The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1895-05-08

"And we are SO glad you didn't L
fastened to say. ave have been dis
cussing a very important question"
'rhe New Woman2" ventured Miss
Fitch, who had stray advanced
idea or two, which she was fond OF
an giving airing, now and then, when
the men she was talking to we're not
eligible, or the women we're so old
fashioned and narrow in their views Of
woman's sphere as to be tiresome.
"No; any woman" laughed Mrs.
Pettigru. 'I was urging Mr.. Mergi-
troyd to marry, and rs he doesn't APP
pear to have any mind at all on the
subject, / think any woman is better
than no woman"
Fedora Fitch looked Mt me as IL she
thought l we're given to the prevari'
eating habit, but said nothing which
would lead casual auditor to think
she thought SO.
"Mr. NIergitroyd," is what she did
say, "has some queer notions on the
subject of matrimony, and incidental
ly, on women in general. "
"And one woman in particular" 1
added in u tone which struck Mrs.
Pettigru into attention.
els there any woman in the world
he thinks of more than he does of any
other womau?" she asked quickly.
"Of course not" 1 answered for
Miss Fitch. eff there were he would
marry her"
"Men are 80 conceited," laughed
Miss Fitch to Mrs. Pettigru.
''People who live in glass houses
shouldn't throw stones, my dear, said
Mrs. Pettigru to Miss Fitch. Gas
soon as have finished my lecture to
Mr.. Mergitroyd and got him started
on the right path, I'm going to take
up your case. Let me see," and she
began counting on her fingers, "you
are "a, and if you weren't already
quite rich, / should begin to make a
match between you two, but I'd pre-
fer to divide you up between persons
who are less well-to.do, in order to
distribute the wealth Of nations, as it
were. Besides, I don't quite think you
are suitable to each other. You never
would get along smoothly, because
you are both altogether too sensible. "
els it necessary that one of the con-
tracting parties in marriage be a
fool?" inquired with the natural
cynicism of man who was still n
bachelor at 35.
Mrs. Pettigru laughed. Miss Fitch
looked rather hard at me.
''I have never heard as much in
timated," said Mrs. Pettigru. "It's
the affinity of contrast that is needed
in these affairs to make them last, u
she added.
"Does it make any difference which
one is the fool?" asked Miss Fitch.
az presume not, but it always SEEM
ed to me to be more natural for man
to be fool over woman than for a
woman to be fool over man." re-
piled Mrs, Pettigru.
don't know why it was, but my
face Redeemed, and when turned my
eyes toward Miss Fitch and she smiled
family, my embarrassment made me
uncomfortable.
Mrs Pettigru was a dear friend oi
both Miss Fitch and myself, and she
talked to us much as she pleased
still, didn't want her to see that
was embarrassed on the woman ques
tion.
"And yet, remarked Miss Fitch il
an argumentative tone, ''some men
wouldn't for the world want to b,
thought they were foolish over wo
men,"
''That's because they have inherited
the feeling that they are the lords o
creation, and the dignity of that loft,
position must be maintained at any
cost" laughed Mrs. Pettigru.
81 don't think was ever fool owe
a woman" J. said weakly, though
tried to say it with superb confidence
"My dear boy" responded Mrs
Pettigru, much as mother woul.
speak to her child, "do take anothe
cup of tea. Your nerves need strength
ening."
Fedora Fitch laughed outright an,
Mrs. Pettigru poured me a cup of tea
"Thanks, no." l said, trying to laugh
81 don't want it, believe" added
rising, "that l never made fool G
myself over woman, but l did nc