The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1914-08-14
.APESSIMIST
He Was Converted to
Optimism
By DWIGHT NORWOOD

DhiJ biySe anu were lnSepdTdDle
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 a chap as ever
lived. i was inclined to be morose.
Billy said nice things to people which
he only half meant. said gruff things
to them that l 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
go TO their homes for Sunday dinner
and be heartily welcomed, but it was
always plain that the wife and children
third or fourth consideration.
Billy'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 as possible
II WISH" he said. that there shall be
the same friendliness between you and
Luella as between you and me. You
shall have the freedom of the house at
all times, whether am at home or alb
sent. You must not expect me to have
the slightest jealousy for you. My
fiancee 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 as one Of u.s."
This did not reassure me at all.
was supplanted. Pot down from first
to second place. l 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 be had
better tell her that II she wished It
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 l sent
q handsome wedding present I was
not so brutally frank as to tell Billy
i had gone away on purpose to get
rid Of officiating at his wedding. but
told him that doubtless his bride would
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 frst time / met his
wife was surprised that he should
have married q girl with q disposition
90 like his own. His wife grasped my
hand cordially. looked at me with
smile on her pretty lips and twinkle
In her bright eye and said:
'Billy says you are awful grumpy.
but we'll take that out Of you, won't
we, Billy?" and she looked at him
knowingly.
Ny first call was short. I suppose
am prone to look out for trouble. but II
seemed to me that Mrs. Bryce was a
trifie too demonstratiye. was stricken
with fear that instead Of being Jealous
Of me. as l had supposed. she might
make Billy Jealous Of me, and that
would be ten times worse than II she
should freeze me out l went away
determined that / would not be dra wn
into any such danger. To be sup
planted in first place with my friend
was bad enough; to be placed at en-.
nifty with him would be narrowing.
resolved that l would not call on Mrs.
Bryce again for month at least
But the very next day I was sum-
moned to the telephone and heard the
lady's CHEEKY voice say:
rs that you, Mr.. Quimby? Come up
to dinner this evening. We dine at Z.
You needn't bother about evening
dress If you don't wish to. Don't fail
me. Billy has to go out, and l shall
be all alone"
While was trying to frame an ex.
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 IL
that in my heart I didn't wish to find
way out OF II. ! had no place to
spend the evening but my club, and l
was tired enough OF 1t. wished to
bask In the light Of Mrs. Bryce's
cheeriness.
Resolution Is Of no use where pref
ty woman is concerned. and ] could
scarcely wait after business was over
for the dinner hour. 1t came at last
and was made welcome by Billy and
his wife, Billy regretting that he wes
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
excepting In from being lonely"
Just before dinner was served saw
servant carrying tray covered with
dishes upstairs. supposed Billy and
his wife were alone in the house ex-
cept for the servants and asked II
any one was III.