The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1908-07-17
Coming to a Decision.

Charlie"
you've been saying that for three
months"
"And suppose I'll continue to say it
till make up my mind to-
BE married"
"Oh. no; I've decided upon that"
"You mean you haven't decided on
the man you will marry" :,
To this the only reply was far
away, dreamy look.
How many of us are there?"
How disagreeable of you! You seem
to intimate that there are a large num-
her. whereas there are only two"
THAT simplifies It Immensely. l in
fer from your putting me off rather
han refusing me that I'm one of the
TWO. Now. how would it do to decide
,etween the two by tossing coinr
Again that faraway look. then Sup |
pose you loser
Il shall have to bear my disappoint- |
:nent like man."
4 dissatisfied look passed over her
face She was silent
"What's troubling your
II was thinking Of my own disap-
rointment in case the coin fell the
wrong way"
But thought there was no wrong
wy for you"
Il No reply.
docs the other fellow possess an adj
vantage that has nothing to do with
II iuve?"
mo"
H "Then, If you can be happy with
H either Of us and can't decide between
Il rs. why would you not be satisfied with
II he decision Of a toss?'
II why, because-how stupid of you
II lie coin might decide the wrong way"
II It was his turn to pause. He was of
Il scientific turn of mind and had a
II fancy for paradoxes, but here was one
II hat baffled him.
II II have it." he said finally. We'll
Il toss the coin, and II it falls the wrong
way you are to have the privilege OF
II deciding the right way"
II She neither assented nor dissented.
and taking quarter from his pocket,
he said: II choose this eminently re-
spectacle head with a serious face,
wreath and the motto, In God We
II Trust I'm perfectly willing to trust
y 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. l having chosen heads,
there remains for my rival the spread
eagle with an olive branch in one
af in
other. by which he means, IF you
marry me I'll love you; If you dom
I'll shoot you There's a ribbon in his
II mouth. which means, You shall al
ways be dressed up mighty fine or, IL
other words, T'll give you everything
you want"
THAT'S Just what makes me hest
tate. You coolly arrogate everythin.
to yourself. You choose the head ant
the motto In God We Trust leaving
VII for-for the other-a spread eagle, a
Ill you call it, with your own interpreta
les ton of the emblems."
No I'm going to put an end to you
ire hesitation. Up she goesr'
va He Tipped the coin, and as 1t cam
-, down he put his hand over it.
rst he said. 81 want to know if you inten
ism 10 abide by the decision"
nd II suppose so-that isl
IN She got no further. He tried in val
he TO get more definite reply. At las
-, la took away his hand and Shove
- the coin-tails up.
'oi HE has won," he said coolly, pu
nat ting the piece in his pocket. Perm
rie ne to congratulate you"
.ty ION whatT
be ION getting a spread eagle husban
,ro- no will love you when you are goo
.id stick arrows into you when 20
re had and clothe you with silks {
h'i ",tins"
vns Per ewes wandered all over the roof
iisc l'ghting nowhere.
air Tel me plainly" ne SAID. 'witho'
.au. 4 CA ing around the bush, are you 'sati
70 n ed or dissatisfied with the result
=. re tnss?'
IN II might not be satisfied fifth
dec is".
her She paused and looked out of Il
re- widow On her fair young brow we
the gentle corrugations of perplexlty.
ing 'WellT
80 You seem 10 be satisfied"
II" What has that to do with itr'
cen IF you had shown even tiny bit
Ilni- d.ssatisfaction"-
ised You would have been satisfied"
ex- You're always misinterpreting VIII
dig Say' didn mean .na' AZ al
II was agreed that II the coin fell
.,,r vav Won were to have the pri
sion ,,.,e NJ deciding the right way"
,ood .Eut told you at first. l can't I
The lie. at least not just now"
are Then I suppose we have spent
80 ,'is time for nothing. I'm worn {