The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1913-03-14
Their Mutual
Confession
By EDITH V. ROSS

By EDITH V. ROSS
When Tom Ashworth and Emma
Treats engagement was announced
everybody said "That'll be case OF
Mr. and Mrs, Devil" The remark didn
mean that either Of them had been con
yicted OF theft murder or bigamy. II
meant that Tom was a man OF TIE
world and would never do for super
intendent Of Sunday school, and that
Emma had been engaged half dozen
times not emerging from any OF her
betrothals with clear record Tor nav
ing treated her fiance honorably. MOI
that she thought she had treated nun
dishonOrably. 1t was simply that she
had no conscience in such matters.
One evening after she had become
engaged to Tom AshwOrth and while
he was calling upon her she said:
Tom. l have been told by my friends
that you have the worst record of any
man In society. wonder If after all
will be safe in marrying you
That's very singular
whats singularF
why, friend Of mine when | an
nounced my engagement to you ex-
claimed, For heaven sake, you're not
going to tackle that. are you" And
when | asked for an explanation he
said ANY man who has made love to
her has before he got through danced
in bare feet on hot stove.
THE horrid wretch, to say such a
thing"
She thought a bit then with very
serious air said:
This is not Irritation between you
and me-
It's the real thing"
"Now. think it best before taking
a step thar is very difficult to back out
Of that we know the worst about each
other Let us make clean breast of
It, then If after being married we hear
anything detrimental to each other
we'll know just what it means"
That's a good idea"
We'll, then, suppose you begin?"
"Why not you"
It's the lady's privilege to-
Confess last"
stNIDp IL n INN-DN-S CnnnnSnI 20 1afnr. IN
woman"
"Certainly. wouldn't think of go.
Ing through doorway before you.
And on the same principle I'm willing
that you should confess first. Howev-
er, since you insist upon it, | will
Where shall | begin"
Il would like to have you tell me
just what sin lies heavy on your con-
science"
well, to begin with. once while in
the country went to corn husking
My companion, a pretty girl with red
lips, wouldn't find Il red ear, so | Dor
r0wed one and kissed her"
THE first time you met her. How
shocking. They have horrid ways in
the country. Well, 60 on"
That affair of mine with Miss Turn.
er you may have heard about was all
made out of whole cloth. Nothing in
it whatever"
Il have heard of that to your discred-
it, and I'm very glad to have you as
sure me that you We're not at fault in
the matter. Go on"
Il once won 81 gambling"
How? Where? At what game?"
AT friends house. We We're a
party Of six"
Anything else?"
81 once got tipsy, but there was
in the punch We drank that
made us all sick"
You should have been ashamed of
Go on. Tell me the rest"
Il can't think Of anything more lust
low. If | recall anything very bad I'll |
ell you. Oh, yes. | once was weak
enough to allow married woman to
squeeze my hand.
Good gracious. Come, bring 1t all |
nut. Don't be afraid. | am forgiving
'ou, you know
That's every bit of it. Now it's
our turn. Remember, don't leave u
weak spot behind you. Tell it all"
"Oh, dear, I'm afraid you'll turn
gainSt me when you hear the many
hings of which I've been guilty. Not
nat any of them are so dreadfully
ad either, but you men are so pnr.
ocular about the women you marry"
You never committed blgdmy, did
ou:"
NO, indeed. What made you think
such thing?"
Nor robbed Il married woman of her
Heavens, no."
did any man commit suicide he.
tuse you threw him over?
You awful thing to ask me such q
leStion."
Didn't a divorced man once get
cense to marry youT
III you accuse me of any more such
1rrid crimes I'll break our engoya.
ent"
i have heard that you once went 70
students ball in Paris dressed in q
Try negligee costume"
1T wasn't students ball at MI u
as very respectable affair given
the Partisan artists. represent.
-
Never mind what you represented
on with your confession"
well there's one thing-just one ,
mink you should know. Once when r
was very young young fellow blew :
t the lights and
What" 4
Kissed me-"
Is that all?" ..i,,.