The Ordway new era., 1909-01-01
A PRE-MARITAL
talk
Miss Nancy Told What She Intended to Do.

surprise.
Nothing" assured her, hastily.
TIT does come as a bit OF a
shock, though, doesn't it?" l suggest.
ed. mildly.
Not exactly shock. of course"
amended, but a-a-well. you know
what mean"
Yes" agreed Nancy. you mean
you really haven't considered our mar.
,iage seriously yet"
Haven't !, thought" | demurred.
well, what conclusion have you
come to?' she demanded.
That I'm lucky beggar." said I.
Nancy shook her head impatiently.
Il mean." said she, have you de.
cided your attitude toward me?
Il shall expect the same freedom az
! have now" she continued. For in.
'tance, you mustn't expect me to drop
MI my friends"
Rather not" agreed. heartily;
You know some very nice girls"
Il mean men friends" explained
Nancy.
OH" I said. And as the expression
Fcened inadequate. | added: DO
you?"
Man must realize that women are
% longer his saves" she said sentea
!ously.
Naturally it'll come ms sur
PRISE" said. but | may grasp it
II time"
Why should marriage make me {
chattel?" she went on. severely
Il haven't the faintest idea"
"A woman Is a mans equal" she
continued.
Rather" agreed. heartily.
It's absurd to regard n man n
SUPERIOR being" she said. DIS
dainfully.
1t Is" | assented.
IF anything" suggested, pleasant
ly. hes the inferior sex"
We'll. he is really" agreed Nancy.
It's so obvious" said |.
And you mustn't expect ne to a
ways talk TO you.' she resumed
kindly.
Il shouldn't" | cried. Indignantly
I'm not quite so bad as ell that"
besides" l said. "A man wants a
change"
'If that's your orin!on. wonder
you get married at ALL" she said
scornfully.
We'll. you suggested it," I protest,
ed: "er-our behavior to each other.
mean. OF course"
Il shall go to the theaters with other
men," she continued.
.ApI I chnn On ~ fInn,nrc wi u
other-I beg your pardon. or course.
we're talking about you"
Occasionally shall spend a quiet
evening at home"
''It'Il be dull" l. warned her.
mo. 1t will be n change" she cor.
rected.
And I'll get your slippers for you,
am light your pipe"
She smiled at the picture. was
inclined to smile somewhat fool.shly
too. but l remembered in time my
duty as n man.
''l;.s very probable" said I. care,
lessly, Il shan't be at home"
Not home!" she gasped. Mortified.
II shall have my own engagements. ''
I reminded her.
20. but" she began. and then
paused and choked.
"There'll be the club. you see." said
I, land bachelor parties. and
yawned slightly-"and heaps OF
things. A man can't drop out Of the
world Just because he's married"
Il suppose not" agreed Nancy very
mildly.
There was pause, and watched
the corners of her mouth droop.
"You-you won't always be out. will
you?" she asked timidly.
No." l said rehectively. 81 dare
say shall be able to spare you IN
evening now and then
Nancy hummed little tune to her.
self. Just to show she didn't care.
smoked doggedly, however, and after
a while she broke the silence.
"Will you let me help you with your
work?" she said. II could blot your
writing for you and find the words in
the dictionary"
"I don't use a dictionary" re.
marked. stifly.
Nancy accepted this statement as
mere perverseness. Everybody uses
q dictionary.
"Oh, very we'll" she said, coldly,
with her head well up.
There was a depressing silence.
"You're-you're very unkind," Nan.
cy murmured. after a lengthy pause.
.T!" said l, in amazement. why.
rve agreed to everything you've said.
We've arranged that we should both
be absolutely Independent of each
other"
But I don't want you to be inde.
pendent OF me-" she said, softly.
II have grasped that"
"And-and I don't want to be inde-
pendent OF you," she whispered.