Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-05-22
LOVEMAKINC OF
A PRACTICAL MAN
Started In BraveIy, but End
ed In Total Collapse.

olaTleu III bravery, Out Emu
ed In Total Collapse.
Il am Il practical chap and believe
in marriages made on common sense
principles. What does Il man want to
go and get intoxicated on love potions
for and then settle the most important
matter in his life?"
This was my reply to Egleston
when he got Off Il lot of folderol about
love and sentiment and all that. l ad-
NIT | was interested. for l was medi-
tating a proposal myself. | felt very
sure Lydia would have me. Why
shouldn't she? | was Il paSSable fell
low: some property of my own: doing
well in business: fairly educated and
of good social position. That's the
view | expected Lydia to take of me
and Il union With me. not whether she
would decline me on the ground that
I didn't get maudlin over her or she
over me. The question was. Having Il
fairly good offer with a chance to set
tie down into matrimonial life. was
she to accept it or run the risk Of not
getting another as acceptable? So |
went to her and said:
"Miss Brinsley. I'm going to make
you Il propoS'tion-namely. that we
pass our lives together as man and
wife till death do us part"
She looked at me out of a pair of
steely eyes for a few moments and
said:
How about divorce?"
I've noticed that. no matter how
composedly a man makes up his mind
way sets about to discompose him.
1.-The more common sense we put
into a marriage the less likelihood
there'Il be of a divorce" l said.
"It is the only part Of marriage in
which there is a likelihood. Death is
certain. Divorce is possible, sometimes
probable. 1t is a contingency that
should be provided for
ut seems to mi that the first ques-
ton to be settled is whether you are
prepared to enter upon matrimony with
me. After that we can take up the
provisions, if there are any"
That's just like a man-always get
ting the cart before the horse. 1t
seems to me that the provisions should
be settled first. The marriage is mere
ly a possible conclusion to them"
suppose" I said, that we leave d.
vorce till the last of the provisions Or,
rather, contingencies and begin with
something of more immediate concern
"Well, what's your income?"
Again l WINGED. not 50 much at the
question as at her cold blooded man
ner of asking it. However. I consid-
cred it an eminently proper me to ask
and responded frankly:
II have from investments $780,"
Real estate. bonds, stocks or what?'
This was getting irritating.
after all. l was right in the first
place." I said a bit sharply. You ex-
pect me to lay bare all my affairs to
you when you haven't given me the
slightest intimation that if they are
satisfactory you will accept me for a
husband"
II was not aware" she replied icily,
that I expected anything. l thought
that you were the expectant person"
Oh, heavens! Worse and worse. l
sat feeling and doubtless looking like a
fool. I took out my handkerchief and
wiped my lips-they didn't need wiping
then busted some specks off my coat
collar, then crossed n leg yer the
other and said nothing. Neither did
Lydia.
Il think" l said presently, that I
had better
Begin all over?'
A desire to get even with her by
saying something smart took posses
sion Of me. When q man tries to beat
a woman by saying something smart
he always gets deeper in the mud.
Cor drop the subject" l said. with
some hauteur.
"You haven't taken it up yet" was
her imperturbable reply.
What did she mean by this, / Won
dered. Haven't taken it up! l thought
I'd very much taken it up.
perhaps you haven't understood"
I said, what I've been talking about"
Il dare say I haven't
Didn't I make myself plain?"
"That depends upon what you had to
say"
1 was getting more miffed every mo-
ment. I looked ominously at the door.
but it didn't seem to brighten her. 1
rose. That didn't brighten her either.
con reflection I said, II think my
powers of stating things may be bet
ter adapted to some other intellect"
male or female?"
This broke me up completely. L
stood stupidity looking down at my
toes.
why don't you go and explain it to
some nice man and let him come and
tell it to me-" she remarked.
There was nothing to be gained with
this cool creature. But her GOODNESS,
the disappointment l suffered. every
thing, maddened me. l secuted my