Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-05-19
A DIALOGUE.
BY Harriet Monroe.

6y narFl0t monroe.
Copyright. 1903. by w. r. Hearst)
Clorinda-Why DO the poets and
writer's of tales always exalt constancy;
In love, as though men and women
could not be good and true without itI
Cltfford-t is n dream, an ideal.
Clorinda-Unattainable, II there,
fore to be desired.
CliffOrd-Hard to reach, and there
fore to be tried for.
Clorinda-Why to be tried for? In
my search through history 1 find n
he greatest men and women-yes, ana
women-have gotten on very COMFORT,
| ably without IL.
~Clifford-Their loss!
Clorinda-Perhaps; but they act very
much as though 1T were their gam
How many loves had Sappho. or julius
Caesar. or Napoleon. or Sherley, or the
dowager empress OF China? -
Clifford-Unhappy ones! They never,
found love.
l.. Clorinda-Perhaps: but hey alI
thought they id-for a time.
Clifford-Then We're they tho more
deceived!
C~lorinda-But look about you! How
many people marry their first loveSG
And how many would marry for life
IL neither law nor custom were IN fa-
vor of 1T?
clifrord-Hush! How dares your
tongue WAC thus?
Clorinda-How dares it promise tn
marry you? -.
Clifford-Indeed, l lie awake nights
with wondering how it dares.
Clorinda-The fragility Of ~love-doeSi
not life preach from that text everyl
day? Look at Jane Rogers-who could
have been more In love than she nvel
years ago? For two years she lived 10,
the seventh heaven of an ideal MARI
iriage, and when Frank died people,
thought she would go mad with griofH
/ Vet o1roo6u chn TO married. 9NAin. An0l
just as happy with another man! M
she isn't u tickle trifier, but an all-l
round. splendid woman. How dare wei
marry, Clif? =.
Clitford--But IL rom's to Ole oHl
at the prope moment?
Clorinda-Ah. but it's oftener thel
woman who should die off. If women
are changeable. what OF men? Whatl
shall l do when you look coldly on me!1
Clifford-Smile-that will be enough
Clorinda-Ah, but l may be weeping.
Clifford-Weeping-for me? shall
never be worth that. If the hour comesj
whep you could weep for me, don't.
Clorinda-What shall l do then inl
tina difficult hour?
Clifford-Cast me out OF your hearts
| like a dog, and initiate the empress OF
China.
Clorinda--Ah, that will be the test.
If love plays me false shall | DO great
enough to love again. or write books,
L " 1OuIlu SIl0.l tNkOo, WI AN "
| Would you have me one OF those em-,
| FILTERED women. who, when o v falls
them. have nothing to do but sit IN a.
corner with aching hearts?
Cltfford-The world Is wide, and i am
but one man in 1t.
Clorinda-The world is wide. yet,
some men-have had
hearts big enough for the whole World.l
C~lifford--If my love for you dies YOU
shall plant what flowers you will on
Its grave.
Clorinda-That's it-great thingsl
should spring from the grave Of love.
1t SHOULD be a garden, not a waste. II
your love for me dies my heart shall
bloom like the rose.
Clifford-Almost you persuade me to)
marry and desert you. in order to SEQ
what glorious use you will max of
your freedom.
C~lorinda-Ah, that would be magnan-I
imous! But why hould i not play
forget you. betray you, leave you in
the lurch. so that our soul may rise
10 higher things?
Clifford-But If l am not a hero or a,
saint l am not worthy OF being q,
martyr.
Clorinda-Oh. but / am sure you are
worthy OF the highest!
Clifford-If l am as weak as most,
men, only strong enough for hat hum,
Bile virtue--for c~onstancy In love!
ClOr1nua-Sul now can you ten WIlH-
out the test?
Clifford-If | dare not even-poori
grounding that / am!-be tested: IL,
beg you merely to love me and be,
true to me. and to accept my owe and
ruth!
Clorinda--And so narrow down our
ives to each other! How many peo-,
pie feel that In so doing they are seals
ins the heights OF virtue!
Ciifford-But you shall teach me not
20 make happiness n vice.
C~lorinda--I will help you not to in
1ulge in ii to excess.
Clifford-The world Will attend to.
lhat-you need not bother.
Clorinda-Happiness. Look at me-
we nave more than our share already
Clifford-With you in my arms-yes!'
And yet I want lmore-and more!
Worldly Wisdom.