The Press., 1915-08-04

.Edith,'' I said at last, ..this is cer- tainly a desperate remedy you pro- pose, but 1t is as desperate for the wO- man you have in mind as for me. You would not, know, concoct such a scheme for me with any one except a lady and one in whom you repose great confidence. I only question whether in recommending me to her you are not influenced to wrong her on account of your friendship for me. The lady f has doubtless had time to think the matter over. Give me the same. When have decided I will advise you" went to my room and did the hard est job of thinking l have ever done in my life. I had already come to hate the loneliness of my abode, and my picture as white headed old man came up befole me-tottering out alone to dinner and tottering back to get rid of the hours remaining before bed time. These and other pictures of the future I called up, contrasting them with the sweets of home, wife, chil- dren. On the other hand, thought of being tied up with a woman who might turn out to be virago l re- membered that my friend. Edith AL lison, had said that the loneliness of old age is certainty. matrimonial un- happiness a chance. As for waiting for love affair, l had been doing that for twenty years and there was less hope now than ever. True, under the influence of Il sudden passion 1 had wished to marry one of several differ ent women at different times. Fortu- nately they had all refused me- Later I found that my judgment of them had been execrable. In Mrs. Allison's judgment I had every confidence that is, her judgment of women.
 One morning I was driven to the house of the fiancee had never seen and who had never seen me, to be mar ried, arriving at few minutes before noon. l was prepared stoically to meet either beauty or a Gorgon. At 12 o'clock the bridal party entered the room where waited. My wife to be was not beautiful, but I saw charac- ter in her face. was relieved.
 Her mother led the way and, advanc- ing to me, grasped my hand, pressed 1t warmly and showed also a warm sympathy in her face. The bride, whose color seemed to have deserted her, did not raise her eyes to look at me. From thinking of the frightful plunge l was taking-sO l considered it-I was turned to sympathy for her. We stood together before the clergy man while members of the brides family gathered on the sides. l made the responses i'll a firm tone; the brides were barely audible.
 When we had been pronounced man and wife my wife turned and for the first time fixed her eyes on my face. This first look at her husband was met by sympathetic, assuring smile from me. At the same time took her hand and pressed it. Then I turned to carry out the terms of this singular plan by leaving the house.
 My wife did not relinquish my hand. Her mother, who was watching us, asked me to step into another room, where breakfast had been prepared. It occurred to me that if my bride had been disappointed in me I would have been permitted to depart Doubtless the mother saw in her daughter what decided her to detain me.
 We passed into breakfast room and seated ourselves about round table. There was a stiffness among us for time, but presently we were chatting as if we had known one another for years. All talked except the bride, who sat with her eyes fixed on her plate. But roses had come into her cheeks, and there was always on her lips that which resembled an incipient smile.
 When we had refreshed ourselves we all rose from the table, and the mem- bers of the family vanished in differ ent directions, leaving me and my wife alone in the hall, I with my hand on the knob of the front door.
 I have narrated this important epi- sode in my life so far as l intend to narrate 1t here. That part of the plan which related to post-nuptial court ship I do not intend to touch upon, ex- cept to say that our courtship began when my wife first looked up at me after the ceremony, and, though l am now an old man, 1t is still in progress. Children have blessed our union, and our family circle is what family circles should be. so I consider it about all that makes life worth living.
 I was induced recently to dine at dub one evening with a friend. An old bachelor whom I knew came in, took a seat alone at neighboring ta- ble and desolately fed himself. What he did when his dinner was ended I don't know, but month later he com mitted suicide