Life — September 22, 1898 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

228 “You are frivolous,” said Polly, looking at me with scorn in her eyes. ‘* Will you ever learn to be more serious?” “T shall take my first lesson in the art of being serious to- night. We vote on volunteering for the war.” “Jack,” exclaimed Polly, ‘you will surely never be so ° foolish as to enlist!” “Tsurely shall. I'd rather die for my country than stay at home and die of rubbish talked by that infernal Professor.” “*T wish you would be reasonable!” said Polly, and then she added, incoherently: ‘‘ You will go and be sbot, and think yourself very fine and patriotic, in spite of the fact that you would much better be doing your duty at home!” “What is my duty at home?” I asked her, gloomily. ‘You won't even let me carry your books!” “Your duty at home is to do as much good with your wealth as you possibly can, Go down to the College Settlement, for instance, and let the Professor give you some idea of sociology.” “Thanks,” I said. ‘‘Iand my wealth are at my country’s service, rather than at the Professor's.” “You are at the service of a false ideal!” “You know my ideal,” I answered, softly. ‘I told you who she was some time ago, and you've treated me unkindly ever since.” “ Why don't you go away and leave me, then?” she queried, coldly. “©You know I can’t. You know it, and you trample on me.” “It is good for you to be trampled on.” She was standing above me on the steps of her house as she spoke thus cruelly. It did not scem likely she would ask me in, ‘Do you think,” she added, “that I would marry an idle man who does nothing to elevate the world? Whose highest ambition is to kill his fellow-men?” “You can marry a man who will do his best to be killed “SAYS NOTHING, BUT SAWS WOOD.” ‘LIFE : MY GRANDMOTHER'S SAMPLE. instead of to kill, if you choose,” I answered, listlessly. “If you vote to-night for staying at home,” said Polly, with an inscrutable look on her face, ‘* I'll marry you.” Truly?” I gasped, in astonishment, “Truly,” she replied, and vanished through the doorway. From that time until the hour for cavalry drill arrived next evening I was a much distressed man. I voted for enlistment, after many struggles with conscience. but I wished all others to vote for staying at home, With a sinking heart I saw the men step forward, and I felt as if their patriotic unanimity were the sentence of my doom. The next afternoon, at the usual time, Polly and the Pro- fessor came swinging down the avenue, Polly looked rosy and serene, The Professor and I were despondent and glum. **You look curiously downcast, Mr. Phillips,” jeered Polly. “Are you trying to disguise your feelings of bloodthirsty joy?” “I am too kind to sbow them to those who haven't my good luck. This war is going to lend variety tolife for those of us who have to go.” “Mr. Phillips,” said Polly, turning to the Professor, ‘‘ looks upon the noble art of warfare precisely as he does a game of college football. But you needn’t expect,” she said to me, “that I shall wear violets and applaud you from the grand stand as I used to do.” “You might make me a pinball, and give me a tintype to carry next my heart,” I suggested. “It’s thetraditional thing to do.” ‘* Women are more strong-minded nowadays, I hope,” sniffed Polly. ‘ Men may be so foolish and wicked as to go to war, but women will not countenance them.” “I cannot understand the mad patriotism which seems to prevail even among intelligent people ” said the Professor. ‘TI cannot understand why they hate poor dear Spain,” declared Polly. “Tt might be well to reserve endearing epithets for your own country,” I said, irritably. * I'm sure Miss Polly will never yield her reason and her comicbooks.com