The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-24
CYN|C AND SIREN

what is lover!
Lover" repeated the Cynic vaguely.
"Oh, love-love is a concrete name
given to many abstract emotions.
Sometimes it's the frame. and some
| times it's the picture, and sometimes
it's just-just q spasm round the
| heart"
I'm afraid you really are Cynic,"
said the Siren regretfully.
"A Cynic," said he gloomily, lis A
man who knows everything, and un- i
| derstands nothing. Thank you"
The Siren looked dubious, but nat H
ural kindness of disposition kept her |
silent How" she demanded present |
ly, ''can one be sure that one is in |
| lover"
That" sighed the Cynic. is the
eternal tragedy of life"
THAT one can't be sure?"
mo, that one always is sure"
81 don't see that that's tragic" she
protested.
"Ah, but it is. Though ignorance
may be bliss. when it becomes knOwl-
edge it's tragedy"
But knowledge" argued the Siren,
'fs happiness"
"a phrase" he sneered, taught to
cheerful fools by gloomy philosophers.
The only wisdom is cheerfulness. A
thing is what We think it,
You're acknowledgements the
word?-enigmatical said the Siren
pathetically. Il wish you wouldn't
be- You're so deep, it's like talking
. to a coal mine"
There was silence for a few mo-
ments.
You haven't given me my answer
yet" urged the man.
S I'm trying to think of it," answered
the woman.
:, IF one only knew what love was!"
. said the Siren plaintively. Does it
lead to a union of hearts or a dissolu-
ton CT marriage?"
Neither" replied the Cynic. Love
is a footpath leading to everywhere;
or, if you prefer it, it's a porchway
leading to a house that's just as big
as you think it is"
n For a beginner" said the Siren
t distrustfully, you talk with a good
deal of authority"
Love-" he explained, differs in
: begin as experts and wind up as
Re novices."
"You mean, then" said the Siren,
to whom love was an art and not a
science, that you don't really know
N anything about love-" ..
ION the contrary" said the Cynic
y patiently, Il have just been to some
trouble to explain to you that know
everything"
Him. said the Siren doubtfully
Well, let's take marriage.
Had we got as far as marriage"
she broke off to inquire. We'll, any
how, marriage is akin to love, and
we'd got to that"
Some people say marriage means
taking from both and giving to Meth
er; halving ones joys and doubling
as ones sorrows. OF course, that's the
selfish point of view," she admitted.
sh From any point of view," said th'
Cynic, marriage is selfish. Both par
IL ties receive SO much and give so lit
tle."
MT They say" resumed the Siren re
fiectively, that marriages are mad
CHI in heaven; I'm afraid they're mostl
made for export, though"
CHI "On the contrary" objected tn
ng Cynic, "all true marriages are lived Il
Oh heaven"
of "But marriage is $3.50 definite,
m she said nervously; lone word, an
lta snap-it's just trap"
he Quite as often it's the bait
gle do you think SO? Why is 1t pei
'h- pie do marry?"
THE modern girl" said the Cyni'
in living up to his reputation, appear
to marry because she wants to lear
how to cook; the young man becaus
he's afraid of his landlady."
is+ mo, but seriously"
Seriously, the woman marries b
cause she wants to be taken care o
and the man that he may have SOM
NJ body to respect him. They are bot
the doomed to disappointment; in a fe
on months it's the man who gets take
ny care of, and the woman who gets ii
ma respect
re- do you mean" demanded the Sire
ing "that a woman never respects her hu
her band?"
an mot If she loves him"
for "Not?" Her voice became almo
shrill. Not, did you say?'
Eyes. A woman may sometime
love, or sometimes respect her hu
and band, but she can't do both. 1t
ere weakness We love, strength we on
,th- respect. 1t is one Of the compens
les tons of nature that the weaklir
ner should love everything in the fig
ina of life-except the one thing wor
Oh winning. The strong man may foul
a nation, but not a family; may &
"a fend a million hearths, but never Of
So of his own. To one, the sweetness
D. defeat; to the other, the bitterness
of victory"
Hrs There was silence for moment.
IS. What is your answer" said {
the man. 'Will you marry me?"
int- "But-but l respect you," she f
are tered, her eyes dewy with regret.
"A woman should always respe
her lover; it is her husband she shou
love-"
,een "Then-it's yes"