Richard Forrest, Bachelor — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

218 A HOMILY ON MATRIMONY. is loath to part with his daughter, but finally reluctantly consents. Wedding-cake and orange-blossoms follow, and then—then comes the awakening, and lucky are the couples nowadays who, a year after marriage, find themselves con- genial. I firmly believe that is why there are so many ap- plicants for divorce. Itis nobody’s fault; people have no chance to know each other at all until the knot is tied.”’ ‘“Ttis a lottery,’’ acknowledged Arthur, soberly; ‘‘you are right. That’s the reason the clubs are so full of bach- elors, I suppose. They are afraid.’’ ‘‘And I am fond of my liberty.”’ ‘“Soam I. Don’t I go and come as I please?’’ demanded Arthur. ‘‘You are well aware——”’’ “Tam aware that your wife is a woman in a million,’’ uttered Dick, warmly, ‘‘and if I had found such a one be- fore my hair turned white I would have married her—al- ways providing she would have had me.”’ The room was a blaze of light now, and men were drop- ping in constantly. There was a rustle of newspapers and a buzz of conversation from different parts of the room. Occasionally, the click of a ball from the billiard-room, or a subdued laugh from some one who had button-holed some one else in the hall and was telling him a ‘‘capital story’’ _ would be heard. A young fellow, with around face anda downy mus- tache, approached and challenged Arthur to a game of pool. ‘Thanks, Bobby, to-night possibly, but it’s too near my dinner hour; I must be going soon,’’ he answered. Then, addressing himself once more to Dick, who lay back in his chair as motionless as though asleep, he said, abruptly : ‘“There’s one question, though, I would like to ask you; : COMIC IOOXS.COM