The commonwealth., 1909-03-19

| over me. The question was Having a
fairly good offer with Il chance to set,
! tie down into matrimonial life, was
she TO accept II or run the risk of not
getting another as acceptable2 80 !
went TO her and said:
Miss Drinsiey. I'm going to make
you proposition namely, that we
pass our lives together as nlnn and
wife till death do us part"
She looked at me out Of pair of
steely eyes for Il few moments aud
said;
"IIow about dlVOrceW
I've noticed that, no matter how
Composedly Il man makes up his mind
10 deal with woman, she straight
way sets about TO discompose him.
'"rhe 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"
at seems to me that the first ques-
tion 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"
"That's just liba,a. .pan-always get
ting the cart beItS the horse. II
seems to me that the provisions should
be settled first. The marriage Is mere
ly possible conclusion to them"
Good graciousp ! exclaimed under
my breath. | was not prepared TO
hear a woman speak Of proposition
Of marriage as categorical syllogism
Suppose" | said, that we leave dl
v0rce till the last of the provisions or
rather, contingencies and begin with
something of more immediate con
Germ"
swell, what's your Income"
Again | WINGED, not so much at the
question as at her cold bloOded manner
of asking It. However. ! considered
1t an eminently proper one to ask and
responded frankly:
II have from Investments $500"
"Real estate, bonds, stocks or whatT
This was getting irritating, was
becoming fiustered.
"After all, was right In the first
place." | said, q bit sharply. "You ex.
pect me to lay bare all my affairs to
you when you haven't given me the
slightest intlmation that II they are
satisfactory you will accept mo for a
husband"
II was not aware" she replied icily,
"tbat expected anything ! thought
that you were the expectant persoa."
o heavens! Worse and worsel ! sat
feeling and doubtless looking like
fool. took out my handkerchief and
wiped my lips-they didn't need wlp.
ing--then busted some specks off my
coat collar, then crossed one leg over
the other and said nothing. Neither
did Lydia.
II 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 1t up! thought
I'd very much taken 1t up.
"Perhaps you haven't understood" "
| said, what I've been talking about"
Il dare say haven't"
"Dldnt | make myself plainT'
THAT depends upon what you had
TO say"
was getting more mlffed every mo-
ment. looked ominously at the door,
but 1t didn't seem to frlghten her. |
rose. That didn't frighten her either.
ION reflection" ! said, IL think my
powers of stating things may be bet
ter adapted to some other intellect"
"Male or femaleT
This broke me up completely.
stood stupidly looking down at my
toes.
"Why don't you 90 and explain 1t to
some nice man and let him come and
tell It to me-" she remarked.
There was nothing to be gained with
this cool creature. But her coolness.
the disappointment | suffered, every.
thing, maddened me. secuted my
practical ideas. would gladly have
thrown myself at her feet and begged
for pity. mercy. anything except this
horrible monster that stood between
us. But how could Jump from my
position Of practical marriage ar
ranger to despaIring lover? There
was no hope. With feeble attempt
at Indifference went to the door
Hearing nutter behind me. ! was
about to turn when paIr OF arms
was flung about me. and was held
In tight grasp.
"Come back" she laughed, "and be-
gin anew. And this time at the be-
ginning"
What was rho beginning? A kiss
-