Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-07-14
Coming to a Decision.
[origlnal.l

CuAEne.
You've been saying that for three
months"
"And suppose I'll continue to say 1t
till make up my mind to-
BE married"
ooh, no; I've decided upon that"
You mean you haven't decided on
the man you will marry"
To this the only reply was q far
away, dreamy look.
How many of US are thereT
How disagreeable Of you! You seem
to intimate that there are large num-
Der, whereas there are only two"
THAT simplifes 1t Immensely. / In
fer from your putting me off rather
than refusing me that I'm one Of the
two. Now, how would 1t do TO decide
between the two by tossing a coln7"
Again that faraway look, then Sup
pose you loser"
II shall have to bear my disappoint
ment like man."
A dissatisfied look passed over her
face She was silent.
whats troubling your
II was thinking of my own disap-
pointment in case the coin fell the
wrong way"
But / thought there was no wrong
way for you"
No reply.
"Does the other fellow possess an adj
vantage that has nothing to do with
| lover
mo"
'"Then, If you can be happy with
either of us and can't decide between
us. why would you not be satisfied with
| the decision of toss?"
| "Why, because-how stupid of you
the coin might decide the wrong way"
1t was his turn TO pause. He was of
scientific turn of mind and had
fancy for paradoxes, but here was one
that baffied him.
II have it." he said finally. "We'll
toss the coin. and IL 1t falls the wrong
way you are to have the privilege Of
deciding the right way"
She neither assented nor dissented,
and, taking a quarter from his pocket,
he said: 81 choose this eminently re-
spectacle head with a serious face, a
wreath and the motto, In God We
Trust I'm perfectly willing to trust
in God"
"You said that just as If you had
no confidence whatever In me-"
"You, not being able to choose be-
tween two lovers. are not to be relied
on by either. ! having chosen heads,
there remains for my rival the spread
, eagle with an olive branch in one
claw. and a bundle Of arrows in the
other, by which he means, If you
marry me I'll love you; If you don't
I'll shoot you There's a ribbon in his
mouth, which means, You shall al
ways be dressed up mighty fine,' or, in
other words, I'll give you everything
you want"
: That's just what makes me hest.
tate. You coolly arrogate everything
to yourself. You choose the head and
!, the motto In God We Trust leaving
for-for the other-a spread eagle, as
you call It, with your own interpreta
ton of the emblems."
I'm going to put an end to your
hesitation. Up she goesP'
He tipped the coin, and as it came
a down he put his hand over it.
Before you know who has won,
: he said, 81 want to know IL you intend
? to abide by the decision"
81 suppose so-that Isl
She got no further. He tried in vaiI
to get a more definite reply. At las
i the coin-tails up,
n HE has won" he said coolly, put
:. ting the piece in his pocket. "Perml
a me to congratulate you"
con whatT
ION getting a spread eagle husband
who will love you when you are gooC
8 and stick arrows into you when you
Il are bad and clothe you with silks o.
Il satlns.'
+ Her eyes wandered all over the room
= lighting nowhere
'"Tell me plainly" he said, "withou
beating around the bush, are you salts
: fed or dissatisfied with the result o
Is the toss7"
/, 81 might not be satisfied if-tha
If Isl
She paused and looked out OF tn
, window. On her fair young brow wer
= the gentle corrugations of perplexity.
l. "WellY'
+ "You seem 10 be satisfied"
a "Is What has that to do with itP'
Is ''If you had shown even a tiny bit o
u dissatisfaction
:, "You would have been satisfied"
you're always misinterpreting wha
70 I say. didn't mean that at ALL"
IS "Come: we're making no headway
70 II was agreed that II the coin fell tn
wrong way you were to have the priv
lege OF deciding the right way"
but told you at FIRST, l can't d
eide, at least not just now"
Ne ''Then l suppose we have spent a
this time for nothing. I'm worn on
=. with trying to bring you to decision
= TN going away for a long while
IN year. two years, ave If necessary--t