The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-01-08


/ Don't be absurd" exclaimed Win
! ME wrathfully. "All the same.
should like 20 know" she added, will
! true feminine pertinacity, what mad'
you marry herr"
Shall tell you?" he asked calmly
do. please" entreated Winnie.
she did. said the Widower.
she did. what do you mean?"
Il mean that she made me marry
her" explained the Widower patient
~.
Your wife," demanded Winnie
opening wide eyes Of amazement upon
him.
Yes. She was a woman OF the most
extraordinary determination. She was
very rich. too" He sighed. Money is
such a power" he added.
Then, said Winnie. with an air OF
stern rebuke. lit was not love match
at all?'
We'll. perhaps not exactly what you
would describe as a love match" he
conceded: although she pretended to
be very devoted TO me. | may add
that she had a rather remarkable way
Of showing her devotion at times"
What sort OF remarkable way"
inquired Winnie. becoming interested.
Did she pet you too much?"
Hardly too much?" replied the
Widower rehectively You see, the
poor girl had a somewhat fiery temper
She was terribly jealous-entirely, oh,
quite entirely without cause he
FASTENED to add Nevertheless, she
would not allow me on any considera-
ton 10 speak to woman under forty
five"
That must have been a great hard
ship" murmured Winnie.
II could have supported il with
equanimity." he sighed but she
latterly developed various uncomfort-
able eccentricities. Among other
things she became a vegetarian, and
compelled me to live on herbs like
herself. She embraced the absurd
theory that two meals a day were
enough for human beings to subsist
upon. and from that moment | never
knew what il was not TO feel hungry.
IL was this practice, / believe. that
eventually carried her of"
"She-she was not very young?"
hazarded Winnie.
Poor giTl-no, She-she had been.
L
was in her sixty-fourth year when she
expired"
'Sixty-four," exclaimed Winnie.
"Sixty-three." he corrected
'O-oh," calculated Winnie in
long-drawn gasp. And you-you were
only twenty-five when you married
her."
When she married me-" the Wido-
wer interposed mildly. Yes: Il
couldn't help that. you know. It was
three years ago now, so | became
older as We went along"
she was old enough TO have been
your grandmother" exclaimed Winnie
Indignantly.
True; but she would never have
consented to act In that relation to-
wards me-though, OF course. / should
have preferred it. II it could have been
Il feel" declared Winnie severely.
that We are treating the subject
much too flippantly"
Il feel that, too" he agreed.
Marriage" she continued, ignoring
his interruption, even with an elder
ly lady. Is a subject that should be
discussed in a spirit of proper rever-
ence. Marriage is a beautiful and
romantic idea
Yes" he said. Go on"
1T is said Winnie. warming to her
theme, the most blissful state in
which human beings can exist
Pardon me-" interrupted the
Widower. but DO you think 'blissfuI'
Is exactly the right word TOTO ex-
press your idea?"
Certainly" said Winnie, with as
perity
Cases have been known" he OBJ |
served, in an impersonal tone. where |
there has been quite a regretable |
absence of this particular ingredient |
believe. For instance. II your wife is |
a vegetarian
Food has nothing TO do with mar
riage," retorted Winnie.
The Widower shook his head sadly. |
You've not been married." he |
sighed, so you don't know"
That's true" conceded Winnie |
Il don't know-at least |
rot yet
There's no reason why you should |
not" put in the Widower, with sudden
"Oh, but am not sure that want
to" she objected
you would then enjoy the advant-
age OF being in a position to prove |
your assertion" he urged.
About food? she inquired innocent.
~.
"And-the other things" he added.
The romantic beauty and the blissful-
ness. you know"
And supposing | found-when II
was too late that / was wrong?" she |
iemurred.
You wouldn't" said the Widower.
with emphasis. You would find that
in your case-theory and practice
would entirely coincide. To begin
with, you-are not a vegetarian"
But" protested Winnie. my hus-
band might insist upon making me be-
come one"
Il can answer for him." said the
Widower decisively. do you know
the way, you don't mind
my calling you Winnie do you? You
see. have known you ever since you
were little baby"
You have known me lust six
years" corrected Winnie sternly.
since | was sixteen"
Really. said the Widower. II
was quite under the I'm.