Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

92 MAKING A PROMISE. Confound it, women are such queer creatures! I wonder if there ever was one yet who absolutely knew her own mind, or even tried to? What a uopeless task she would set her- self!”’ ‘‘Recollect,’’ rejoined Dick, guardedly, “‘I always held that they were inexplicable, and furthermore, dangerous. ”’ ‘‘And yet there must be some true ones among them,”’’ declared Arthur. ‘‘How you blow hot and cold,’’ uttered Dick, smilingly. ‘‘No doubt there are, but as I say, a ‘true woman’ is the rarest combination in the world. Few of them take the pains to even try to comprehend their own natures, and if they did, they would probably suffer nervous prostration from the shock.”’ ‘“You seem to hate the sex.’”’ ‘‘Far be such presumption from me! On the contrary. I adore women—collectively, they are the ‘sugar and spice’ of life, but, individually, voila une autre chose.’’ ‘“‘Clearly, Dick, you’ve never been in love,’’ said Arthur, moodily. ‘‘Make no mistake,’’ returned his friend, ‘‘I’ve had the disease scores of times, only it wasn't fatal.’’ ‘‘Well, then, I don’t care a rap whether it proves fatal in my case or not; I’ve lost all interest in life.’’ ‘You'll regain it.’’ “Dick,” said Arthur, solemnly, ‘I adored that girl.” ‘‘Let me feel your pulse,’’ uttered Dick. ‘‘It begins to look serious. But take heart; scores of men have been as deeply afflicted as you are, and have gotten over it and been sounder than ever. Depend upon it, love is a malady —a virulent disease, and should be treated as such.’' Gomichbooks:com