Middletown transcript., 1893-06-03
MARGARET DALTON'S CAREER.
BY PAUL CARSON.

she WAS I~Chty sAhiOO.
her some time to finish her education
to be sure. but the work had beer
thoroughly done. She faced the world
an orphan, il true, but having money
she was not friendlsss. Margaret was
woman with noble ideas, lofty airnes
grand purposes, aud she meant to make
something of ber life. She was ambi'
tious that the world shoul know that
she had lived, and miss her when she
died.
Sitting in the cars during the long
homeward journey, her brain occupied
itself with thoughts similar to these.
Miss Dalton wass Chicago girl, with all
the energy and vitality of that active
ciss in her veins, and when at last the
train rolled into the big depot, and she
saw her Aunt Alice and Cousin Henry
waiting for her, she WAS glad to be at
home. Vassar had not weaned her
from her western love.
81 am glad to be at home again, !"
she said, as. they entered the car
riage.
"We are glad to have you again, re-
Joined Mrs. Davenport. .You will
see something of society now, anyway.
If you had not been so headstrong
about graduating at Vassar, you might
have been settled by this time instead
of being debutante at twenty-three,
Mercyi'' and the lady lifted her hands
in mock horror.
Ibid the girls at Vassar ever tell you
YOU were handsome?" asked Henry
Davenport, with the easy impudence OF
cousinship.
"No,n quietly, Il found that out
myself.n
..Indeedl Did the discovery make
You vain?'
81 think not, = gravely. Beauty is a
pleasant thing to possess, but il j.
easily destroyed, and when ones mind
is occupied with more important mat
ters one i, not very apt to become
vain.''
inlay ask if you are a woman
with a mission?''
..Oh, no. brightly, "a woman with
an ambition, perhaps. | suppose,
Aunt turning to Mrs. Davenport,
s.that when you spoke of me being
settled you meant married, did you
not2"
"Of course. A woman can't well be
settled any other way
us there any reason why an old
maid should not be settled?"
Now, Margaret. don't be foolish.
You ought to know that woman
happily married fulfills the mission
God gave her. / do hope your educa-
tion hasn't made you strong minded. "
Miss Dalton was silent and moment
later they were at the house.
The young lady from Vassar went
into society and speedily became a
belle, in her way. With her calm,
slow speech, perfect manners, culture,
and queer notions she became the
rage.
Miss Dalton did not waltz, but a
dozen men were eager to sit ont those
dapces with her, and entertainments
were arranged, where she was expected
with-the fact in view that she did not
play cards.
AS the weather came on, Mrs. Daven-
port carried Margaret off to the moan
tains. The winter was spent in Chicago,
another summer at Saratoga, and now a
second winter was drawing near.
One day Miss Dalton's aunt asked !:
How is it, Margaset, that you have
had no offers of marriage"
CA woman can usually avoid offers
of marriage if she choose to do SO"
Margaret replied.
"You will soon be twenty-five"
Yes
'sI,o you expect to marry at all9"
II blink not. Why SHOULD /? l
have money enough to supply my wants
and without it could support myself.
Surely woman may may have some
object in life besides marriage"
'.She may, certainly" retorted Mrs.
Davenport impatiently, "but she is
wise il she DOESN'T. May l ask what
your object in life is2"
II am going to be a physician. l
have studied medicine some, and l VIII
study it more. will. her eyes light
ing. .sbe the greatest doctor among
women. Men have achieved greatness
in the medical profe sion, why not Q
Woman?'
'sSuppose you fall in loveP'
"Oh that is not likely to happen, and
IL it should it would make no dlffer-
ence. 1 certainly would not spoil a
career from sentimental motive"
She had her way, as alwsys; disap.
,,earing suddenly from society, ano
graduating two years later from a
medical college. And then MIS-
Davenport made one more appeal
aGo with me to Long Branch thi'
summer, Margaret, she said. y OF
are tired ont. GiFs yourself q res
before taking up your profession"
Margaret was tired, and she yielded
knowing well that rest was absolutely
necessary. 3
.Miss Dalton, allow me to presen
Mr.. Harvey" Margaret had met
hundred men in precisely the sam
manner in which she acknowledge
Mr.. Harvey's bows and yet-her pulls
ouickened, and her face flushed witt
some strange emotion as she looked
into his clear grey eyes
One magnificent moonliaht night,