Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-11-11

NEITHER
WAS JEALOUS
By F. TOWNSEND SMITH
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

eighteen?''
IL am much older at eighteen than
some girls are at twenty-five. Now,
there ire certain faults my husband
might possess which | would not be
able to endure. but others wouldn't
trouble me. Before we take the final
step | propose to test you to discover
If you have one especial fault that |
am sure would separate u.s."
But If you tell me you're going to
test me isn't that giving away the
whole thing?
"My object In telling you beforehand
is that I shall have to seem to act
wrongfully to you. l shall be able
to tell you that had an object. You
understands"
Certainly. And suppose that
had better tell you that I'm going to
test you. too. so that If 1 behave badly
you'll understand"
"H'm! l supposed when you told me
that was far too good for you you
meant It."
And supposed that when you said
you were proud to be loved BY
Don't be silly. sometimes think
that you at twenty-three are younger
than I am at eighteen. How are you
going to test mer'
How are you going to test me? l
mean what for?
She did some very hard thinking in
that youthful head Of hers and then
said: 'Tt won't do any harm If tell
you I'm going to make you Jealous
Jealousy separates more married cou-
pies than any other cause"
ibid you get that from a statis-
ticianT
Now you're talking absurd again"
Every well: go ahead; make me
Jealous. But I warn you that your
plan will be a failure. Suppose you
succeed?"
I'm that case l shall consider that
It wouldn't be safe to marry you"
II shall test you for the same fault
But II don't succeed shall consider
that It won't be safe to marry you"
''Why mott"
''It will indicate that you don't love
me. No one can love another without
jealousy"
Except having perfect confidence
in that other"
every well. Well try It."
And we did try 1t with a vengeance.
When we came together again we
resumed our dialogue.
Its all over between u.s." said Lucy,
both sad and angry.
Didn't stand the testT asked
in an injured tone.
II should think not You haven't
spoken a word to me for a week."
II was testing you"
WAS 1t necessary to test me by con-
stantly sailing past here with that one
girl-a girl you know l despiseT
ut wouldn't be any test to flirt with
two"
II f1irted with half Dozen"
at wasn't for me to tell you how to
test a 6ance."
81 should think not. l couldn't have
acted on your advice If 1t was to act
as scandalously as you have acted"
ut seems to me that l have stood
your test and you haven't stood
mine"
do you call 1t test to select a
girl like that and go about all the
while with her looking as If you were
about to kiss herr 1t was disgusting"
"And didn't you 60 about looking up
lovingly at Scrimserf didn't care
for the other fellows-they were
blends. Scrimser was the real thing"
Pm glad have him to fall back
upon now it's all over with you"
"And suppose Camilla will help
me out"
81 wish you to understand that no
man to whom I am engaged shall pay
the slightest attention to such a girl"
mot for a testT
mot on any account. l consider 1t
an insult to me- Ii you had taken
some of the other girls. such as Grace
or Alice or Bess"-
"No one OF those girls would do for
test. Grace is homely as a hedge
fence. Alice Is cold as an icicle. and
as for Bess"-
'"rhey are all at least to be respect
ed"
Yes, and they are your friends,
They're so much to be respected that
they wouldn't take your fiance away
from you, BECAUSE
Because"
Both you and they know they
couldn't"
was getting tired of this and re-
solved to bring it to a close.
II say. Lucy, l am delighted at the
success of my test on you"
'Delighted?"
"Yes. Didn't l tell you that love
begets jealousyT
Jealousy. You latter yourself II
you suppose you can make me jealous
of that creature"
"T am awfully jealous Of Scrimser."
Because he is such perfect gentle