The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-08-13
A Youthful
Philosopher
BY p. A. Mitchell

You nave 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 ID
worldly wisdom? How do you know
but that my marriage with the girl !
love will prove a stimulus which will
lead to fortune?"
II don't, but l know that bird In
the hand is worth two In the BUSH"
"Who Is the bird In the handf
mo one. am simply breaking with
you on account OF lack OF provision for
marriage, not that / have a more adj
vantageous offer"
"You viii not lack for offers"
Nevertheless my heart is yours"
well, Lucy, commend this world
ly wisdom Of yours, though 1t comes
from girl barely eighteen years old
There seems nothing for me to do but
to accede TO 1t. 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,
l suppose we must get romance out Of
our heads
"Out of our hearts, you mean"
"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 GOODS.
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. IL
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.
III SOulS W usuI Oil tue oldS VI hhS
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
CO."
"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 q
breach between us. I thought that
you did not wish to incur the RESPONSE
bilities of matrimony without per
manent income"
Yes, and now you are going where
there are two chances In three of your
being killed"
Sin the one case 1t is matter OF
choice, in the other case of duty"
when do you go abroad" she asked
Tomorrow afternoon about 4 o'clock,
I suppose. But you must not say any
thing to any one about our sailing
Nobody in America is to know 1t. The
departure Of our troops is only known
to the higher officers"
Seeing package Of letters on a ia
Bile, he took 1t up and left another
package In its place. Then he said
goodby and was leaving when she laid =
I hand on his arm. He turned. She
was looking at him wistfully.
II thought we had said goodby," be
said.
She made no reply, but there was the
same wistful look. He kissed her. q
Your eighteen-year-old philosophy is {
not working well. You need to brace
lp," he said. Then he departed.
The next morning she appeared at
he barracks where his regiment was
housed and asked for him. An orderly
was sent to find him, and presently he
'ame.
We'll, can't stand this. Since you
ire going to France to be killed want
o be your wife"
He regarded her with a melancholy
eriousness. r
You are taking upon yourself a
reat disadvantage. Better follow your
philosophy. IL you do, ten years from II
ow you will be a happy wife and
Mother. II you tie yourself to me-
I'm going TO tie myself TO you"
There is no obligation. there is no
uty''-
II care nothing about my duty. You II
nd are one and even the war fiend II
annot separate u.s." II
He caught her I'm his arms and when
3 released her called in a stentorian II
oice:
Orderly, go find the regimental
laplain and ask him to come here at
ice"
The chaplain came. and the two who
Id already been enc In heart were
ade one in law. A few hours later
hen the regiment marched to the ship II
at was TO bear 1t to France, attended
: mothers, sisters. wives and sweet
arts. these two. a bride and groom.
alked hand ia hand
What an ingloriOus ending OF your
philosophy remark
the groom. Nevertheless II was
re wisdom"
sTs 80. 49, ,.-...... .z-u-a a.. III