The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1912-11-07
A LEAP IN
THE DARK
Bv ESTHER VANDEVEER

IL.
a month ago on a yachting party; that
l chatted with you casually on that
OCCASION; that you graciously permitted
me to call upon you; that | have seen
you since that first meeting perhaps
dozen times. During these meetings II
has been but natural that should take
pains to conceal my faults; that |
should wish to appear to you in as
favorable light as possible. You can
have gained only a superficial knowl-
edge Of my character. may be strong
or weak, generous or mean, well poised
or passionate, but you do not know
which Of these traits l posses.
Nevertheless | have come to ask you
to be my wife. Why l have done so.
promising my invitation by calling your
attention to your meager knowledge Of
me, / will explain in few words.
do not believe that. however long a
man is acquainted with a woman or
vice versa, the one can learn the others
good or bad qualities. To discover this
they must have been married some
time.
Furthermore, I have observed that
friendship rarely brings love. The sex
es mate through mysterious drawing
together under the influence Of what
we call love. and all the world knows
that love Is blind. | therefore ask you
to take the leap with me in the dark"
After this extremely we'll poised
proposition Mr.. TOurtelotte took out
his handkerchief, drew It across his
mouth-with no purpose that was ap-
parent-put it again in his pocket and
awaited Miss Eldridge's reply with his
eyes fixed on the ceiling. Miss Eldridge
preferred looking on the floor; from
which some women scorning men
would infer that the male aspires while
the female grovels.
81 assure you. Mr.. Tourtelotte," re-
piled the lady, that appreciate-am
deeply touched-by the compliment you
pay me. I am not surprised that one
Of your age should look upon marriage
as a leap in the dark. have always
myself considered it SO. and perhaps
that Is the reason why l am approach
ing middle age without having married
Like you, I am somewhat analytical.
While I see in man great deal that
Is noble, l also perceive a great deal
that a woman cannot admire. Till the
twentieth century 1t has been his
province to be a master to his wife.
1t is only recently that brides are re-
fusing to use the word obey in the
marriage service Then. too a woman
has no assurance when she marries
that she will be gently treated. Our
forefathers who lived in the middle
ages considered women as their in
feriors. In some barbarous lands to-
day girl children are made away with.
Among the Turks it is still a disputed
point among the men whether we have
souls
Pardon me-" Mr.. Tourtelotte inter
rupted. the lady becoming more and
more wrought up with these growing
injustices. Our men In America are
not descended from these semicivilized
races: we are even more considerable Of
our women than our Caucasian breth-
rem in Europe. Neither the Germans
nor the English have the reputation for
consideration of women that we have
In America"
pray excuse me. the wrongs our
sex have suffered for centuries led me
somewhat further from the matter
that pertains to you and me alone than
I had intended. will return to It
propose a trial engagement for six
months. will agree to show myself
to you just as l am at home; you to
pledge yourself to do the same in your
own case"
did l not say that we can never
really know each other without having
lived together as man and wife?'
an that case" said Miss Eldridge
decidedly. 81 see no hope for marriage
In our case. I cannot consent to we'd
lock with man who for aught I know
may turn out to be a villain, who may
maltreat me. and for whom love may
turn to-
Il regret your decision, though l
cannot commend IT'S common sense.
would rather have given you an oppor.
tunity to know me better, but I have
not the time. Tomorrow 60 to China
to engage in business. I hoped to take
you with me. My disappointment is
very great
An impressive silence followed.
Must you so so soon?" she asked.
II could not possibly remain over
for single day"
Another impressive silence.
at Is a terrible risk"
Terrible"
But
BUT
Il know you are a gentleman, and
think you must be good man."
you are not certain"
II think
"You thinkT'
"Tll risk It."
The next morning at Z o'clock there
was a wedding. and the bridal pair
sailed at 10
When the two were on the ocean an
other dialogue occurred. The husband
said:
How. with all your misgivings as
to men generally and one you thought