The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-08-02
A Marital
Preparation
By SADIE OLCOT1

Harry" said BeSS, i've been think
ing what an awful thing 1t is for girl
to trust her whole future to a man.
not knowing whether he's going to
make good husband or a hOrrid one.
I've a good mind to break our engage
ment"
Strange, isn't it? l was thinking
the same thing about mans tying
himself up for life to woman. My
uncle says man runs an awful risk
when he marries."
How should he know? He's never
been married"
1--WE no doubt that your aunt, who |
is an elderly maiden. put all this dis
trust into your head I've often heard
her say she wouldn't marry the best
man In the world"
Aunt Martha has very clear idea
of mems faults"
$50 has my Uncle Jim of wOmens
shortcomings But, as l said mo-
, ment ago. I've been thinking myself
| that it's like taking cold plunge to
be married. If you think you don't
care to risk it perhaps we'd better
break ii off"
She pouted at this and bent her eyes
: down on IA locket she was toying with.
"Uncle Jim says" he continued.
that marriage is all very well so long
e as the spooning lasts, but just as soon
as couple come down to the real
/ thing the girl discovers that she hasn't
t got exactly what she wanted, or the
fellow finds he's made a bull or both
do, and the fracas begins. Now, sup
pose we stop spooning and treat each
d other in that friendly way married
Il people do. We'd find out the cause or
e future dissatisfaction and could make
= up our minds with deliberation wheth-
1t er we'd better risk it or not"
e That's good idea. When shall we
g. begin-nOw?'
p mo; the next time we meet.
" He didn't care to begin now, because
it was only IL o'clock at night and he
lie was quite sure he would wish to spoon
le till 1. SO they sat locked In each 9th
s. er's arms till .. when they made prep
lg arations for parting, which required
"a half an hour more. and finally succeed
le ed In dragging themselves away from
er each other at 3. They were to begll
their h,lmdrum matrimonial treatmen
y at their next meeting, and in order t.
III be we'll prepared h" was not to cal
w again for three days. When the tim
ed was M he had nerved himself to ac
n like a man who had been married tel
NJ years He gave her perfunctory kis
.e- and. throwing himself into an cas-
chair, asked if anything new had tun
I'D ed up since he saw her last. She CAV
him scornful glance, made no repl
'ut and, taking seat In another part c
the room, took up book she had bee
To- reading.
be- He yawncd and, taking a ciGaret'
Irk from box, lit it, leaned back an
tie smoked There was long silence.
to was only few minutes, but 1t SCENE
he long"
my Been to your aunts today"
he asked.
'ou mo. Is your uncle well?"
be "very."
Another silence, during which
nee took up a magazine from table, tur
lim ed over the leaves and threw 1t dow
tea Then he glanced in her direction al
saw that the book she was reading,
am rather, pretending to read, was ups1
down, pictures and all.
Il "Been a big storm latelyf"
Few "Not that know Of Why do "
ma ask?"
His ooh. | see a picture Of capsiZ
me ship In the book you're reading.
or This called her attention to the
the yerted position of the volume, and S
reversed 1t. There was no SOUND
sdg cept the turning Of its leaves, Will
IRE occurred so rapidly that she must ha
ing been capable Of reading page eve
YER ten seconds Finally he said, with
coh- yawn:
nee Il shall have 10 go to bed early
the night. I've been up till late for seve
nights"
I'm sorry you must go early.
the He took out his watch 1t was
0uld uuartpr to .. IL think I'll go no'