The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-11-22
An
lncongruity
By JOHN cALLAGER, JR.

OF Lark1lS, q Lincoln. gave
me a letter to him recommending me
for a salaried position in his office. ]
was advised to see MIR. Larkins at his
! house, where l would receive more
friendly attention than In his office.
! | called about 4 o'clock. expecting to
find him returned from his office. but
| since he had been Detained there later
than usual ! concluded to wait for
him. was shown into a large draw
ing room as dimly lighted as those OF
most city dwellings. Indeed, since 1t
was winter and the days We're short
there was hardly any light at all be-
Of heavy window drapery.
A door opened into a conservatory.
and while sitting in profound silence
/ heard a succession of oaths. There
were two incongruities connected with
the matter. In the first place, the pro.
family came from out a profusion Of
flowers and. in the second. was spoken
In Il woman's musical voice. Further
more. they did not express irritation.
the lady who spoke them seeming to
be simply rolling them out just to
hear them. In other words. as they
we're uttered there was no meaning to
them.
They soon stopped and followed
by a few notes of song, in the same
sweet voice as the oaths. Then a
young girl came out Of the conserva-
tory, passed through the dra wing room.
unconscious of my presence. and.
swearing like a trooper as she Went.
passed out into the hall and upstairs.
l got a view of her as she passed a
gas jet that had just been lighted.
and her face was as innocent of guile
as her tongue was detled.
l was especially pleased that she did
not see me. for she would doubtless
have been deeply mortified. Mr.. Lar
kins came in presently. and l presented
note of introduction. which was in
strumental in securing for me the
place l coveted. l soon learned that
he had a daughter who was considered
a beautiful girl. and l inferred that she
was the one l had heard utterfng pro-
family. l was curious about her, for !
could not understand how a refined
woman coulf have q fancy for listen.
ing to oaths uttered by herself.
I had not been long in the employ of
Larkins. Larrabee & Lincoln when
Mr.. Larkins invited mc to dine at his
house. i accepted gladly and on the
evening appointed appeared at the
house in evening dress and wearing
my best expression. 1t seemed Singh
lar that l should be DESTROYS Of i'm
pressing a girl who could swear Like
an army in Flanders" but such WIS
the case When introduced to her !
found it difficult to repress a smile.
thinking as l did how shocked she
would be did she know that l had
heard her u her worst.
l can't say that Miss Laura Larkins
was a demure young lady. but she
gave one the impression Of being very
refined. modest. pure. Indeed. she was
the last person l would have supposed
would indulge in the unladylike habit
Of swearing. To tell the truth. there
was something so novel. in such mark
ed contrast. in hearing q lovely girl
with a sweet voice uttering profanity
that I wished she would do it again.
But instead her words were we'll cho-
sen and pure English. there was not a
bit Of slang. and everything she said
was refined.
This introduction at the house Of my
employer resulted in a love affair be.
me and Miss Larkins. After
awhile I was made a Junior member OF
the law firm where l was employed.
and. being approved by Mr.. Larkins as
4 son-in-law. l was accepted and duly
Engaged. While l had been fascinated
BY the incongruity Of oaths spoken in u
voice..l was at times trou-
bled by this popularity. Might not II sirl
who would give vent to such explosives
have. something bad about her inner
self which some day would crop u
10 shock me? I wished to tell her that
I had heard her swear and hear her
but could, not bring myself
10 do 9 So l went on. subject to o
casionaI dts Of terror lest I would mar.
y one whose devilish nature might
burst forth at any moment.
Ny fancee was at the time I met her
] college girl. One day ! took up in
her house the book Of a play In which
The had acted az. an undergraduate.
One part that Of a man, was marked
While reading It l came
upon the very oaths I had heard her
utter. Here was an explanation. She
had performed this part. "
a moment later when she entered the
room i fired them at her.
..Oh," she said. "you have been read
mg the part ]! played at college. We
girls were expected to leave those
swear words out. But we never did at
why not?r A.
Why does any girl fancy what she
y supposed to let aloner'
Then / told her Of the 6rst5 time !
NV her--how while I was shocked
WasS pleased. She said;that A. was that
samIe shock. that desire % break r.
lpon forbidden things. that pleased
iris. she#also confessed that several
& the girls who took partsh the