thing horrid."
Ny second thought was that 1 had
narrowly escaped making an ass Of
myself.
I went on down the list and paused
at what Is your ambitionT These
questions were goading me to ruin,
and again 1 came near making a slip
started in to write ITO drink all the
champagne there Is in the world" but
caught myself when 1 had written
ITO drink" and finished dew from
your sweet lips" l had no sooner
written this. which 1 had considered
a high Gown compliment, when 1 real
lied that K was tantamount to a decla-
ration. She was looking over my
shoulder. and to get glimpse of her
face / turned my head. Ny beard
came IN contact with the almost inTisi-
be down on her cheek.
OH she exclaimed.
Excuse me-" 1 said.
The glimpse l got satisfied me that
/ had stepped OF 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 l confess had been pad
ding around the girl who was about to
well. to drown me- She says I'm
cynical. and suppose 1 am, though l
am somewhat excusable in this in
stance, for the word drown" carries
out my smile l struck out wildly.
THAT won't do" said, "ln book to
be seen by any and every body. They
might thihk-I meanwhile it's true
it's-shall scratch It outf"
"Oh% Q
This was no reply to my question,
but 1t expressed lot. Others may not
understand what it meant, but did.
I was ratified. made a dash for the
next question and read aloud, DO you
consider marriage a failureT'
1 wanted to write as 1 felt. 81 wish
/ knew which it will be for me if
settle this matter nsw," but Of course
1 couldn't write that, so l temporized.
and a man who temporizes with the
girl he courts is lost-that is, If mar
rage is failure. wrote, at depends
upon whether one gets a good wife"
It's wonder she didn't laugh when
she saw what l had written, but she
didn't, This was serious business.
Dent you think that a one sided
view to take of itT' she said in soft
voice.
Upon my wordw exclaimed. was
getting more and more ratified every
moment III fix it." and | wrote on
'but in this case stopped again.
What caseF" she asked in the same
soft tone.
why, the case we were talking
weren't we talking about a case? So
NE weren't. How stupid!'
"Ohr'
What convenient word and how a
girl can use it! I've since tried it my
self. but without the slightest effect.
Think Of maR using it and with
cut the softRess of voice, the surprise
In the eyes, the injured look about the
mouth. One might as well expect a
woman to produce an effect by the use
of swear word. And yet this girl was
snaring me with it.
You seem to think"- / began and
paused. Yes, she thought, and she had
a right TO think. but what was about
TO say wouldn't help matters. She
didn't say "oh"' l wished she would.
or anything to start me afresh. 1 turn
ed TO the book for way out. What
Is your fayorite method OF proposalY'
Tho question must have been put in
Tor tie women, and women who were
Eirts Mt that. A man might have a
fsvorite beverage, but never a favorlte
method OF proposal. But with me all
had depended on the nature of this
next question. and it had gone against
me. I surrendered at discretion. I
wrote deliberately:
"a man should simply say: love
you. Will you be my wifeT' Then ]
turned and locked her square in the
face.
She's got her question book yet. but