Bridgeton pioneer., 1914-05-28
"a.
Revelation
1t Came After a Very Un-
pleasant Experience
BY DONALD cHAr1BERLIN


no change between Agnes and me
from friendship to love.
This state of affairs continued be-
tween us until | became smitten with
Lillian Gray, and the first person-the
only person. in fact-to whom | con
hded the matter was Agnes.
When told her of it / noticed a
slight contraction of the muscles of the
face.
You don't approve?" l said.
Il neither approve nor disapprove,"
she replied.
"Well?"
"a choice made by one in love is
love choice, not the result of judgment.
You have, | dare say, chosen through
love, and even If l knew Lillian Gray
well enough to make judgment choice
for you it would avail nothing. for you
would not think Of abiding by it. In
deed, would not expect you to abide
by it."
Nevertheless perceive that you are
not especially pleased with the girl who
has charmed me-"
"Nor displeased with her. You have
not asked me to pick out wife for
you"
IF had you would not have picked
out Lillian"
There is nothing to her discredit in
that. Suppose should fall in love with
man, then ask you to pick out hus-
band for me. Do you suppose you
would select the man / had chosenp
mo. | wouldn't" snapped.
| could not define even now exactly
what it was in her question that caused
me irritation. supposed at the time
was miffed because Agnes did not show
any enthusiasm over my sweetheart
My words ended the discussion, and We
proceeded to other subjects.
The Withholding of Agnes approval
OR disapproval. for that matter
caused me to defer a proposal of mar
riage for some time to the girl who had
enthrailed me. / did not relish marry
ing any girl over whom my chum was
not enthusiastic. Indeed, would have
liked Agnes to love her as we'll as l.
| In subsequent conversation with Ag-
nes on the subject after / had become
engaged to Lillian | told her this, and
her reply was that there was no more
| reason why she should love any partic-
uiar girl because loved her than that
l should love any particular man be-
| cause she loved him.
That's all bosh," exclaimed "Men
don't love men,"
This was the second time that I was
irritated at remark of Agnes con-
cerning my affair." and second time ii
ended discussion of the subject.
Another matter troubled me. / was
not approved by Lilian's parents. But
there was an especial reason for this
They wished their daughter to marry
wealthy man. l was doing pretty
well and had some prospects, but that
did not satisfy Mr.. and Mrs. Gray.
Their aim for Lillian was an establish
ment. She had an excellent position in
society, which they desired her to keep
up after marriage, and they were well
aware that this would require O. for
tune independent of anything they
could give her
did not blame Lillian for being dis
ttessed at their opposition. A very
strong love for me on her part was re-
quired to induce her to give up life
toned, in opposition to her parents
wishes. I saw plainly that struggle
was going on within her, and after de-
liberation I offered to release her. She
declined to be released. l told her that
If she felt a reluctance to leave the gay
world she would serve her own inter
ests as well as mine by accepting re
lease, for no couple could be happy to-
gether when one was pining for the
unattainable She replied that she
could not and would not give me up.
But the matter dragged. Her par
ents would not give their consent to
our marriage, and since Lillian did not
like to marry me without it there
seemed to be no prospect Of any out
come. At last 1 told her that she must
do one thing or the other, either marry
me or break with me, and after much
deliberation, in which | detected as
much unwillingness to give up the
fashionable world as to act contrary
to the wishes of her parents. she de
cided TO marry me. But she stipulat
ed that our wedding must be without
the knowledge of her parents. We
would go to a clergyman. be married;
she would return to her home, confess
what she had done and secure forgive
ness, after which we would live to-
gether as man and wife.
l did not like this plan at all. J
urged Lillian to do nothing secretly
She replied that she knew her parents
better than | and could better judge
what course was best to pursue with
them. l told her that anything clan
destine was foreign to my nature and
frankly confessed that | would prefer
to give her up than act underhandedly
She burst into tears. Every one knows
what woman's tears will do with
man. Smiles will draw him to the
edge of moral precipice; tears will