Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1914-08-04
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'APESSIMIST.
He Was Converted to
Optimism
By DWIGHT NORWOOD


Billy Bryce and l were inseparable
companions, bosom friends. We were
opposites in disposition. and ! think
such dissimilarity is one Of the most
effective of all causes Of friendship.
Billy was as CHEEKY chap US ever
lived. / was inclined to be morose.
Billy said nice things to people which
he only half meant. said gruff things
to them that I didn't mean at all. |
didn't need to understand Billy. be-
cause he always appeared amiable. but
Billy needed to understand me, for
was constantly saying something dis
agreeable-why, scarcely know my.
self: quite likely to cover up liking
for the person to whom spoke
was very dependent upon Billy for
cheerfulness, and when he wrote me
that he was engaged to be married 1t
was a sad blow to me. had had other
friends who had married. and the
friendship between US was never the
same as before their marriage. | would
20 to their homes for Sunday dinner
and be heartily welcomed. but 1t was
always plain that the wife and children
had supplanted me. was second.
third or fourth consideration.
Bily's letter indicated that he real
lied the change his marriage would
cause In our intimacy and seemed in
tent on preventing 1t so far us possible.
81 WISH" he said that there shall he
the same frIendliness between you and
Luella as between you and Inc. You
shall have the freedom Of the house ut
all times, whether am ut home or alb
sent. You must not expect me to have
the slightest jealousy for you. My
fancee agrees with ME perfectly in this
and, instead Of having that jealousy
brides are subject to for bosom friend
Of her husband. will welcome you to
the family circle Us one Of u.s."
This did not reassure me ut all. /
was supplanted, put down from first
to second place. knew Billy's op'
timistic disposition and also knew
that he could not suspend a natural
law. ] wrote him that II he did not
wish the lady he was to marry to
freeze me out Of the house he had
better tell her that II she wished 1t
he would never see me again. That's
Just like you" he replied. but you
can't move either me or Luie with your
pessimism."
Billy asked me to be best man. but
detest ceremonies and took care to be
called away on matter of business at
the time Of the wedding But | sent
a handsome wedding present. was
not so brutally frank us to tell Billy
I had gone away OF purpose to get
rid of officiating ut his wedding. hut
told him that doubtless his bride wou!d
appreciate my wedding Gift far more
than she would me.
After the wedding Billy brought his
wife to the city where he and ! had
always lived. The first time | met his
wife I was surprised that he should
have married a girl with disposition
so like his own. His wife grasped my
hand cordially, looked at me with a
smile on her pretty lips and a twinkle
in her bright eye and said:
"Billy says you are awful grumpy.
but we'll take that out Of you. won't
we. Billyi" and she looked ut him
knowingly.
My first call was short. ! suppose ]
am prone to look out for trouble. but II
seemed to me that Mrs. Bryce was Il
trite too demOnstrative. was stricken
with fear that instead Of being jealous
of me, as had supposed. she might
make Billy jealous OF me. and that
would be ten times worse than II she
should freeze me out. went away
determined that I would not be drawn
into any such danger. To be sup
planted in first place with my friend
was bad enough; to he placed at en.
NIFTY with him would be narrowing !
resolved that | would not call on Mrs.
Bryce again for month ut least.
But the very next day WAS sum-
moned to the telephone and heard the
lady's CHEEKY voice say:
"Is that you. Mr.. Quimbyi Come up
to dinner this evening. We dine at I.
You needn't bother about evening
dress II you don't wish to. Don't fail
me. Billy has to go out. and shall
be all alone"
While was trying to frame an eI.
cuse heard click, and that was the
end Of the one sided dialogue. All
that afternoon | was trying to per-
suade myself that there was no way
out of the matter. but the truth Is
that In my heart didn't wish to find
n way out Of II. ! had no place to
spend the evening but my club. and !
was tired enough OF It, wished to
bask In the light Of Mrs. Bryce's
cheeriness.
Resolution Is Of no use where pref.
ty woman ia concerned, and ! could
scarcely wait after business was over
for the dinner hour II came at last
and was made welcome by Billy and
his wife, Billy regretting that he was
obliged to go out during the evening.
but he would come home as early as
possible. He was ever so much Oblig-
ed to me for the favor done him Of
keeping Lu from being lonely"
lust before dinner was served I saw
a servant carrying tray covered with
dishes upstairs. I supposed Billy ant:
his wife were alone in the house ex-
cept for the servants and asked II
any one was III.
"A relative of LUIS" said Billy.
"She's not Ill, only bashful; doesn't
like to meet strangers, you know"
Billy didn't more than half finish
Ills dinner before he arose from the
table.
Sorry to leave you, old man." he
said. you'll excuse ME, won't your
Lu will take good care Of you. I'll
try to get in before 10. Don't 60 TIL
I come back"
I was left tete-a-tete with pretty
woman, and Billy had taken care to
have a bottle Of good wine on the
table, 80 that had I not been sensible
Of the danger of the situation I should
have rejoiced. was somewhat rens-