The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-12-08
TgE vvIDOVV. !.


rabbit fol the Bachelor.
"Some what?" The .,achelor sat up
with sta,t and then fell back again
among the fariegated sofa pillows
helpiessly. g,....,
"Sonl5 new wheels to make 1t run
smooth1y." explained the Widow, "and
come safety-valves for letting of
steam, and few up-to-date appliances
Tor comfort and convenience. Every.
thing else has been mitigated and i'm
proved The steam engine wouldn't
know it's own grandfather and the
street cars go at twice the speed -
$50 do the divorce cases. put in
the Bachelor.
"Ard instead of gones we have
electric bells''-
"And instead Of love-matches, we
have marriages uf convenience
And YOU only have to put up your
hand and the conductor let's you Of
"And you only have to put up tie
money and the lawyer
"Nonsense!" protested the Widow,
with a vehement little stir. Marriage
/ hasn't been improved or mitigatei
bit. 1t runs right along in the same
old tracks, with the same old jogsly,
wobbly, uncomfortable buinrs, in the
same old dust and squalls, to the sar'c
Old destination; and if you are normal
and conscientious you can't get of
until you reach the last station and
are worn to a frazzle!"
"It's the tie that binds sighed the
bachelor, resignedly. THE latest thing
In Gordian knots, and"--
"It's full of knots" broke in the
widow, setting down the plates with
little clatter. "'Shall nots' and ought
nots' dnd-and what nos! And
they're all fastened so tight and hard
that most people get raveled out try
ing to loosen them"
"0h, WE'LL" rejoined the Bachelor,
cheerfully, as he lifted stick, bit Of
! rabbit on his fork. "mcst people man
a:e to have them CUT--in the divorce
| court.'
Not at ALL" retorted the Widow,
| promptly divorce is luxury CT
the rich, but its the last resort o: tie
| ma.ority. Just think how few divorced
people you know compared 10 the mar
| ried ones who are going through life
fumt!:ng hopelessly with the knc:s
and getting sparled up ti--!lter and
tighter. ] know dozens and dozens CT
women who ere hanging on 10 matTi-
mony by mere thread and living IN
dire terror for fear The thread will
break
"And l know dozens and Go:ens o'
| men," sighed the Bachelor, "whn have
2othing in common with their wives
but the dishes and the parlor furni-
tGG-e'--
And dozens md dozens OF wives" :"
put in the Widow, "who listen all
! .:5pt for husbands key in the lock.
and then wake up In the morning
,,nly too thankful IL he has come home
AT ALL .z,r.
"And dozens OF dozens of husbands
vho have to take bracer before they
AN get up the courage to go home a.
aisht-and yet they keep on going
oome," finished the Bachelor.
YES" agreed the Widow, sadly. "It
isn't The LAW that binds us together;
It's some ingredient that the Lord
puts Into matrjmony that gets people
all mixed up-like the cheese and the
ale in rabbit 50 that they can't dis
lntegrate themselves from one anoth-
er."
IT guess it's the lcve Of the dishes!"
exclaimed the Bachelor, with sudden
Inspiration.
.'The-what?" The Widow dropped
her fork.
The domestic ingredient" exclalm-
ed the Bachelor; "the 'homing in
sIinct' in US alI-the tender feeling
Cor l2rned socks and cups with hand
les and a street and number to call
our own. A dog will stay with TIE
master who beats him daily in pre-
ference to roaming the streets-and
we're all something like dogs"
Cor CATS corrected the Widow
THAT'S it; It's the feeling OF belong
ing hat gets hold Of US and ties the
| knot around our hearts. We all want
to belong. We hate being detached
TO you?" cried the Bachelor, de-
| lightedly. Then why go on-suffer-
| ing?"
"What?"
'yVhy not mitigate our pain by 60
ing right down to the City Hall and
getting getting tangled up'-this
minute?, ..s....
The Widow rose with a weary air
and put ont her hand.
MUST you go. Mr.. Travers?' she
inqrired sweetly.
| "Oh, yes,' acquiesced the Bachelor,
with a chuckle. land the beauty of Il
Isl CAM"
''H'hat?"
and I don't ever have to come
back"
"Cf-of course not" agreed The
Widow, with g. little frown of wonder.
Because In the tie that binds u.s.
There isn't any, Mr.. Trayers," de-
clared the widow, hastily.
H1n Tho +;o oP frjopdchin norc;ctod