New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1909-03-10
Beginning theB Beginning
copyright. 1909. by American Press Assoc

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Copyright, 1909, by American Press Asso-
ciation.]
II am q practical chap and believe
in marriages made on common sense
principles. What does 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 OF lot of folderol about
love and sentiment and all that. | ad-
NIT was interested, for was medi-
tating a proposal myself. l felt very
sure Lydia would have me- Why
shouldn't she? was passable fell
low; some property of my own; doing
well in business; fairly educated and
Of good social position. That's the
view expected Lydia to take of me
and union with me, not whether she
would decline me on the 1ound that
didn't get maudlin over ner or she
over me. The question was, Having a
fairly good offer with chance to set
tie down into matrimonial life, was
she to accept it or run the risk Of not
getting another as acceptable2 So
went to her and said:
Miss Brinsley, I'm going to make
you overwhelmingly, that We
pass our lives together as man and
wife till death do us part
She looked ut me out of pair OF
steely eyes for few moments and
said:
SLOW about divorce?"
I've noticed that, no matter how
composedly a man makes up his mind
to deal with woman, she straight
way sets about to discompose him.
"The more common sense we put
into marriage the less likelihood
there'll be of divorce said.
ut 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
ut seems to me that the first ques-
ton to be settled is whether you are
prepared to enter upon matrimony
with me. After that we can take up
the provisions, if there are any"
'That's just like man-always get
ting the cart before the horse. 1t
seems to me that the provisions should
be settled first. The marriage is mere
ly a possible conclusion to them.''
"Good graciousv' / exclaimed under
my breath. l was not prepared to
hear woman speak of proposition
Of marriage as categorical syllogism.
Suppose" / said, ''that we leave di-
vorce till the last of the provisions or,
rather, contingencies and begin with
something of more immediate con-
Germ"
"Well, what's your income?''
Again l 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 $780,"
"Real estate, bonds, stocks or what p
This was getting Irritating. wal
becoming fustered.
CATER all, l was right in the frs
place." l said, bit sharply. "You ex
pect me to lay bare all my affairs tt
you when you haven't given me thu
slightest intimation that IL they are
satisfactory you will accept me for 9
husband"
II was not aware" she replied Jelly
"that expected anything. l thought
that you were the expectant person"
| O heavens! Worse and worse! l sal
feeling and doubtless looking like i
fool. took out my handkerchief and
wiped my lips-they didn't need wip
| ing-then busted some specks of my
coat collar, then crossed one leg over
| the other and said nothing. Neither
did Lydia.
81 think" said presently, that
had better
"Begin all over?'
A desire to get even with her by
saying something smart took posses
! sion of me- When man tries to beat
a woman by saying something smart
he always gets deeper in the mud.
Cor drop the subject" | said, with
some hauteur.
"You haven't taken it UP yet" was
her imperturbable reply.
What did she mean by this, l won
dered Haven't taken it up! thought
I'd very much taken it up.
Perhaps you haven't understood y
l said, what I've been talking about. .
Il dare say l haven't
Didn't l make myself plainY'
THAT depends upon what you had
to say
l was getting more miffed every mo-
ment. looked ominously at the door,
but it didn't seem to frighten her. /
rose. That didn't frighten her either.
"On reflection" said, II think my
powers Of stating things may be bet
| ter adapted to some other intellect
| Male or female?"
This broke me up completely l
stood stupidity looking down at my