Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-07-01
A Matrimonial
Experiment
By ETHEL HOLMES

which published articles by celebrat-
ed persons recording the marvellous
changes that were constantly coming
over civilized peoples and foreteiIfne
how tomorrow would be different from
today. This morning she had been
reading an article on the causes OF
matrimonial failures and advocating
the following plan: Engaged couples
We're to live under the same roof for a
certain period. a chaperon always be-
ing present They were to assume. the
duties OF housekeeping. living from a
common fund just as il they were man
and wife If at the end of this trial
period they still desired to marry they
would do so. II, on the other hand.
they found that they were fncompati-
bic they could separate
Miss Btckerfale was engaged to Mr..
scarborough She was twenty-Seven
years old, and her fiance was thirty
two. She had grave doubts as to how
they would get on together This plan
or trial marriage appealed TO her force
fully Mr. Scarborough called, as was
MS custom, on Sunday TO spend the
evening with her, and she proposed it
TO him. He had heard her misgfvings
orten expressed, and, though he had
no wish himself for such an expert
mental alliance. desiring to end his
nancee's doubts, he pretended to be
pleased with the plan
And so it was given out to the world
that Miss Bickerdale's mother had suf-
fered loss of income and it had be-
come necessary for her to take board
ers- Mr. Scarborough rented a room
or her-so 1t was understood outside
the house-and the experiment com
menced- The parties. concerned lived
In large city, had few intimate
friends and We're well situated to carry
out their plan Mr.. Scarborough was to
pay all bills for a month; then the
Bickerdales would assume the respon-
sibilities. which were to alternate.
Six months passed-six delightful
months-in this happy way of living.
Then. since the experimental maria ge
had been perfect success, Mr. Scar
borough proposed that they make If
bona hde- Experience had taught Miss
Bickerdale that her doubts as to their
getting on together were ill founded.
and she consented Her mother. who
had played the part of mother-in-Iaw
TO perfection, was invited to continue
her part In reality, but she declined.
You two have not been man and
wife You have had no trouble on NV
account because you have been simply
lovers When the glamour falls from
your eyes you will see me as I am.
and my imperfections viii be equally
apparent to both of you
"Oh, mother" exclaimed the f1ctt-
dous wife. how can you talk SOP
have we not lived under the same roof |
for six months? Have we not learn
ed each Others faults? Even the mon
ey question, that Is SO important, has |
been tested
My daughter" replied the old lady. |
you have not been married. You
have not been the same woman to your
lover that you will be to your hus-
band. have seen that you have care
fully concealed your real self from
him, and he has treated you as a low
er. not as husband"
My good gracious, has all this trial
been for nothing2'
No; it has been some preparation
FOR a real one, but of not much more
value than If you had lived in separate
homes
well, IL seems that I must either
AXE leap in the dark or not at all.
shall take the leap But no one can
make me believe-not even you, dear
John and L don't know
.ach other thoroughly"
When Mrs Scarborough returned
rom the honeymoon she told her
mother that she had discovered no new
aultS in her husband At the end of |
year she declared that, while John 1
vas not exactly the man she had sup
'oSed him to be, he was, all things con-
idered, a much finer man. At the end
L two years she discovered brutal
rats in her husband that she had
ever dreamed OF. Three years passed
nd she had discovered an antitoxfn
or his brutality which neutraIized its
enom- Meanwhile children were COM
lg and a new bond was forming be-
ween husband and wife beside which
renuptial love was Ike a tender twig
ompared TO a tree trunk Then she
onfessed to her mother that her trial
marriage was worthless. iii
As for the husband, he passed
trough much the same course He
tarted out with the idea that when
e offended his wife he must pacify
err He soon learned that the more
e tried to pacify her the greater the
And now that John Scarborough is
hat Is called an old married man he
as adopted an excellent plan to end
ruthless discussions with his wife He'll
stone deaf in one ear When his
life gives him certain lectures he