The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-03-15
Beginning Beginning


ciation.I
'I am a practical chap and believe
In marriages made on common sense
principles. What does a man want to
go aud get intoxicated on love potions
for and then settle the most important
matter In his life?'
This was my reply TO Eggleston
when he got off a lot Of folderol about
love and sentiment and all that. ad.
nit was Interested, for ! was medl-
tating a proposal myself. ! felt very
sure Lydia would have me. Why
shouldn't she? was a passable fel-
low; some property OF my OWN doing
we'll In business fairly educated and
Of good social position. That's the
view | expected Lydia to take of me
and q union with me, not whether she
would decline me on the ground that
] didn't get maudlin over her or she
over me. The question was, Having
fairly good offer with a chance to set
tie down into matrimonial life, was
she to accept 1t or run the risk of not
getting another as acceptable7 SO
vent to her and said:
"MIss Brlnsley, I'm going to make
you oposition-namely, that we
pass our lives together as man and
wife till death do us pnrt,"
She looked at me out of pair Of
steely eyes for few moments and
said
Elbow about divorceT
I've noticed that, no matter how
composedly a man makes up his mind
to deal with woman, she straight.
way sets about TO dlscompose him.
"The more common sense we put
into marriage the less likelihood
therell be of divorce" | said.
at is the only part of marriage in
which there is likelihood. Death is
certain. Divorce is possible, sometimes
probable. 1t Is contingency that
should be provided for"
ut seems to me that the first Ques-
ton to be settled is whether you are
prepared TO enter upon matrimony
with me- After that we can take up
the provisions, II there are any"
"Thats just like man-always get
ting the cart before the horse. II
seems 70 me that the provisions should
be settled FIRST. The marriage Is mere
ly possible conclusion 10 Them"
GOOD graciousg' ! exclaimed under
my breath | was not prepared to
hear n woman speak Of n proposition
of marriage as q categorical syllogism.
Suppose" said, "that we leave dl,
vorce till the last of the provisions or,
rather, contingencies aud begin with
something Of more immediate con
cern."
"Well, what's your incomeT
Again / WINGED, not 80 much at the
question as at her cold blooded manner
OF asking it. However, | considered
it an eminently proper one to ask and
responded frankly:
II have from Investments $5,500,"
"Real estate, bonds, stocks or whatf'
This was getting Irritating, was
becoming hustered.
"After all, was right in the lirst
place." said, bit sharply. "You ex-
pect me TO lay bare all my affairs to
you when you haven't given me the
slightest intlmation that IL they arc
satisfactory you will accept me for a
husband"
II was not aware" she replied icily,
"that ] expected anything. ! thought
that you were the expectant person"
o heavens! Worse and worsel | sat
feeling and doubtless looking like a
fool. / took out my handkerchief and
wiped my lips--they didn't need wip'
ing-then Austed some specks off my
coat collar, then crossed one leg over
the other and said nothing. Neither
did Lydia.
~ think" | said presently, "that
had better"-
"Begin all over2
A desire TO get even with her by
saying something smart took posses
sion of me. When man tries to beat
woman by saying something smart
he always gets deeper in the mud.
"Or drop the subject" ! said, with
some hauteur
"You haven't taken 1t up yet" was
her imperturbable reply.
What did she mean by this, won
dered. Haven't taken il upl thought
| I'd very much taken II up.
perhaps you haven't understood
l said, what I've been talking about
II dare say l haven't"
"Dldn't l make myself piainT'
"That depends upon what you had
70 say"
was getting more miffed every mo
ment. looked ominously at the door
but it didn't seem to frighten her.
rose. That didn't frighten her either.
ION reflection" said, II think my
powers OF stating things may be bet
ter adapted to some other intellect"
"Male or femaleI"
This broke me up completely.
stood stupidity looking down at my
toes.
'Why don't you 30 and explain It I!