The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-02-10

TWO people she was TALKING 10, lnut
they were not married and both had
for years wished to be married, espe
cially for the home she had suggested
by her remarks upon children, jenkins
was looking at the ceiling, out of the
window, any place except where he
might be expected to look. Suddenly
he turned his eyes upon the lady be-
side him and saw bushes coming and
going like an aurora borealis, with
smiles on the lips like sunlight on rip
pies of water. Then their eyes met.
The usual happening from such a
meeting of eyes under such circum-
stances might be embarrassment, or it
might be half embarrassment and half
amusement, or it might be anger. The
look between these two was neither Of
these There was more in that glance
than has been written in many a vol
ume, and no volume could express as
much. The mans eyes said, "Let us
fulfill the picture" The woman's said.
81 will"
Marriage, or rather mating, is a
natural instinct. The reason neither of
these two had mated was because they
had from childhood been surrounded
by artificial conditions. He had look
ed upon a woman critically, judicially,
taking time to deliberate whether he
wanted her or Motif he could get
her-while she had considered the men
of her acquaintance in the same fash
ion. While all these considerations,
pro and con, had failed to make a
mating, suddenly spark had flashed
between them and made them one.
Nor does 1t matter that there was a
great deal of the artificial to stand be-
tween them and realization. What
was to follow was not a process of
building up a love, but of breaking
down barriers. When they left the
house both knew that the artificial
condition by which they were sur
rounded required that they proceed
step by step. In one respect they
were very near, in another they were
far apart. They had pledged a silent
troth and yet they were strangers.
"Do you think you will take the
house?" asked jenkins as they stood
on the sidewalk about to part.
"Rather, do you think you'll take it?"
was the reply.
II am certainly not so ungallant as
to stand in lady's way"
Nor would l think of taking it If
you want it."
jenkins stood thinking for moment
before replying. 1t was their artificial
relations that were occupying his
thoughts.
Suppose" he said taking out his
card, you send me word as to your
decision"
''I will," she replied in a low tone
"On second thought, / will not put
you to SO much trouble. If you will
let me know where | could get your
reply | would be pleased to call for
it."
Il should be happy to have you do
So" She gave him her address.
Good mornings"
"Good morningr'
Not a very warm parting for an en-
gagged couple. Nevertheless both went
away with satisfaction in their hearts.
For the first time in their lives they
had listened to the voice of nature I'M
alloyed by artificial conditions.
In few days Jenkins called upon
the caretaker, with whom the renting
of the house had been left, with a cou-
pie of leases in his pocket and execut-
ed one for the owner and another for
himself
when will you move in, sir?" asked
the woman
Il don't know. | would like to have
you remain as you are and take care
of the house for me for the present"
THAT would suit me very well. If
Mrs. jenkins wishes any cleaning
done, sir, I'll be glad to attend to it
for her"
Jenkins said he would let her know.
But as there was as yet no Mrs. Jen-
kins and a great many artificial bar
riers to be broken down before there
could be the woman was not likely to
receive any hurried order He fully
intended to occupy the house with the
woman the caretaker supposed was
Mrs. jenkins, but before that great
deal must be done. Not even a word
of love had been spoken. What had
been looked and understood was an
other matter.
Months passed before the caretaker
got her order to do the cleaning. Then
everything was made spick and span,
and furniture began to arrive. Jenkins
went to the house and saw that it was
arranged as properly and with as
much taste as could be expected of a
bachelor, then when all was finished
left 1t in charge of the woman and
went away.
The next she saw of him he drove
up to the door in a carriage, wearing
frock coat, a silk hat and a chrysan-
themum In his buttonhole. He hand
ed out the lady who had inspected the
house in his company, and when in
side and her wraps We're thrown off