The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-10
A Youthful
Philosopher
By r. A. Mitchell

VIII, udNc utSiutu w piSah Jul
engagement"
"What have done to-
"You have done nothing. Ny decision
arises simply from worldly wisdom
You have no income except what you
earn In the way of salary. In case you
lose that we will be beggars."
How do you know that this is
worldly wisdom? How do you know
but that my marriage with the girl I
love will prove a stimulus which will
lead to fortuneT'
II don't, but know that bird In
the hand is worth two in the BUSH"
who is the bird in the hand?"
NO one. am simply breaking with
you on account of lack of provision for
marriage, not that l have more adj
vantageous offer"
You will not lack for offers"
Nevertheless my heart is yours"
well, Lucy, commend this world
~ wisdom of yours, though 1t comes
from a girl barely eighteen years old.
There seems nothing for me to do but
to accede to it. To attempt to force
myself. upon you under the circum-
stances would be to drag you down to
my level when by marrying a man OF
means you might rise to his level.
This / am unwilling to do. Moreover,
/ suppose we must get romance out of
our heads
snfrf pf onr ha a nlnan "
"Out of our hearts. You will become
one with the man you marry; will be-
come one with the girl marry. and
"Soon forget me in her"
The tone in which this was spoken
was not philosophical; it was regret
full
That's the natural outcome of such
cases"
He put out his hand to say goodby.
She took 1t, with sigh. He bent for
ward and kissed her; then, with sim
ply a goodby, to which there was no
response, he took his departure.
A week later he received note from
her to say that there should be an ex-
change of letters between them. If |
he would call with hers she would !
have his ready for him. When he APP
peared he wore an officers uniform.
"You are not going to sacrifice your
self in this horrible war" she said
I'm going to fight on the side of the
allies and the United States"
'"They say that of three men who go
to the war only one returns"
''That may be, but it is my duty to
GO,
'.why is 1t your duty to go to the
war;"
Because am an ablebodied young
man. 1t is the duty of all such to re-
spond to their country's call"
There was a silence between them
for some minutes, at the end of which
she said:
"By this act you have widened the
breach between u.s.
II did not suppose there was
breach between us. / thought that
you did not wish to incur the response
bilities of matrimony without a per-
income"
Eyes, and now you are going where
here are two chances in three of your i
being killed" I,
I'm the one case 1t is a matter of
choice, in the other case of duty" E
when do you go abroadT' she asked {
I
Tomorrow afternoon about o'clock, c
suppose. But you must not say any
hing to any one about our sailing. i
Nobody In America is to know it. The {
departure Of our troops is only known /
o the higher officers y
Seeing a package of letters on a ia S
lie, he took it up and left another
package in its place. Then he said
,oodby and was leaving when she laid
| hand on his arm. He turned. She
vas looking at him wistfully. !
II thought we had said goodby," be
aid.
She made no reply, but there was the
anne wistful look. He kissed her. y
Your eighteen-year-old philosophy is u
ot working WELL You need to brace a.
p" he said. Then he departed. u
The next morning she appeared at u
he barracks where his regiment was
oused and asked for him. An orderly o.
7as sent to find him, and presently he d
anne. T
well, i can't stand this. Since you OF
re going to France to be killed want d;
, be your wife" h,
He regarded her with a melancholy in
eriousness.
You are taking upon yourself a ca
reat disadvantage. Better follow your IN
philosophy. IL you do, ten years from T
ow you will be a happy wife and 70
other. If you tie yourself to me- %
I'm going to tie myself to you" 80
There is no obligation. there is no
n.y.
81 care nothing about my duty. You
Id are one, and even the war dend
Innot separate us" WI
He caught her in his arms and when De
, released her called in a stentorian Pr
ice: ga
Orderly, 90 find the regimental Tn
aplain and ask him to come here at
ce." tn
The chaplain came. and the two who an
d already been one in heart were
ade one In law. few hours later cal
hen the regiment marched to the ship sts
at was TO bear it TO France. attended ma
mothers. sisters. wives and sweet TO
fxxa hv4da ond r--oov-.