Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-10-08
M'DOUGALL'S CONVERSION
ny BELLE FIELD.

The astonishment in tho word was
simply indcscribable, as Harry Nc
Dougall dropped his paper and regard
cd his cousin in dignified amazcment
A prettier cousin than usual she was
just then, her blue eyes and pink
checks little blucr and pinker, as
she viewed her surprised relative, who
soon found voice to remonstrate:
DO you mean to say that you, whose
sole ambition should be the enhancing
OF woman's chief virtue, retiring mod
esty, arc really proposing to enter my
mill rs bookkecper? If so, you are either
very ignorant of what would be cx-
pectcd Of you in that capacity or you
are forgetting what is due your own
womanhood. Henrietta McDougall, l
am ashamed OF your
The subject of this TRADE merely
gave her decided chin little lift, and
made answer:
you need not fatter yourself that
you are going to extinguish me with
your heroics, Harry, for most GER
tainly do intend to go into IN office
even if the shock should prove serious
to Your conservative organization. AS
you refuse my offer, shall take posi-
ton with the Big Salt Lumber com
pany; but ] thought it would be pleas
ant to work with YOU"
The young man cleared his throat
two or three times before he found
voice for expostulation.
but. Henrietta, it is not woman's
| place. Contact with men in business
life disarms woman of her best weapon,
and withal her greatest charm. She
wrecks her own matrimonial chances;
for, you see, when men marry, they do
not choose the girls who have thrust
themselves forward, but tie for life to
the homo girl. Then, too," continued
he, with touch of pomposity,
'woman's brain is of such different
caliber that she is never n success in
the business world. While esteem
you very highly as a friend and cousin,
could not give you place in my
Office. l must have the broader out
look OF a man, and do not feel that
could trust any woman with such a
responsible position as that held by my
boolskeepcr."
This time there was no installing the
real indignation in the girls face and
voice.
Harry, should be very angry with
your insinuations, but l really only
pity one who holds such warped views.
| want YOU to understand that girls
nowadays arc not compelled to 70
about on tiptoe and with batcd breath
for fear of spelling their matrimonial
| nj, Toll -1, l.
Who absconds with the employers
money? Not the woman. Talk about
the broader outloo,lr Wait until your
cross-eyed bookheepcr goes to South
America with the contents of your
safe, and you will wish you had one of
the enthusiastically women in his place. !"
Don't let us quarrel, my dear"
patronizcd Harry, for l did not wish
to offend you. ! was shocked that you,
SO young, SO pretty, wished to do mans
work"
ut is not mans work, Harry" said
the girl, quickly. Work is classified
according to it's excellence, and not
the Sex of the worker. Eut there is no
use in arguing with you," turning TO
leave the room. ION second thought"
and she paused on the threshold, "lct
me predict that you viii fall hopclessly
in love with one of this very class of
women, marry her, and become a
thorough convert to the idea of women
in business"
Marry creature Of that stamp?
Not until l become an imbecilc. l
shall marry for 4 companion; woman
who will know her sphere and kecpit it"
Harry McDougall was not at heart
an intolerant man, but his whole life
environment had been conservative in
the highest degree.
Ills residence in the west had been
but short, and he was daily surprised
at the freedom accorded women about
him. lie marvelcd at the unconscious
ness with which business men accepted
into their precincts the entrance of
business women. and abhorrcd
through ignorance of the thought of
the times, their 'intrusion," as he
called it.
nut few months before young Nc
Dougall had come to Kansas from
Connecticut to take charge of flour.
ing mill lately purchased by his father,
property situated in small town
some thirty miles west of Elliston,
Henrietta's home.
The business was prospecting, and
prosperity docs not make an intolerant
man tolerant; SO upon his visits to FL
liston his alterations with Henrietta
had become more spirited, eliminating
in the application by the girl for posi-
ton as booklxeepcr in his mill, and his
pompous refusal of it.
The next morning. before break fast,
a telegram informed Harry that his
father had been the victim of an acct
dent in the old mill at home, and de-
sired the immediate presence Of his
son. He had barely time to write in
structions to his boolSl1ccpcr, placing
necessary funds ut his disposal, before
the next train for the east.
What pity you did not accept my
offer of yesterday" said Henrietta,
jolkingly, as they stood beside the
waiting train. Just think how well
l could have taken care of your inter.
ests during your absence"
"Pouf!" calculated Harry, with ex.
aggerated contempt. when want
q shortage in my accounts, will en-.
ploy women to manage my affairs
And he swung himself aboard in