The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-23


tied between us, and we might as well
discuss them now. We have been will
fully blind since we fret became ac-
quainted."
81 am afraid custom has more to do
with life than we had imagined" ad-
mitted Lefty.
I'VE will assume that we are to be
married, (" continued Harold. who is
to pay the expenses Of the family"
"Why. shall do 1t. of course. re-
piled Lefty, surprised that he could ask
SO foolish a question.
"Indeed you will do nothing Of the
Sort " said Harold firmly.
but, Harold, il has been the custom
for
Idon't care condemn abont the GUS
tom," interrupted Harold. ''Wouldn't
be fine sort of q man to be depend
ent on a womani"
"Can you imagine how I should feel
to be dependent on man?" retorted
Lefty.
But" argued Harold, cit is ac-
cording to nature that woman should
raise children and man should work for
her and them.'
""Naturel' repeated Lefty scornfully.
'"One can illustrate any text from ma
ture. Watch the beasts and the birds.
Does the female bird sit idly by. while
the male builds the nestl''
1.-The male certainly is not idle," re-
piled Harold. "In my mind idleness
and inferiority are synonymous, and /
refuse to accept such position"
yet you would force woman to ac-
cept it," Lefty was discovering that
things which in romances were quite
delightful were often not even endrra-
BILE in real life to one not brought up in
the belief that they must be endured.
"It is different with women, replied
Harold. They are most charming in
a subordinate position"---
THAT is precisely what we think of
men,. returned Lefty calmly.
We'll" said Harold angrily, "you
may as well understand once for all that
shall never place myself In position
of dependence. wouldn't do it for the
best woman living"
Nor for the best man." replied
Lefty, with equal spirit.
Lefty and Harold had reached point
in their walk where the road crossed
the park in opposite directions. With
out word Of explanation each took
separate path.
Harold had gone but few steps when
he was met by Mary.
"Yes, she said, replying to his look
Of inquiry, 81 overheard every word.
thought it would come to this"
Mary looked as IL she would like to
add that she was not sorry, but if she
thought IL she kept the thought to her
self. She had made herself very useful
to Harold In many ways since the day
she shot at him, and the two had be-
come very good friends. Harold be-
lieved that Mary had opened her eyes to
her own folly, and that he need not fear
any further confessions Of love on her
part. and Mary had bravely decided
that since she could not win Harold's s
love she would at least, deserve his
friendship. They had talked together a
great deal about the delights of the
nineteenth century. Harold had quite
forgotten the annoyances Of that day
and joined with Mary In wondering
how condition 30 perfect could have
led to the war of revolution between
the sexes. 8tt
Harold had told Mary Of hts hope to
win Lefty aud now looked to her for the
sympathy which she had always shown
when he was in distress.
Mary understood and determined to
be equal to his expectations, though her
heart broke. -,
II think" she said quietly. "that
you have not understood Lefty. She has
always declared that she would not
marry until she could find man whom
she would find companionable
"That Is precisely the quality which
Idesired in wife, " interrupted Harold.
' yet neither Of you treat the other
as should imagine companion would
wish to be treated. Each seems to me
to be struggling for the mastery. You
ere willing that Lefty should be TWEEN
tieth century except where her ideas Of
the fitness Of things come into collision
with your own. Lefty is delighted with
a nineteenth century man except whom
he would force her to bow to customs
which would rob her of hsr cherished
Independence. Let me tell you, Harold,
that Lefty can never b like her grand.
mother"
"I have not said that desire e."
"You have repeatedly spoken to her
of that lady a. being everything desira-
BILE. History tells us that she was very
ordinary young woman, rather pretty,
bat extremely sentimental and possessed
Of very little iadepspdnfs. Lefty can