The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-12-26
A Preparatory
Test
By OLIVE EDNA MAY

NOT knowing whether he's going to
make good husband or a horrid one
I've good mind to break our engage
ment"
Strange, isn't it? was thinking
the same thing about a mans tying
himself up for life to a woman. My
uncle says a man runs an awful risk
when he marries.''
How should he know? He's never
been married"
I've no doubt that your aunt, who
is an elderly maiden, put all this dis
trust into your head. I've often heard
her say she wouldn't marry the best
man in the world"
Aunt Martha has a very clear idea
of mems faults"
$50 has my Uncle Jim of women's
shortcomings. But. as said mo
ment ago. I've been thinking myself
that it's like taking a cold plunge to
be married. If you think you don't
care to risk it perhaps we'd better
break it off,
She pouted at this and bent her eyes
down on a locket she was toying with.
Uncle Jim says" he continued,
that marriage is all very well so long
as the spooning lasts, but just as soon
as a couple come down to the real
thing the girl discovers that she hasn't
got exactly what she wanted, or the
fellow finds he's made a bull, or both
do, and the fracas begins Now, sup
pose we stop spooning and treat each
other in that friendly way married
people do. We'd find out the cause Of
future dissatisfaction and could make
up our minds with deliberation wheth-
er we'd better risk it or not"
That's a good idea. When shall we
begin-now"
mo; the next time we meet"
He didn't care to begin now, because
1t was only II o'clock at night and
he was quite sure he would wish to
spoon till l. So they sat locked in
each others arms till 2. when they
made preparations for parting, which
required half an hour more, and final
~ succeeded in dragging themselves
away from each other at 3. They
were to begin their humdrum matri-
monial treatment at their next meet
ing, and in order to be well prepared
he was not to call again for three
days. When the time was up he had
nerved himself to act like a man who
had been married ten years. He gave
her perfunctory kiss and. throwing
himself into an easy chair, asked If
anything new had turned up since he
saw her last She gave him a scorn
full glance. made no reply and. TAX
ing seat in another part Of the room.
took up book she had been reading.
He yawned and. taking a cigarette
from a box. lit it, leaned back and
smoked There was a long silence.
1t was only few minutes, but it
seemed long.
Been to your aunt's today?" he
asked.
mo. Is your uncle weil?'
"Very."
Another silence. during which he
took up a magazine from a table, turn
ed over the leaves and threw it down.
Then he glanced in her direction and
saw that the book she was reading. or.
rather. pretending to read. was upside
down. pictures and all
"Been a big storm lately"
mot that I know of. Why do you
ask?"
"Oh. see a picture Of a capsized
ship in the book you're reading"
Thio co11o1 hor ottonfi0p RI tho In.
verted position Of the volume. and she,
reversed it. There was no sound ex-
cept the turning Of its leaves, which
occurred so rapidly that she must have
been capable of reading a page every
ten seconds Finally he said with
yawn:
Il shall have to go to bed early to-
night. I've been up till late for several
nights
ia, SIN sorry you must go early"
He took out his watch. 1t was a
quarter to 9 II think I'll go now"
he said. .'I'll drop into the club for
few minutes before go to my room"
Good night"
Since he had not risen this was some
what unexpected He arose with a
scowl on his brow and. without say
ing a word of adieu, STROBE to the clos
ct in the hall and was hunting for his
hat and cane when he heard a sob d.
rectly behind him She was there.
holding her handkerchief to her eyes.
He clasped her in his arms, and her
head fell on his shoulder There was
an impressive silence for some mo-
ments, which be broke.
II don't believe this test plan is at
all necessary
'I-don't-think So
I'm sure there are no disagreeable
features about you that would cause
me to wish myself unmarried
You won't treat me badly. will you.
Harry. dearP'
NO"
The promise was sealed with kiss
Must you go so eary?"
by no means. Now that we have
proved that we love each other there's
no possibility of our being dissatisfied
with each other after marriage"