The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-05-16
LOvEMAMNG OF
A PRACTICAL Man,
Started In BraveIy, but End
ed Ia Total Collapse.

n was my reply to EgiestOn
when he got off a lot of folderol about
love and sentiment and all that. l ad-
NIT 1 wac interested. for l was medi-
tating a proposal myself. felt very
sure Lydia would have me. Why
shouldn't she? l was, a passable fell
low; some property Of my own. doing
well in business; fairly educated and
of good social position. That's the
view l expected Lydia to take Of me
and q union with me. not whether she
would decline me on the ground that
1 didn't get maudlin over her or she
over me. The question was. Having'a
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 a proposition-namely. that we
pass u 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 divorcey"
/: I've noticed that. no matter how
c~omposedly a man makes up his mind
to deal with a woman. she straight
way sets about to discompose him.
1.-The more common sense we put
into Il marriage the less likelihood
there'll be of q DIVORCE" l said.
ut is the only part of marriage in
which there is q likelihood. Death is
certain. Divorce is possible, sometimes
probable. 1t is a contingency that
should be provided for"
1T seems to me that the first ques-
ton to. be settled Is whether you are
prepared to enterupon matrimony with
me. After that we can take up the
provisions, II 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 incomeY"
Again ! WINGED. not so much at the
question as Mt her cold blooded; man
ner Of asking II. However. l consfd-
cred it al eminently proper N to ask
and responded frankly:
II have from investments $500"
Real estate. bonds, stocks or what?"
This was getting irritating.
AFTER all. I was right In the first
place." l 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 IL they are
satisfactory you will accept me for a
husband" !.
II was not aware" she replied icily.
''that l expected anything. 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 speckssof my coat
collar. then crossed n leg over. the
other and said nothing. Neither did
Lydia.
Il think" l said presently. that I
had better
Begin all overt"
A desire to get even with her BY
saying something smart took possess
sion Of me When a nan tries to beat
a woman by saying something smart
he always gets deeper In the mud.
"Or drop the subject" said. with
some hauteur.
'You haven't taken 1t up vet" was.
her imperturbable reply.
What did she mean by this. ! won
idered. Haven't takensit up! ] 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 4 make myself ,plain?'
'.That depends upon what You hadsto
say 5Ss g. 4
u was getting more mifed, every mo-
ment. Ilooked omiAously at the door.
UuC ~ UlUtl3e pSSuu4 ~ AEAS ~ 3 x,
rose. That didn't brighten hereafter.
'On reflection. said,Gs. think my
powers Of stating things may be bet
ter adapted to some other Intellect
male or female?:i' Il IN /.
3 This broke me up completely \
stood stupidity looking down a Az ny ~
toes. 8S. v a ssss 81
.Ss why don't you so andSexlppilaain tito
some nice man and let him come and
tell Tito me she remarked
There was nothing 70 betlgainSdw with
this cool creature, But hercoolness.
the disappointment Z isunsred.e every
thing, maddsned ME. ] secuted my
practical IDEAS. j would gladly have
thrown myself al her feetsand beggeds
for pity. mercy. anything except thtsl5
horrible monster that stood betweslI
II But how could i jump afron1ny
position Sof aspIlrsal,c:tical marriageSal r
range % u despairing lover? There
swasHAno hope. WIN fsebie attempt
sat indiffereinceaI vent Il the door.
SSHesiairddnligs " fntter behind me- No.
Eabaout ~ tur1Nhsns;a pair \ arllsss
swaGGSS4atin1 ahOiff w, n VI h1ads