Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-02-07
A Youthful
Philosopher
BY F. A. Mitchell

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
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 handT
mo one. am simply breaking with
you on account of lack of provision for
marriage, not that l have more ad-
vantageous offer"
"You will not lack for offers"
Nevertheless my heart is yours"
"Well, Lucy, / commend this world
" wisdom Of yours, though it 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 clrcum-
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
"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 goodby.
She took 1t, with a 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. II
he would call with hers she would
have his ready for him. When he ap-
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 60
to the war only one returns"
'That may be, but it Is my duty to
CO."
"Why is it your duty to go to, the
war;? q
Because l am an ablebodied young
man. 1t is the duty of all such to re-
spond to their country's call"
There was silence between them
for some minutes, at the end of which
she said:
by this act you have widened the
breach between us"
81 did not suppose there was
breach between us. | thought that
you did not wish to incur the RESPONSE
bilities OF matrimony without a per-
manent income"
Eyes, and now you are going where
there are two chances in three Of your
being killed"
I'm the one case it Is matter Of
choice, in the other case of duty"
when do you go abroad?" she asked
mournfully.
Tomorrow afternoon about o'clock,
l suppose. But you must not say any
thing to any one about our sailing.
Nobody in America is to know it. The
departure Of our troops is only known
to the higher officers"
Seeing a package Of letters on a ta-
BILE, he took it up and left another
package in its place. Then he said
goodby and was leaving when she laid
a hand on his arm. He turned. She
was looking at him wistfully.
81 thought we had said goodby," be
said.
She made no reply, but there was the
same wistful look. He kissed her.
Your eighteen-year-old philosophy Is
not working well. You need to brace
up" he said. Then. he departed.
The next morning she appeared at
the barracks where his regiment was
housed and asked for him. An orderly
was sent to find him, and presently he
came.
"Well, l can't stand this. Since you
are going to France to be killed want
to be your wife"
He regarded her with a melancholy
seriousness.
You are taking upon yourself
great disadvantage. Better follow your
philosophy. If you do, ten years from
now you will be happy wife and
mother. If you tie yourself to me-
"I'm going to tie myself to you"
"There is no obligation, there is no
duty
II care nothing about my duty. You
and l are one, and even the war flend
cannot separate u.s."
He caught her in his arms and when
he released her called in a stentorian
voice.
Orderly, go find the regimental
chaplain and ask him to come here at
once"
The chaplain came, and the two who
had already been one in heart were
made one in law. A few hours later
when the regiment marched to the ship |
that was to bear 1t to France, attended |
by mothers, sisters, wives and sweet |
hearts, these two, bride and groom.
ollro1 hrAd tv, A.-1