The Yale expositor., 1910-02-04
VERY STUPID OF HIM.
BY THOMAS KENT WATERMAN.


copyright. 1909, by American Press Asso-
ciation.I
A girl sat on the porch of farm
house knitting. Up the road came
man He stepped before the girl, who
sat meditating with her eyes on her
work. Presently she looked up. Seeing
him, a glad smile was about to break
out on her lips, but she repressed it.
well. declarew she exclaimed.
"Where did you come from? I'd as
soon have expected to see your ghost
as you"
81 should have been very much dis
appointed" replied the man, going up
on to the porch and taking a seat. ito
see your ghost. prefer to see you in
the flesh.'
LET me see. IL must be seven or
eight years since you left You went
away the day after-after saw you
last, didn't your
Eyes. l left you standing on this
very porch 1t was twilight, with
moon In the first quarter. went
down the road there determined that
you should never see me again"
"And what brings you back now"
81 came to get married"
He was looking her in the eye.
Though inwardly she WINGED at the in
formation, she succeeded In appearing
Indifferent to It,
who is the happy woman?" she
asked.
I've answered a question. It's my
turn to ask one. Are you marriedY"
"No"
He sat looking at her inquiringly,
and she continues:
There's never been any one here
who wanted me-"
"Nor any one you wanted"
That's right"
Same here. I've remained single
since l left you because there was no
one l could get that l wished to mar
ry."
But now you can get the one you
want?"
mo, but | must have a companion
l feel myself getting old. I'm thirty
two"
"And I'm thirty"
$50 | concluded to come back here
among the people / was brought up
with. marry the first girl l could get
and take her back to the most God forA
saken country u woman ever lived in."
You won't have any trouble getting
a girl to go with you. but it's not much
of an outlook for her.
How about meY'
She'll be constantly mourning for
civilization and to see her do so will
be very hard on you
You wouldn't marry a man who
was intending to take you to such a
country. would you?"
Yes. if loved him."
"And make him miserable by mourn
ing for these beautiful hils?"
I'D try not"
There was silence for awhile be-
tween them. broken by the man.
Seems to me that If you had got to
the state | have. tired of living alone
and didn't care whom you married. and
l could give up my interest out there
you'd Gil the bill"
IF l married you | wouldn't let you
give up your interest out there, wher-
ever that is--not on my account
but you said you'd do that If you
loved the man.
Yes; that's what | said"
"But IL you didn't love the man
81 wouldn't marry him at ALL
Another silence. The man sat tap
ping his boot with stick he had cut
beside the road
I'm sorry about that" he said pres
emily. Il didn't know but that If you
felt the same as | do it wouldn't be
necessary for ME to go any farther for
a companion"
"But | don't feel as you do. In
your case the romance has passed
away, and you merely want some one
to keep you from being lonely. ! will
marry no man | don't love"
He sat for awhile with a disap-
pointed look on his face. then rose TO
go.
singular" he remarked. looking at
the sky There's the half moon up
there. and the twilight's coming on.
just the same as when | left you be-
fore"
"And you haven't improved biz
since then. In another eight or ten
years you'll come back again and talk
just as stupidity as you did when !
saw you last and as you are talking
now"
"Myra. what do you mean?'
The only reply he received was
passionate burst of weeping.
"Myra. sweetheart do tell me-
"You went away and have been
gone eight years. Why didn't you
come back the next day? | expected
you and had little present for you"
"But you refused me-"
THAT'S nothing II l did. You didn't
expect me TO fall right into your arms
at once. did your"
The man looked at her. on his face
.--.o.~fon % fpGptfo nofn min.