The herald., 1913-01-30
An
lncongruity
By JOHN GALLAGER, IR.

me letter to him recommending me
for salaried position in his office
was advised to see Mr.. Larkins at his
house, where l would receive more
friendly attention than in his Office
l called about 4 o'clock, expecting to
find him returned from his office, but
since he had been detained there later
than usual l concluded to wait for
him. / was shown into large draw
ing room as dimly lighted as those of
most city dwellings. Indeed, since it
there was hardly any light at all be
cause of heavy window drapery.
A door opened into n conservatory
and while sitting in profound silence
l heard a succession of oaths. There
were two incOngruities connected with
the matter. In the first place, the pro
family came from out n profusion of
flowers and. in the second, was spoken
in woman's musical voice. Further
more. they did not express irritation.
the lady who spoke them seeming to
be simply rolling them out just to
y
were uttered there was no meaning TO
them.
| They soon stopped and were followed
BY few notes Of song, in the same
sweet voice as the Oaths. Then a
young girl came out of the cOnSerya-
tory, passed through the drawing room.
unconscious Of my presence, and,
| swearing like trooper as she went
passed out into the hall and upstairs
l got a view of her as she passed
gas jet that had just been lighted,
and her face was as innocent of guile
as her tongue was defiled.
was especially pleased that she did
not see me. for she would doubtless
have been deeply mortified. Mr. Lar
kins came in presently. and presented
my note of Introduction, which was in
strumental in securing for me the
place l coveted. | soon learned that
he had daughter who was considered
beautiful girl, and | inferred that she
was the one l had heard uttering pro
family. l was curious about her, for
could not understand how a refined
woman could have a fancy for listen
ing to Oaths uttered by herself.
I had not been long in the employ of
Larkins, Larrabee e Lincoln when
Mr.. Larkins invited ME to dine at his
house. l accepted gladly and on the
evening appointed appeared at the
house in evening dress and wearing
my best expression. 1t seemed Singh
lar that l should be DESTROYS of i'm
pressing a girl who could swear "like
an army in Flanders" but such was
the case. When introduced to her | |
found it difficult to repreSS a smile. |
thinking as | did how shocked she !
would be did she know that | had |
heard her at her worst.
l can't say that Miss Laura Larkins |
was a demure young lady, but she |
gave one the impression of being very
refined. modest, pure. Indeed, she was
the last person l would have supposed
would indulge in the unladylike habit
Of swearing. To tell the truth, there
was something so novel in such mark
ed contrast, in hearing a lovely girl
with a sweet voice uttering profanity
that | wished she would do it again.
But instead her words were well cho-
sen and pure English. there was not a
bit of slang. and everything she said
was refined.
This introduction at the house of nv
employer resulted in a love affair be
tween me and Miss Larkins. After
awhile l was made Junior member of
the law firm where | was employed,
and, being approved by Mr.. Larkins as
1 son-in-law, l was accepted and duly
While had been fascinated
1y the incongrudy Of oaths spoken in a
nelodious voice, | was at times trou-
lied by this popularity. Might not girl
Who would give vent to such explosives
nave something bad about her inner
'elf which some day would crop out
o shock me? | wished to tell her that
had heard her swear and hear her
but could not bring myself
do so. So L went on, subject to oc-
asional fits Of terror lest l would mar.
y one whose devilish nature might
urst forth at any moment.
My fiancee was at the time | met her
college girl. One day l took I'D in
er house the book of a play in which
he had acted as an undergraduate.
me part, that of a man, was marked
throughout While reading 1t l came
pom the very oaths | had heard her
tier. Here was an explanation. She
ad performed this part.
A moment later when she entered the a
Dom | fired them at her. |
oh" she said. you have been read l.
g the part ! played at college. We t
rls were expected to leave those
wear words out. But we never did at a
'hearsal."
"Why not?"
why does any girl fancy what she r
supposed to let alone?" S
Then l told her of the first time |
w her-how while | was shocked ' n
as pleased. She said that it was that
me shock. that desire TO break in G
ION forbidden things. that pleased v
rls. She also confessed that several I
the girls who took part In the h
ay, unrepressed by authority. were b
the habit of rolling out the oathS a
had heard her use just fSr the pleas Il
e Of doing something they had no CO
siness to do. As for herself, she Il
wed the Dart of the man Vho did | tC