ould stand for any of that old-style Guff about
Sir Ralph getting the Hammer-Lock on Dorothy just outside the Loggia?
Not on your Thought Waves!

They regarded the Article commonly called Love as a lingering Symptom
of some primeval Longing for Parlor Entertainment.

It was agreed that each Soul was free and independent, and had a right
to run on its own private Time-Table.

Laura said she was going to live her Life in her own Way and that no
Wallopus in striped Trousers could leave her marooned in a Flat,
working under Sealed Orders.

Edgar did not choose to carry Overweight while working out his Career
and grew faint at the very Thought of shouldering a lot of Domestic
Responsibilities.

Marriage was an institution devised for Strap-Hangers who wanted to get
their Names into the Paper.

It was a childish Refuge for those who lacked Courage to forsake the
beaten Paths and strike out for the High Spots.

It will be seen that they were somewhat Advanced. As far back as 1890
they were living in the 21st Century.

Laura went in for Club Work and Cold Baths and Card-Indexing.

She felt sorry for the Married Women. They were always fussed up over
getting a Laundress or telling about new cases of Scarlet Rash or else
'phoning the Office to make sure that the Bread-Winner was at the Desk
and behaving himself.

When she let down her Hair at Night she did not have to do any checking
up or put the bottle of Squills on the Radiator.

She was Free and Happy. A little lonesome on Rainy Days, but the
freest thing you ever saw and she had her Books.

Edgar looked about him and saw the Slaves of Matrimony watching the
Clock and getting ready to duck at 11 P. M. and rejoiced inwardly.

He could land in at his little Independence Hall at 4 G. M., and turn
on all the Lights and drape his Wardrobe over the Rugs and light
Cigarettes and there was not a Voice to break the celestial Stillness.

He figured that Children must be an awful Worry.

He brooded over the Kid Proposition so much that soon after he was 30
years of Age he used to go around and borrow his Nephews and Nieces and
take them to the Circus and buy expensive Presents for them and upset
the Household Rules.

Occasionally he would take a new Book dealing with the Higher Things of
Life up to his old friend Laura and he would find her feeding the
Birds, with the Cat asleep in the Corner and an imported Dog with many
Curls pre-empting the principal Chair.