Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1916 — The First Man [ARTICLE]

The First Man

“I’m glad you are home at last,” irild the ybuhg man with a sigh of relief. “I certainly missed you a lot. I thought when you went away that two weeks wouldn’t seem any time at all, but it’s been an awfully long two weeks. Did you have a very good time?" "Perfectly elegant!” cried the girl with enthusiasm. “You see there was such a nice crowd over there that there was something going on every day. You know they pride themselves on having only nice people. The Wilcox boys were there: You know them, don’t you?” "For goodness’ sake!” exclaimed the young man. "Of course I don’t like to say anything against any of your special friends, but I simply can’t stand those fellows. I suppose they are pleasant to girls, tho, come to think of it. They always have had a half-dozen girls on the string.” “You needn’t get so excited," protested the girl. "They aren’t special friends of mine. Perhaps you like Dick Underwood better? He was there.” "Dick’s engaged to a girl in New Jersey,” the young man said calmly. Was Andy over there, too? He’s always tagging around wherever you go.” “Andy never tags," declared the girl, with Indignation. “What’s the matter with you tonight?" demanded the girl, after the young man had snorted at the information about Andy. “Maybe you don’t want to hear about my trip?” “Of course I do,” the young man hastened to assure her. "Did Louise go over to Join you?” “I wondered how long it would bo before you asked about her,” said the girl, coolly. "She told me she had had such a pleasant evening at the theater with you."

"I didn’t ask her to go to the theater. There was a party of us, that’s all. The old tennis club got up a crowd to go, and I escorted the chaperon. Louise told me you were probably engaged to that fellow, Bob Wright.” “Louise talks too much,” said the girl. “Did I tell you we went to a fortune teller over in Michigan?” “You didn’t tell me anything," said the young man, gloomily. "All I had was two picture postcards. You left me to hear things and , got know whether they’re true of not.” “The fortune teller said,” related the girl, “that Louise was going to marry a man with dark hair. He’s a lawyer and is tall and imposinglooking. They are going to travel a lot." “Tell me what the fortune teller said about you." , "I thought you’d be interested in hearing about Louise. You’re a lawyer you know.” “I don’t care a rap about Louise,” he announced, grimly. “Tell me about Whom are you going to marry?” “She wasn’t sure that I’d get married at all." “ I don’t believe such foolishness as fortune telling, do you?” “But she said I was to have a chance to marry soon after I got home," the girl went on. “Of course it’s all Silly. It was fun tho.” “Go on. You havenl.tpld„me all, I know from the expression on your face. What else did the fortune telsay “She told me that if I didn’t accept him—" “Who?" "Why, the one who was going to ask me as soon as I got home,” the girl answered in some confusion. “She said I’d make a great mistake if I didn’t, because he was a nice man and we’d be perfectly happy. She said she didn’t see a ‘cloud to mar our happiness. Wasn’t that splendid?” “I don’t know,” said the young man, dubiously. “Has that fellow Wright been over to call since you got back?" “Why, how foolish! You know I didn’t get home till this morning. I haven't seen anybody but you." “I wondered if there was any chance for me?” said the young man, more cheerfully. ‘You do care, don’t you? Just a little? You know I’ve always loved you. Have I got any show against Andy and Bob? Go on, tell me!" "Well," the girl said, "the fortune teller told me to take the first man who asked me after I got home, and you’re the first one.” '1 don’t care anything about that foolish fortune teller," said the young man, impatiently. "What do you think about it yourself? Won’t you give me any encouragement?” "Well,” the girl answered. "Andy and Bob both telephoned this afternoon, asking to come up tonight." "Yes? What dfel you say?” * I told them be engaged this evening. Now let's see; am I?"