The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1908-01-17
A QUESTION
OF WILL

The Bride was young, thin, freck-
led. She wore a very correctly
tailored costume, and such a hat as
girls with large noses invariably
favor.
The Widow was 20 years old, full of
gracious curves and with an opales-
cent complexion-that is to say, ad-
dicted to little Pushes through the
cream of her flesh-tints. She was
gowned exquisitely and wore gold
comb in her hair; such comb as
women with magnificent wavy hair
doom the rest of us to.
The Bride was nervous and happy.
and gushing and giggling. The Wild
ow was tranquil and passive, and gra-
cious and charming. One would have
said that here were two natures
which could not possibly have one
thought in common. Much less
Tea" cried the Bride. "Oh, just
love it! Don't you love It? And do
you know, l never drank 1t until after
l was married! But Will just loves
II, and so of course / had to learn
to drink it, and now l just love 1t"
The Widow-beside the tea-tray-
began to make her guest cup of tea
with the ease born of an infinite num-
Der Of brewings.
AND what love of a teapot you
have!" cried the Bride; II just love
that crackle-ware, don't you? I do
wish you'd tell me where you
bought it,
1T came from China" said the Wild
ow quietly; ut was a present to me
from friend who went there"
wills been In China!" exclaimed
the Bride; The just loved China!-
Willis so enthusiastic-Im so enthus-
iastic, too He says we must go to
China together some time. Oh, what
darling sugar-tongs! Where did you
ever get them? Are they from China.
too?"
They were a present from friend
in India" said the Widow, holding out
the tongs for inspection. They are
really unique. Do you see?"
"Unique! Why, they're just too
lovely for anything! Wills been in
India must remember and tell him
about them; he'll be so interested.
And your spoons are all souvenirs,
aren't they? Oh how lovely!"
They were gifts from all over the
world" said the Widow. "The one
that you have came from st. Gallen
near Bodensee. Do look at the quaint
martyrdom scene done on the inside
OF the BOWL"
"Oh, how perfectly dear! l must
tell VIII about that! That would
just interest him Immensely, because
he's been all around Lake Constance.
1t seems to me that Will has been
just everywhere; it's perfectly love
ly to hear him talk about where he's
been, only he does so perfectly love
to talk about everywhere he's been
that sometimes I'm almost afraid that
some time / may get tired of the
places. But then, of course, Will and
/ are just so awfully in love that we
never can get tired. Will isn't the
kind OF a man to ever get tired Of
anything he loved. | tell him | can
see that in his eyes, even if | wasn't
sure of it,"
The Widow sat by her tea table
listening and smiling
You see" the Bride ratified on,
will hasn't been bit like other
men. He never cared for any women
in all his life until he met me-
Isn't that Just too lovely for any
thing?'
The Widow nodded sweetly-offer
ing her the silver dish of boDbons.
"Oh, allegrettis!" she squealed joy
ously. ''Oh, just love them! Don't
you just love them? Will buys me
a big box every Saturday night"
Il get a box every Saturday night
myself" said the Widow. She took
her visitors cup and set it down on
the table.
Its been so lovely to meet you
like this" said the Bride, rising; its
been so lovely and informal, some
how. l just feel as if really knew
you | must tell Will all about you
or does he know you well him
self"
I'VE are friends" said the Widow
do remember me to him, please"
"Oh, | shall just love to; | tell him
just everything-everything that
think, even. | just think he's the
grandest fellow that ever lived
don't see how anyone could help think
ing that"
She held out her hand, and all her
freckled angles were glorihed by the
fervor of her girlish feelings
"Good-by," said the Widow, and be-
hind the splendid superiority of her
own beauty and brilliancy there crept
a hint of usefulness.
"Good-by," said the Bride DO
come and see me soon. | shall so
love to see you"
Then she went out, and the other
looked after her going. DO l envy
herr" she asked herself-and smiled
and shook her head.
Poor Will" she said, after a Sec
ond's thought-and sighed and shook
her head again.
And then she took up the sugar
tongs, and reflected at length.