Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-07-08
Beginning Beginning

tCopyright, lO0. by American Press Asso-
 cjation.
 "I am practical chap and believe
 In marriages made on common sense
 principles. What does q man want to
 go and get intoxicated on love potions
 for and then settle the most important
 matter In his life?"
 This was my reply to Eggleston
 when he got off a lot of folderOi about love and sentiment and all that. 1 ad- init l was interested, for I was medi- tating proposal myself. felt very sure Lydia would have me. Why shouldn't she7 was a passable fel- low; some property of my own: doing well in business; fairly edueated and of good social position That's the view l expected Lydia to take of me and union with me, not whether she would decline me on the ground that l didn't get maudlin over her or she over mo. The question was. Having n fairly good offer with>a chance 10 set. tle down into matrimonial life. was she to accept 1t or run the risk of not getting another as acceptable? So I went to her and said:
 "Niss Brinsley. I'm going to make you ropositiOn-namely, that We pass our lives together as man and wife till death do us part"
 She looked at me out of a pair of steely eyes for few moments and said:
 How about dlvorceI"
 I've noticed that, no matter how compOsedly mun makes up his mind to deal with woman, she straight way sets about to discompose him
 "The more common sense we put into q marriage the less likelihood therell be of divorce" said.
 Tt is the only part of marriage in which there is likelihood. Death is certain, Divorce is possible, sometimes probable It is contingency that should be provided fer"
 "lt seems |" me that the first ques- i ton to he settled Is whether you are prepared to enter upon mntrlmony with me. After that we can take up | the provisions, if there are any"
 "That's just like a man-always get i ting the cart before the horse. II | seems to nc tllnt inc provi ions should | he settled first The marril~e is mere ly possible conclusion to thcm'
 Good rraci0us" I exclaimed under my breath was Got prepared to hear woman speak If q proposition of marriage as q categorical syilogism
 Suppose" I said, that we leave di- vorce till the last of the provisions or. rather, contingencies and be%in with, something of more immediate con cern."
 "Well, what's your income?'
 Again I winccd, not SO much at the question as at Ter cold bl0odcd manner of asking it. However. I considered It an emireutly proper one to ask and responded frankly:
 'I have from investments $5,j0O.'
 Real estate, bonds, stocks or whltf"
 This was getting irritating. was becoming fustered.
 After all, was right in the first place" said. lit sharply. You ex- pect me to lay bare all my affairs to you when you haven't given me the slightest intimation that If they are satisfactory you will accept me for q husband"
 "l was not aware" she replied icily. 'that l expected anything. thought that you were the expectant person" O heavens. Worse and worse! sat feeling and doubtless looking like n fool. l took out my handkerchief and wiped my lips they didn't need wip- dusted some specks off my ,oat collar, then crossed one leg over the other and said nothing. Neither lid Lydia. I q think" said presently, that a lad better"--
 Begin all! oyer?' ; A desire to get even with her by j saying something smart took posses ; 'ion of me. When q man tries 10 beat ! l woman by saying something smart > le always gets deeper in the mud. ; 'Or drop the subject" l said, with ; ome hauteur. y You haven't taken it up yet" was s Ter imperturhablp reply. y What did she mean by this, l won s cred Haven't taken it up! thought ; d very much taken it up. s Perhaps you haven't understood" s said, what I've been talking about" :, ~ dare say l haven't" V Didn't l make myself plain?" :, That depends upon what you had .T D say @ l was getting more miffed every mo- ~ lent. loo.ed ominously at the door, $, ut it didn't seem to frighten her. :,