LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 81, 30 December 1920, Page 6

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

THE DEMAND FOR PROOF

Sir,—Some twenty years ago I fell in love. I had not the advantage of expert guidance in tho matter, but simply yielded to t!ho evei'-elearcr impulse of my heart. I found that when Miss was present the society of my. fellows was a joy, that when she was away it was dull. Xf I walked up tho street I caught myself a thousand limes looking out eagerly for her face. I organised parties that she might be in them. I once climbed a mountain and invited all the ladies in it to stand l for a moment on tho summit, and so contrived to hold her hand ler one. long rapturous moment when her turn came.

My thoughts of my boloved passed through two stages: at first I toyed with the question: Shall I marry her? But as hopes and fears alternated that question gave way to olio much more searching, namely: Will she marry me? Then I got down to business and asked her. And she did.

At tlio time, and for long afterwards, i his seemed, to luc to bo ;t sane and normal proceeding on my part. But most unexpectedly the cup of bliss has been dashed from my lips, for 1 read in your columns this morning a letter from Mr. C. J. M'Kinuon, and the veil has fallen from my eyes. All too clearly I see now the fatal mistake of iny ardent youth. 1 had 110 "exact information, evidence, proof" on which to act. It never occurred to me to call for certificates of doctors or lawyers, pastors or masters, to tell mo my faith in the dear charmer was warranted. In your correspondent's crushing words I bought a pig in. a poke. In case any sympathising reader attempts to console me by pointing out that I mado a venture of faith, and tliat the faith has apparently been justified by all subsequent experience, I point with trembling despair to your correspondent's explanation of faith. It is that which "insists • upon credulity m advance of pi oof." Woe's mo. I am undone! ' I leavo my wife this evening and seek tho shelter of my mother's roof. Heaven grant that file links that bind me to her can survive the acid test of Ift. M's. demand for demonstrative proof, but I lia'e ma doots.—l am, etc., 11.