Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-11-19
ON THE PIER.

ON THE PIER.
They met on the pier. They had met
before, but not for two years. She was
in white pique and looked dainty and
fresh. He wore a yachting cap and
blue serge suit.
He had never been on a yacht, much
less handled one; but the cap was de
rigueur with the CLAWS of society in
which he moved The strong sunlight
and the blue sea were around them.
She spoke first. Fancy meeting your
she said
1T isn't fancy; it's fact he replied
Commonplace of conversation became
epigrams in the light of the smile in her
eyes. They leaned together on the pier
railing. IA
Jolly place, Seaboro, he remarked.
Isn't it?'' she answered. Il like the
crowds on the sands"
do you come here every year," he
asked
Never miss she answered pleasantly.
He was absorbed in watching a spot
of sunlight that had filtered through the
| open straw of the brim of her hat, and
now played about her cheek She spoke
again.
How is your wife?" she asked
He started.
Good heavens." he said, what made
| you think | was married?"
She opened wide pair of blue eyes.
aren't your" she asked. 'You know.
you were engaged when we met last
ooh. so | was" he murmured. He
| became silent, and cultivated a studious
| gloom.
'Then you broke it off," she inquired
| sympathetically.
'She broke it off, he corrected. 81
J Girls are tickle"
The corners of her mouth twitehed.
Il was young enough to believe in
Them he remarked after a pause.
''You were %, l think she said
"About that" he admitted grudgingly
I'm older now'
1.-TWO years older she commented.
"If you count by years" he admitted
Sin thought and feeling, I'm years and
years older
She said nothing They fell silent
again.
"a thing like that changes a fellow"
he said suddenly.
For the better or the worse ~ she in
CURED demurely.
For the better he said emphatically
at teaches him the treaehery of women
He sees them from detached point Of
| view He has learned wisdom and looks
at them from the heights"
She broke into a little laugh.
''How do they look from there?" she
asked
He glanced aside at her. Truth strug-
ged with his gloom.
Some of them look very pretty he
admitted.
She laughed again.
But, of course" he continued, che has
learned his lesson. He recognizes that
prettiness is merely another lure"
ct must be nice to feel $3.50 safe"
she murmWed.
1T is" he answered gloomily. ITS a
little lonely though. at times"
zone must pay price for wisdom"
she said.
And your" he asked, changing the
subject. lis your husband with your"
She looked at him with swift surprise.
whatever made you think l was mar
ried?" she asked
"Well. you know" he said in his turn.
you We're engaged when | met you last"
She drummed with her fingers on the
edge of the railing. Her cheek had
flushed a delicate pink.
80 I was,'' she said deliberately.
1T didn't come to anything then?o he
asked, you broke it OFF,"
He broke it off" she answered His
parents didn't approve of his marrying"
"The fool!" he said.
ut taught me-" she said plaintively.
'the fickleness of men,
He had a moments discomfort.
TT taught me to look at them from
the heights she murmured with a ghost
of a smile
How do they look from there?" he
said unwillingly, veXed at the impulse
that made him echo her,
She glanced aside, and the smile be.
? came more pronounced.
# Some of them look very foolish" she
e said.
I have learnt WISDOM" he insisted a
little hurriedly,
And t. she replied, with a sigh.
MAN is sufficient to himself" he
q went ON Dramatically. ''He has his
work in the world. He should be con-
=. tent"
you are content ," she asked.
absolutely"
Il wish were a man." she said. "a
woman's work is limited"
a You are not content. then?"
J. "Oh, yes she answered. II shall find
work. But if l were a man it would be
: easier"
T I'VE are both content, then?' he said
a obviously.
Quite she said, with another smile.
o AT least l can answer for myself. |
shall never marry"
h Nor - he replied lugubriouslv.
IF | had found different kind of
n man" she began, in a speculative
!. tone
If | had come across another kind of
! girl he said thoughtfullv.
- 1T might have been different" she ad.
mitted
1T is best as II Is hn said ar LII