The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-12-18

III W ~ Drawing on her
gloves and turning toward the door Of her
dainty b0udoir, the young lady continued
slowly quite under her breath;
why should ] not ask ] have waited a
year What shame Is there IN ity Why should
NOT woman seek her destiny Why Is she bound
Hs the mere echo Of a man ?'
There were a few flakes Of snow In the air.
On quitting her fathers house Miss Crawford
nCTvously adjusted tho high-Cularcd fur cape
and drew the big-plumed hat little forward
over orpyes
lie could not accuse me Of any motive but
the true ONE she mumured; " we are equals
in wealth and position; no" and the girl hur-
rlcd on against the wind. F" III the convention
alities Of society arc wrong, why should not
break thomf 10 rs only the force OF ancient
CUSTOM OF inherited weakness, that makes me
tTemble and feel ashamed
Passing down Massachusetts avenue, and
turning suddenly into a less-pretentions street
the young lady avoided any encounter with
her fashionable friends of the Capital city, aud
was free 10 Walk out her mood.
DID was nearly twilight OF the boisterous day
WHOM she returned 10 her fathers house. The
red spots that had burned In her cheeks two
hours before had faded. She passed up the
gray stone steps with an air Of extreme weari-
ness. but there were resolute lines about the
mouth and q certain gravity aud intensity of
@ IlNNriAi AlhN NtANhAttA INT ntkAltuiCAk %
some serious problem,
1t was lit,le past s O'Clock Of the same even.
ing WHOM " Ma Phillips fOr Miss Mildred T"
Was announced.
The gay young man, who was presently chat
ting carclCssly with his genial friend, evidently
Eaw nothing unusual In her manner on APP
peaNncc.
His visit tonight was from no deeper motive
Than those OF former occasions. Nor did the
visits 10 Miss Crawford differ from those made
10 other lady friends Kirk Phillips, rich,
compauionaOlc and respecter and admirer OF
women, WIS yet recognized as a non-marry ng
man, q lover o. society, but Of no woman.
The common ground upon which be and the
talented but not beautiful Mildred Crawford
bad met was in their mutual love Of music.
lie loved 10 hear her sing. Had she been
professional De would have paid money; as it
= was, hc had only 10 call at her fathers house
and ask for hc pleasure,
Tonight ne bad brought her new song, aud
sic. without amy feminine excuses or apologies.
glanced over the unfamiliar notes. rose and
TOOK Eer place at the piano.
der voice was magnificent, her soul was in
g. This the man dimly felt but he was blind.
sing again, he said, when she had tried
The song.
The giIl knew that music was the one tie be-
twecn them. She knew that for the moment
be was very close 70 her. She sang on, one
alter another OF her choicest songs, aud ali Of
has lavOrItcs
When she had done, even while the last rich
notes OF a love song seemed thrilling in the air,
Mildred Crawford rose abruptly crossed to
where thc young man was sitting and drawing
o. chair near hlE own, Sal down and laid her
hand upon DIS arm.
The man was startled. lie betrayed his as
constituent Tic bad been lost Ia a soft revere.
Ie had forgotten the woman in her music.
Now turning !uqulrugly, be met a look IN the
eyes Oi the singer which caused him lnvOuu-
torily 10 reach ont aud lay his hand upon hers
She made no effort 10 release her hand from
hiE il.cHdiy grasp Indeed she seemed not TO
have boon aware of the act
Ar. Phillips she began In a low. tense
voice-a voice robbed of its musical cadeuccs,
tliuk--l think you viii remember that am
not conventional woman have peculiar ideas
EHu that sometimes follow them out right iu
tho face 81 custom. ] have learned 10 believe
that woman has tic Same iualicuabic rights of
l.G liberty ana human happiness as has man.
il believe also ' her lips were now ms white as
her check, that because one Is a woman II
need not Dc madc O barrier aguinst-aga.Hst -
The words were almost iuaua.blC--" any honest
confession glove"
hlrk PHlIp. stared. The man Of the world
Raz.d lu stupid establishment mt tic woman
whose hand Ao held lie tried 10 speak, bat
she interrupted him.
Wait uuiD ] have finished. donot intend
t0cItAeI explain on apologize. You never gave
nc amy reason Tor this. do not believe YOU
ever gave me second thought; but with my
tch . d dihercut j care Tor 20 few well
nov J have done"
Good hoaycns!" Then this girl was actu.
ally proposing % him. She did not seem in
sane. nor was Mildred Crawford a woman 10
Jcsl lu this manner. Phillips was nearly as
pale 81 tIe girl al bis side The iucredulous
look N.tu which hc continued 70 regard her
seemed 20 recall her 10 herself
Sic looked as proud woman might ii struck
BY Tic man bic loved. Sine rose hastily Free.
spoke:
Goodnight am answered FORGET il II
you nave amy respect Tor me- Now Won vi
excuse me- ann tired, aud turning she would
have quilted the room
stop come back. You shalt not po. aud
the man recovering his faculties 6praug after
her aud caught her by the arm
JcA mc, he continued cncitedIv "yyhst
docs tals moan What have j doucy / never
dreamed ihat you cared. You are ALWAYS Sd
colo ahd friendly. i never meant 10 do eucb
thing You must know" aud bis tone was
honesty iisci 90 have never Thought scriopsly
81 these tdiHes; but J am not a triger ~
AlE Fh.liips. you have uo apologies 10 make.
~ is no lautt oi yours. j have merely followed
40 part boz this Goodnight"
Bul you shall not aud he caugl,t boti -
her colo hands lu hos warm, strong CLASH. 81
lee bike bad NrOnEcd you, aud Vet 1 ann vot,I
IItha' GO hyl want 20 give up cur friend.
ship. j always meet you with pleasure. Ilovc
your VOICE. say. Miss Mildred /" aud hjs voice
was humble as 81 Iuau vino sues rather than one
WHO rejects, are We not % continue friends
You wlll not refuse % see me horoalterY"
80" replied tiso piIl weatly: thai would
be foolish, ] slal. moi mind but you must LET
mc 90 now
She was gone, and the genial, heart free SO.
clciy mah stood mentally cursiug himself for
tbs aenoumcnt 10 friendship. lie was dazed
All his notions Of feminine proprieiy had been
outraged. hls impression of ono woman lad
been rgdcy dissipatcd. lie bad believed hcr
the embodiment % reserve aud WUmanly
pride.
haw q woman must love man 10 brinp
herself 10 this," thought the man ~ hc made
his way unattended from the drawing room
and hall
This lay0rite VI q hundred homes IN Wash
lngt0n lea that house with much the feeling
q sensitive burglar must experience when be
pahscs out WITH the family silver in bis Jag.
When Aiss Crawford presented herself al
bfeahlhsi uhe following morning both hci
father aud mother noted her pallor. She was ar
only child, aud was watched with uucoasiut
tolcitudc. When questioned toudeIly the gil.
answered quietly had something ike 4
chill last night and will not 90 out to-day"
Dear, dear" said Mrs Crawford fus.ilv
you viii have 10 miss the reception on Bu,
pOnt Circle. Pa turning TO the big black.
brOWCd man from whom Mildred had appa rent e