Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1913-06-19
instructive Inquiry.

instructive Inquiry.
"What should be the matter, Ar
thur" he said, reproachfully. Docs
the coming of friend disturb you so
much that you should ask the ques-
tion?"
cit should not" I answered; "but
I am not myself tonight"
Neither am l." was his quick re-
sponse 81 am somebody else"
What do you mean?"
"a new man altogether" he cried;
"a new man, on the threshold Of
new life Congratulate me, old pal,
will your"
He held out his hands and put
mine within them, which he shook
heartily-which he did not quickly
release.
Congratulate you on what?" I
asked, with a choking sensation at
the throat.
con my engagement to Della
Nash On the hope of settling down
with woman / love-with a woman
who loves me and understands me
which you never did, old Arthur,
with all your friendship all your in
terest, all your sharpness. To settle
down with a woman who will bright
en- every turn of my life by her affec-
ton, wit, good temper and genius!
But" he said, releasing my hands,
you do not congratulate me-"
II am too much astonished at
present, George" I said, slowly;
"but I wish you every happiness in
life, God knows"
What are you astonished about?"
"It is all so sudden, I do not see
clearly the position yet; want time
to think-heaps of time, George"
'Ah we'll, old boy, think as hard
as you like after I am gone, and do
not harass me with too many Ques-
lions just at present. / haven't got
too much time myself" he said, look
ing at his watch; "and as you are
sure to ask me something that I do
not know or cannot explain under
fve-and-twenty minutes, have pity
on me, and let me have all the talk,
he added.
"You generally do"
He burst into a hearty laugh, and
l tried to laugh with him. | am
| afraid it was a failure.
"Of course you could lecture me
on my rash haste-my want Of fore
thought; but lecturtng never did me
any good. I am of the world, world
ly, Arthur I understand men and
women" he said, conce1tedly and
wildly; ''I never made a mistake in
my life with regard TO their charac-
ter. I know my friends and enemies
at a glance; I believe in first impress
sions; l. am not deceived in my esti-
| mate of the woman l choose as my
wife-I have only myself to please in
| all the world"
He ratified on like a man endeav-
| oring to pile up excuses for the rash
engagement upon which he had en-
| tered, and I sat bewildered by his
! torrent of words. I was about to
| speak, when he went on again.
81 have no ones permission to
! ask" he said-''no one to shock by
! the fact that l am going to marry an
actress, that I believe in her, and In
/ her love for me. What If she is poor?
l am rich, and will raise her to my
level. It is the happiness of my life
| to think how 1 shall brighten hers,
and what a difference shall make
! in her career"
''Does she give up the stage?"
'I haven't asked her. But, of
course, she WILL" he said. eff she
did not, though, that would make no
difference. Her wishes are mine"
what does Hyacintha Nash say
% the engagement:
What made you think of herr"
he asked, sharply, in his turn.
Zone of them hates me consum-
edly,' you said only this morning." !
reminded him. $780,