The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-20
A Marital
Preparation
By SADIE OLCOTT

to trust her whole future to man
| not knowing whether he's going tt
make a good husband or hOrrid one
| I've q good mind to break our engage
ment."
Strange, isn't it? | was thinking
the same thing about mans tying
himself up for life to woman. My
uncle says a man runs an awful RISK
when he marries."
How should he know: He's never
| been married.
! I've 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 laults.
so has my Uncle Jim of women's
, shortcomings But, as | said mo-
ment ago, I've been thinking myself
| that il ), like taking a cold plunge to
be married. II you think you don't
| care to risk 1t perhaps we'd better
break it off.
She pouted at this and bent her eyes
! down on lockct she was toying with
Uncle Jim says" he continued
that marriage is all very well SO long
! as the spooning lasts, but just as soon
as couple come down to the real
thing the girl discovers that she hasn't
got exactly what she wanted. or the
fellow finds he's made bull. or both
do, and the fracas begins. Now, sup.
pose we stop spOOning and treat each
other in that friendly way married
people do. We'd find out the cause of
future dissatisfaction and could make
up our minds with deliberation wheth
er we'd better risk it or not"
THAT'S good idea. When shall we
begin-now:"
"NO; the next time we meet"
He didn't care to begin now, because
it was only II O'Clock at night and he
was quite sure he would wish to spoon
till l. So they sat locked in each 9th
er's arms till ., when they made prep.
arati0ns for parting, which required
half an hour more. and finally succeed
ed In dragging themselves away from
each other ut 3. They were to begin
their hnmdrum matrimonial treatment
at their next meeting, and in order tc
be well prepared he was not to call
again for three days. When the time
was up he had nerved himself to act
like man who had been married ten
years. He gave her a perfunctory kiss
and, throwing himself into an easy
chair, asked if anything new had turn
ed up since he saw her last. She gave
him a scornful glance, made no reply
and, taking seat In another part of
the room, took up a book she had been
reading.
He yawncd and. taking cigarette
from box, lit it, leaned back and
smoked. There was long silence. II
was only few minutes, but 1t seemed
long"
Been to your aunt's today?" he
asked
mo Is your uncle well?"
Every"
Another silence, during which he
took up magazine from a table, turn
ed over the leaves and threw it down
Then he glanced in her direction and
saw that the book she was reading. or
/ rather, pretending to read. was upside
down, pictures and all.
Been big storm lately?
Not that | know of. Why do YOU
! ask"
"Oh, | see picture Of a capsized
ship In the book you're reading"
This called her attention to the in
verted position of the volume, and she
reversed it, There was no sound ex
cept the turning of its leaves. which
occurred SO rapidly that she must have
been capable of reading a page every
ten seconds. Finally he said, with q
yawn:
Il shall have TO 20 to bed early to-
night. I've been up till late for several
nights
m sorry you must go early"
| He took out his watch. 1t was 9
quarter TO 8. Il think I'll go now '
he said. "Tll drop into the club for q
few minutes before go to my room =
Good night
Since he had not risen this was some
/ what unexpected. He arose with q
scowl ON his brow and, without say
Ing word of adieu, strobe to the clos
ct In the hall and was hunting for his
hat and cane when he heard a sob d;
rectly behind him. She was tbere
holding her handkerchief to her eves
He clasped her in his arms. and no,
head fell on his shoulder. There was
an impressive silence for some mo
ments, which he broke
Il don't believe this test plan ia a,
all necessary"
I-don't-think So"
I'm sure there are no disagreeah,e
features about you that would cause
! me to wish myself unmarried"
You won't treat me badly. will vou
Harry, dear?"
No"
The promise was sealed with kiss
Must you go so early?"
BY no means Now tbat NJ -