The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1909-12-09
ON THE PIER.

and the blue sea were around them.
She spoke first. Fancy meeting you'll"
she said.
s'It 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.
"Jolly place, Seaboro,' he remarked.
isn't it," she answered II 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.
ssGood heavens!" he said, what made
you think / was married?"
aren't your" she asked. "You know
you were engaged when we met last"
'sOh, so 1 was" he murmured. He
became silent, and cultivated studious
gloom.
"Then you broke it OFF, she inquired
sympathetically.
"She broke it off, he corrected. 81
suppose L ought to have expected it.
Girls are tickle"
The corners of her mouth twitched.
Il was young enough to believe in
Them" he remarked after a pause.
"You were %, I Think she said.
"About that" he admitted grudgingly.
'I'm older now"
1.-TWO years older" she commented.
eff you count by years." he admitted,
Gin thought and feeling, Pm years and
years older"
She said nothing. They fell silent
again.
"a thing like that changes fellow
he said suddenly.
"For the better or the worse ?" she in
CURED demurely.
"For the BETTER he said emphatically.
cit teaches him the treachery of women.
He sees them from detached point of
view. He has learned wisdom and looks
at them from the heights"
She broke into little laugh.
ssHow do they look from there?" she
asked.
He glanced aside at her. Truth strug-
gled 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 murmured
ut isl 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, sis your husband with your"
She looked at him with swift surprise.
"Whatever made you think was mar
ried :" she asked.
..Well, yen. know" he said in his turn.
''you were engaged when met you last"
She drummed with her fingers on the
edge of the railing. Her cheek had
flushed delicate pink.
$50 I was,'' she said deliberately.
"It didn't come to anything them" he
asked, "you broke it off,"
s'He broke it off," she answered 'His
parents didn't approve of his marrying"
"The fool!'' he said.
s1t taught me-" she said plaintively,
"the ickleness of men,
He had moments discomfort.
cit taught me to look at them from
the heights she murmured with ghost
of smile.
GLOW 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
said.
81 have learnt WISDOM he insisted a
little hurriedly.
"And l." she replied, with sigh.
"Man is sufficient to himself" he
went on Dramatically. HE has his
work in the world. He should be con-
tent"
"You are content 2" she asked.
absolutely"
ri wish I were a man." she said. GA
woman's work is limited"
"You are not content, then?'
ooh, yes" she answered, 81 shall find
work. But if / were man it would be
easier"
SWe are both content, then?' he said
obviously.
Quite she said, with another smile.
"At least l can answer for myself. |
shall never marry"
"Nor l." he replied lugubriously.
eff had found different kind of
man" she began, in speculative
tone.
eff I had come across another kind of
girl" he said thoughtfully.
ssIt might have been different" she ad-
mitted.
ut is best as it isl he said. IT shall
grow old alone"
He glanced aside at her. His eyes fell
on her waist. Tt was very slender
waist girdled by silver chain. He ex-
perienced an absurd desire to put his
arm around it. He did put his arm
round it.
She started upright.
"What are you doing?' she said. GLOW
dare your"
'Why not?" he answered shamelessly
She freed herself.
with all these people about" she ex-
postulated, her cheeks red
IF there weren't any he began.
'You!' she interrupted, "who weren't
going to marry!"
I've changed my mind" he said de-
family. "But your"
let's go somewhere where there
aren't any people" she answered.
They walked off arm in arm.-Dr.
Sackville Martin in London Opinion.