South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-08

Sometimes" sighed the bache-
Tor, with a glance of something be-
tween admiration and fear at the
charming picture silhouetted
against the high backed chair across
the fireplace, sometimes. l think
have reached .he dangerous age'!"
There isn't any such thing" the
widow assured him consolingly,
reaching an ivory arm for the tOngs,
and giving the logs a deft little poke,
"at least there isn't any particular
~ dangerous age. They're all dan
gerous-for a susceptible man. But
what makes you feel that way?"
"Oh, every now and then, 1 catch
myself plying myself" explained
the bachelor, land envying some
chap whom l used 10 pity-the chap
with a-with an object in life. and
a regular home to go to evenings
And a furnace to tend morn
ings." put in the widow, laughing
softly
Yes, and lawn to NOW. and a
piazza to paint. and a garden TO dig
in, and"
And a coal bill and a grocery bill
and a milliners bill and a mortgage
to pay"
Good graciousi You make me
feel better already" declared the
bachelor, Frightening. But isn't
that the dangerous age?'" he add
ed doubtfully.
mo" The widow shook her head,
"Tt's tho dapparOus roocdfp che 70
torted. ut may attack a man at any
age from 10 TO 80, But who has
been abusing you? Who has thrown
you over? Who has hurt your van
ity?"
What do you mean ?" fenced the
bachelor flushing beneath his coat
Of tan, and taking out cigaret with
assumed nonchalance. who told
you anybody had hurt my vanity2'
You did" declared the widow
It's nearly always that! Though
il might possibly be the effects Of
prohibition. or Of a sudden increase
in your income, or OF a morning-af-
ter headache, or a lot of losses at
poker. But take my advice, and
don't do it,"
Don't do-what?" The bachelor
gazed at her in amZement.
Rush into a rash marriage with
the first little thing who sympathizes
with YOU" elucidated the widow,
stay away from women until you
recover from ii. A man in the dan
gerous mood is in no condition TO
choose a wife. His vision is blurred
with self-pity. And any girl who
treats him kindly looks just like
Fate or a delivering angel 10 him
But that's when he always does it,"
she added sadly. THAT is why Reno
is so overcrowded today. II man
would only stop to reason before he
married."
But. he doesn't marry until he
has lost his reason" broke in the
bachelor mUtinously. Love isn't a
matter of reason"
NO. Not with a man." agreed
the widow It's a matter of mood,
or time, or accident. That's why the
average marriage is such q hit-or-
miss affair But if marriage were
a matter OF choice. instead Of q
matter Of chance, divorce wouldn't
| be such a matter Of counsel"
7 wish you'd tell me what you
are talking about" complained the
bachelor in a plaintive voice, as he
/ III his cigaret and leaned back with
the air OF a small boy in for a
scolding.
I'm talking about love. Mr..
l We - -r-Nt- returned Tho VI f7o,t-
gravely, and marriage; the two
/ greatest things in the world: the two
things most important 10 happiness
and the two things on which a
man expends the least .brain-matter,
He never goes into either OF them
sanely seriously and with his eyes
wide open. lie waits until he has
been blinded by some blow OF fate OF
dazzied BY some turn OF good for