The Washington herald., 1909-04-11
THE WIDOW.
Rx HELEN ROWLAND.

the cliff. down which the Bachelor had
been sent in search OF the first spring
blossoms.
THAT is always the question between
man and a woman. returned the
Bachelor. gravely. "But-Tn help you
down -
Just like a man." exclaimed the
Widow petulsntly. as she stepped from
the car and seated herself on rock from
which she could observe the Bachelor ar
work. ''to expect woman 20 descend to
mis- ievelr'
Just like a woman. retorted the Bache-
Tor calmly. "to expect man 10 rise 10
her ideals, But don't move an inch ne
added, regarding her thoughtfully- You
look even more-more-even more 50 from
this distance"
The Widow snapped open her 'anity
case and powdered her nose hastily be-
fore replying.
You might have gone up that hin on
rhe other side Of the road. she suggested
at length. where there was a path.
But the path was so straight and mar
row. complained the Bachelor Besides,
it's always easier going down"
And more slippery and more dangerous
and -"
More fascinating finished the Bache-
Tor. Are YOU trying 10 reform me?' he
added. with sudden suspicion,
Heavens. nor exclaimed the Widow
with a gesture OF depreciation. I wouldn't
know where 10 begin You have q little
Of ali the sins. you know. and not much
OF any Of them Now. II you only had
some one great falling.
Would YOU prefer bigamy. Or murder.
or burglary" inquired the Bachelor ac-
commodatingly as he sat down on the
trunk OF a fallen tree and took out his
pipe. Il could take 20 drink, suppose,
or to gambling, or --
stop cried the Widow imperatively.
Il didn't mean any OF those things But.
n you simply had some sort Of besetting
sin which-well-which ! can't think OF
just now, Il must be magnificent 10 re-
form a mani.
And it must be awful" groaned the
Bachelor, TO marry a woman who wants
% reform you-like marrying a human
Interrogation point or a catechism. Just
imagine having the Beatitudes for break
fast. aud lectures for luncheon, and dis
sertat:ons for dinner
And fancy" mused the Widow, "hav-
ing 10 live with a man after you have
reformed him. and he has become so su-
perlauvely good that you don't feel
superior 20 him any more, and have moth
ing 90 re9roach him with
"Oh. you'd never have any trouble
about that. remarked The Bachelor in
consequently blowing a ring Two peo-
pie who live together can always ind
plenty OF things with which 10 reproach
each other. Even archangels could PICK
flaws in one another II they had 20 drink
coffee al the same table every morning,
and 10 live on the same income and with
The same cook. That is why there Is no
marrying in heaven. The music OF the
spheres couldn't drown the matrimonial
squabbles and deaden the din OF disap-
provaL''
Yes. sighed the Widow. leaning her
chin IN her hand thoughJfully. "Matri-
mony Is war. and war is-well. II ism
heaven. You'd fancy that a marriage cer-
tihcate was "a declaration Of independence
instead Of a peace treaty. from the way
( in which most people act after they have
1 signed IL"
rs it a peace treaty?" inquired the
! Bachelor in sudden aStonishment.
1T ought 70 be returned the Widow
promptly. Then il would be not only
I imp0lits. but a breach OF honor Cor The
/ sieners 70 tread on one anOthers private
Z feelings and huri missiles az one another g
tenderest spots When you enter the
| House of Matrimony you lay aside your
armcr. and all your weakest points are
( exposed 10 each others jahs and shafts
/ It's barbarous 20 take avantage IF onv
auotber's helplessness by plunging the
dagger Of criticism into those weak spots
I especially when you have promised q
{ love cherish, and honor one another"
But YOU haven't promised 20 admire
one another protested the Bachelor.
NO" agreed the Widow. yet nobody
marries in order 70 get a hfe-criric, but
an ardent admirer And you can blams
( the one who has had the dagger thrust
I IN and twisted round for putting on his
armor again. Yet nasEing wives and
/ browbeating husbands viii continue q
wonder why their once devoted partners
( always become such hardened wretches.
/ "Of course" agreed the Bachelor
7 Every time a woman gives a man q
/ piece OF her mind she loses a piece Of his
/ heart"
And every time a man stabs at his
wife's little faUings.' retorted the Widow
! ''he stabs az loye-and even love win die
\ But" she added with a sudden little CUR
/ gle as she peeped over at the Bachelor
I how funny YOU look from up here
And how fearsome you look from doW-r
/ berer' returned the Bachelor. After all.
/ he continued. its all in the viewpoint
! It's the way we look al each other Iha
| distorts our vision. The average man auS
woman could get along fairly well ID
! gether II the woman did not always IT,
/ sist on climbing up on a pedestal"
] And the man did not usually insist OF
/ taking the downward path" rejoined The
/ Widow. They ought 10 try 10 get OF
! the same level
! "fhen it's Your mOvet" Announced tht
/ Bachelor calmly.
/ "Of course. It's always the woman''
/ first move," sighed the Widow, pickina
1 up her skirts. starting down the cliff on q
little run. and ending by slipping over Z
stone and falling breathlessly into tht
/ Bachelors arms.
There" he cried as he released her
/ Now YOU look human and approachabl'
| and adorable and -"
Isn't Il nice tc be admired?' inter
rupted the Widow, seating herself beside
/ him and spreading out her skirts
so much nicer than being reformed,
agreed the Bachelor with a sigh OF con
! tent Queens and angels are all righ
for an inspiration occasionally. but fol
everyday comfort give me a nice, coy
little thing who can come down to {
/ chaps level once in a while,''
The TWO-piece Suit.
Z 49,, -, u+u.a.,,ty, p,rI,ss,