Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1908-03-05

law NlCy oOuS Sal w
manded the Mere Man, glancing up
with a nervous start. brought on Il
panic. or declared another war, or as
sassinated another president OPP"
They've made another anti-divorce
law, Mr.. Porter" returned the Bachelor
Girl accusingly. They've driven an
other nail into the dead wall of imatri-
mony. They've put Il new paddock on
the door and given the key an extra
twist. And it was already worse than
a charity fart"
How could anything be worse-,"
began the Mere Man.
Its cheaper and easier to get into
explained the Bachelor Girl. pulling her
hatpins from among the marabout
feathers and putting them. IN by one,
between her little white teeth. and
more expensive to get out of. If they
to abolish 1T altogether
"But they don't" demonstrated the
Mere Man. Its divorce they're trying
to abolish"
How" The Bachelor Girl spoke des-
perately through a mouthful of pins.
BY making it dificult and unattain-
able and Il rare privilege?"
mo, by"
by putting u high price and "a pre-
Exactly. BY putting it out Of
reach"
And dangling it there tantalizingly.
like forbidden fruit or tho Tantalus
cup?' SCORED the Bachelor Girl. IF
they really want to stop divorce, why
don't they do that to matrimony? Why
don't they charge as much for Al mar
riage license as they do fOr-for-
"A dog license?' suggested the Mere
man laconically.
Yes" agreed the Bachelor Girl. Tor
a decree OF separation. Why dom they
make us go into court and prove that
NJ, RI Wfnvt Tn Ia @nnuH4 - ~,,o -
oaths and pay lawyers and tell ages
and make affidavits as to our disp0si-
tions and our pasts and our presents
and our futures and u good fnten-
lions and the size of incomes and
our collars and the color Of u char
acters and our eyes, as they do when
we want to be divorced?"
Il don't know why" sighed the Mere
Man. And I don't know 10Y n of
us could prove that we have "a right to
be m-arried-unless." he added. with a
happy inspiration. I'VE could bring ref
erences from our former wives and hus-
bands or our old sweethearts. Or"
THAT would be II good idea" broke
in the Bachelor Girl. a~pprovingly, taxi
ing the hatpins from her mouth and
jabbing them into the crown Of the
marabout creation in her hands. III
we require IL written character from a
prospective maid or valet, why not de-
AII1LAO OItG lIOIIl d RIO0RCCSltC WIIG &4IIu
husband? But 1t wouldn't be enough"
she added. wrinkling her brows
thoughtfully above her small nose.
And besides" added the Mere Man
r~efiectively. 1--WE might not be able to
get them-tO recommend U.S."
No." said the Bachelor Girl, shaking
Tier head ~decisively n leaning her chin
in her hand. every marriage should be
"a case for trial."
..Well-isn't it?" inquired the Mere
Man promptly.
"A suit mean"
"A suit-case!" exclaimed the Mere
Man interestedly.
"Oh, lear met" sighed the Bachelor
Girl, III you're going to try to be fun
NY" and she waved her hands con-
temptuously.
II wasn't" declared the Mere Man
~defensively. II was only trying to
make 1t come out"
"What?"
"Your dimple and-and your mean
II mean." explained the Bachelor
| Girl. trying to look naughty In spite
| OF her nose, that two people who con-
template domestic bliss should be ar-
raigned and tried by law for-for the
4ofIense. The man should he made to
take an oath as to his income. his hab.
its"
And the ability of his constitution to
| stand the strain" fnterp0lated the
Mere Man derisively.
And what he intended to demand
from his wife,"
And what allowance he expected to
give her. and how long he could wear a
pair Of socks without darning and how
hard ne was on buttons and whether or
not he snOred"-
"And instead OF swearing that he
loved her in q dusky conservatory"
continued the Bachelor Girl imperturb-
ably, with the waltz music deadentng
his voice and his conscience and no
witnesses, he ought to be forced to
swear Il In broad daylight and the
face Of a cooleyed judge and jury, with
his hand on the bible"
And indicted for perjury If she ever
found out he'd been lyii g!'' rejoined the
Mere Man sarcastically.
"Of course" agreed h Bachelor Girl
cheerfully. THAT would make men 8
little more careful about what they
promised and "a little less careless about
breaking their promises. But that isn't
ALL"
Help, help" cried The Mere Man des-
5erateiy.
He should get afiidavits," continued
the Bachelor Girl, from his mother
and his aunts and the family servants
as to his temper and his disposition and
what time he usually got to bed nights
and whether or not he called for ice
water In the mornings, and how he
treated his sisters and-and"-
1.-THE family cat!" suggested the Mere
Man enthusiastically.
"And bring in witnesses to testify
that he never had been in love be-
lore'-
What"
and" broke in the Mere Man des-
perately. the girl ought to be made
TO swear TO h truth about her age and
to bring a written guarantee from the
doctor as to the genutneness Of her com
plexfon and a tailOr's afidayit that her
figure was her own and to exhibit SAM
pies OF her cooking and her brothers