Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-11-13


II was searching for work oa ar :
chitecture and I am disappointed at
not finding il, because | wished to
settle warm argument, fast descend
ing to dispute, which 1 left Ia tull
progress in the drawing~room. am
sure | could establish my point If L
had the book saw hare yesterday"
| returned to the afore mentioned
corner and produced the volume L
had been perusing with so much IN :
terest
This is probably what you were
looking for, sir" L said.
lie took the volume from my hand
with evident pleasure and just as evil
dent surprise.
Ladies do not usually care for this
sort of literature" he said, APOLOGIZE
cally, when he saw that | had read
his face.
replied:
Ladies have little incentive TO care
for such things, because society
promptly and most emphatlcally dis
courages all such indications OF
strong -mindedness. OF course 1t can
make no difference to woman
whether the house she lives in is built
in Corinthian, Doric, or Gothic style,
or has no style at all. In her an al
fectation of pretty, childlike simplicity
is considered very interesting, and, il
she can be interesting, why need she
aspire to become Intelligent"
II think you are mistaken, Miss
AlIston. | thinkSthe days when q
woman was admired for her ignorance
may safely be named in the past
tense"
"You are a man of society, and
ought TO know; but my small field oil
observation has shown me that some
women, at least, affect frivolity and
simplicity in the presence OF company,
from which inferred that society adj
mires that sort of women"
Perhaps it does, after fashion, .
he replied, with smile. "But depend
upon it, Miss Allston, but the scepter
of beileship was never yet wrested
from an intelligent conversatlonalist
by ali ignorant woman. even though
the brilliant woman has much
palmer face than the other. People
love to be entertained, and one who
can offer wit and wisdom without
pendantry is sure to be admired, and,
if she can add genuine unselfshness
to her list OF accomplishments, to be
loved also"
Perhaps" said l. but have you
not forgotten to return to the draw
ing room2"
Thank you for the reminder, MISS
Allston; may | venture to hope that
this will not be our last meeting?"
II am, as l told you, servant, and
prefer not TO be patronized. We met
by accident. If we meet again | shall
not recognize you"
lie smiled good>humoredly, bowed,
said:
1--WE shall see" and turned quickly
away.
| felt vexed with myself for having
conversed so freely with a stranger,
and made good resolutions by which
my future department was to be gov
erned.
do not understand what there was
in the trifipg event just narrated to
STIR my nature to its depths, but that
night | did not close my eyes till 3
O'clock. | began to hate myself for
having remained so long in mental
position without q single struggle TO
rise above it. A beautiful thought
came to me at last with the sudden>
ness of inspiration. l had in many
instances provea myself TO be a good
nurse for the sick. | had more than
once administered simple remedies
with success in the absence of phys
stefan had been fascinated by the
study Of anatomy and physiology; why
not add to these a knowledge of thera-
peutlcsl Why not become physi-
clan, practicing among women and
childred}
The thought was healing oil to my
troubled spirits, and was soon asleep
happily ignorant of the long struggle
entailed upon me by the esolutiou, of
the cost of medical courses and the
difficulty of persuading patients that
a woman can be fit to undertake the
ease"
1t was wonderful how OTTER Mr..
Gleason found it necessary after that
to come to the pump at the kitchen
door for drink, and how he persisted
in not noticing the glass | placed
there for his accommodation, but must
always come into the kitchen, no mat.
ter how busy l was, and trouble me to
get one for him, and pause awhile to
talk.
l found out one thing. l could talk
and no one had ever tried to draw me
out before.
We talked on every subject, FROM
the love of legends to international
politics, and l never dreamed that it
was more than the pleasure of speak
ing on subjects remote from buildings
and pies that made me care for the
society of MIR. Gleason.
| had a terrible awakening. One
day he was just lelving me when a
voice on the lawn was heard to call
out:
where's Mr.. Gleasonr
Down in the kitchen, suppose.
counting the cook" was the answer
nors suggestive than ladylike.
1t was not the heat of the stove that
made my face burn at that momest.
and the thought flashed into my mind
that had an unquestionabler right 10
be courted, just IS Mr.. Gleason re-
entered the room and said:
That coarse joke on the lawn has
made me resolve to ask you now what
l had Intended to defer to later day.
l love you, Miss Allston; will you be
my wifeI"
"Oh, no, no, Mr.. Gleason. Where
is your honor, to tritle with the affec>
tons of Elsie, then seek to wed me I
| am surprised beyond measure. 1
thought better of you. Cor
II cannot tell what you may have
heard" he replied, with pale, stern
face. ''but l have certainly been no
more attentive to Miss Elsie than
courtesy demanded. had dared to
hope for q different answer. You
have accused me of dishonor. That
parts us
Then he was gone. The same day
he departed from my Aunt's "A
sudden fancy for sketching among
the mountains. Never thinks Of any
thing but his art complained the
guests. The following day Elsie's
engagement was announced to the
person whom Aunt Deborah had
chosen for her. She could not live
without plenty of money, she said.