The Devils Lake world. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1911-1911, 1911-03-03
Marriage Not a
Failure
By REGINALD D. HAVEN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

The OLD DACnelOrS ana Olu Iu0lQS
matrimonial exchange, designed to
bring together persons Of opposite sex
who had put off marriage to an incon.
venient season and had therefore been
left without homes in their old age.
had been organized year without re-
suits. Several of the male members
had been married. but they had been
captured by young women outside the
society. AT last Mr. Frederick Horn
blower. aged ffty-four. and Miss So
phia Gilbert, aged forty eight, both
members of the exchange. who had
met there for matrimonial purpose.
decided to marry.
The proposition had been made and
accepted. and the parties met to con-
slider the essentials of living together.
Mr. Hornblower opened the confer.
ence.
II think, my dear Miss Gilbert
do call ME Sophia"
Il think, my dear Sophia. that will
have my house renovated throughout
for your reception"
Pardon me. Mr. mean Freder.
lex, but l have been thinking that
since your house is quite large-too
large. in Fact. for two people and re-
quiring Il great deal Of care
1--WE needn't use but the first and
second stories"
1.-THE first and second stories! My
dear man. how do you suppose we
would feel living in house one-half
Of which would be closed? My house,
on the contrary. is very cozy. just the
right size for us. And it is nearer
your office than yours. Besides, there
l have the little boudoir adjoining my
bedroom where l have always kept
Rosie, my parrot, and little Trip, my
dog. and Charles. my monkey
Good gracious madam mean So
phia! Have You got a menagerie
there?'
"Only these three besides my two
cats. You see, I've been used to hav-
ing them there. call it the nursery,
where can keep them under my eye
and where they can come trooping in
early in the morning to awaken me-"
''At what hour?" The expression on
Mr.. Hornblower's face was one Of
horror.
give O'Clock usually. You see, go
to bed at 9. and eight hours sleep is
enough for any one. Indeed, some
times when Charles is nervous let
him in at 4. Often he wines for me
all night
"And these pets stand in the relation
to you off, IT,.
my beloved children. 1t would be
impossible for me to move into an
other house, for their bathroom is at
tached to the nursery and very con-
| venient. Each one of the children has
| bath twice and sometimes three
times day."
But. my dear-Sophia, doesn't that
take up lot of time?'
Certainly. but what is time for ex-
cept to care for those one loves?'
!, but. Sophia, dear, all this is to be
changed; You are to have something
! higher in the scale Of animal life to
whom to devote yourself to love. What
Y time will you have to give to me if'-
'fdz"0hl'I never could love any one as
well sas Rosie, I'm sure. But tell me
something Of your life. Have you no
pets?"
rTINot one. shall be able to lavish
the whole of my affection on my wife,
GLOW do you spend the day?'
II rise at 8. My morning sleep is
my best and must not be disturbed.
breakfast on a steak and baked 20.
tato every morning. There must be
no change as to this. 1 will be at the
Office all day. leaving you the house
to yourself
"And my family"
lowing to the condition Of my stOm.
ach I never eat anything for dinner
except milk toast and cup of tea"
Indeed! Can there be no change
from this either?"
"None whatever. Since my princi
pal sleep is in the morning don't close
my eyes till midnight, but need the
rest and am in bed by 8. lie awake
till IL reading and smoking"
"And do you expect me to be awake
from 8 till IL enveloped in your nasty
tobacco smoker"
"You can 60 to Sleep"
"And not have my family come in
at in the morning, dear children, to
awaken me?'
"The morning hours, have told
you, are most important to me to ge,
the sleep need"
''Then I suppose" said the lady aft
er reflection, I'VE must occupy sepa
rate rooms?"
/ Mr.. Hornblower sighed. One object
he had had In getting married was t.
have some one beside him in those
lonely hours during the night when hi
often lay awake. This part Of his
dream seemed ended.
do you Think" he asked presently
"that we could come to q compro
mise?"
"Of course" replied the lady.
"Well, suppose agree to go to bee
when you go and relinquish my smoke
You in turn give up your pets"
Eve might compromise on the frs
Of those, but not on the second"
Mr.. Hornblower looked at her curl
ously. Her countenance did not indi
cate anything unusual
"You mean," he said, "that I give W
my smoke and you retain your pets?"
wouldn't that be a fair compro
mise?" she asked, looking up at hin
1nnocently.
He thought moment, then replied
that it would.