The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1895-09-07
M'DoUGALL'S CONVERSION
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The astonishment IN the word was
simply indcscribable. as Harry Nc
Dougail dropped his paper and regard
al his cousin in dignihcd amazement
A prettier cousin than usual she was
JUST then, her blue eyes and pink
cheeks little bluer and pinker, az
she viewed her surprised relative, who
soon found voice to remonstratc:
"Do you mean to say that you, whose
sole ambition should be the enhancing
of woman's chief virtue. retiring mod
esty, are really proposing to enter my
mill as boolkeeper? II SO. you are either
very ignorant of what would be ex-
pected of you in that capacity or you
are forgetting what is due your own
womanhood. Henrietta McDougall, /
nm ashamed Of your
The subject of this TRADE merely
gave her decided chin little lift, and
made answer:
you need not fnttcr yourself that
you are going to extinguish me with
your heroics, Harry, for l most GER
tainly do intend TO 20 into an Office
even IL 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 il 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, IL 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 men2narry, they do
not choose the girls who have thrust
themselves forward but tie for life to
the home girl. Then, too" continued
he, with a touch of pomposity,
.'womnn's brain Is of such different
caliber that she is never a success in
the business world. While ] esteem
you very highly as friend and cousin,
/ could. not give you a place in my
Office. /. 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
boolxkecper"
This time there was no installing the
real indignation in the girls face and
voice.
Harry, should be very angry with
your insinuations, but / really only
pity one who holds such warped views.
/ want YOU TO understand that girls
nowadays nre not compelled to go
about on tiptoc and with bnted breath
for fear of spelling their matrimonial
chances. Talk about trustworthinessl
Who absconds with the employers
money? Not the woman. Talk about
the broader outloolxr Wait until your
cross-eyed bool1kceper 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"
patronized Harry, for did not wish
TO offend you. ! was shocked that you,
so young, SO pretty, wished to do mans
work.
''It Is not mans work, Harry" said
the girl, quickly Work is classified
according TO its excellence, and not
the sex of the worker. But there is no
use in arguing with you," turning TO
leave the room. son second thought"
and she paused on the threshold, ''let
me predict that you will fall hopelessly
in love with one of this very class Of
women. marry her, and become a
thorough convert TO the idea Oh women
in business"
Marry a creature of that stamp?
Not until 1 become an imbecilc.
shall marry for companion; woman
who will know her sphere and keepit."
Harry McDougall was not at heart
nm intolerant man, but his whole life
environment had been conservative in
the highest degree.
His residence ia the west had been
but short, and he was daily surprised
Mt the freedom accorded women about
him. He marveled at the unconscious
ness with which business men accepted
into their precincts the entrance OF
business women. and abhorred,
through ignorance OF the thought OF
the times, their intrusion" as he
called 1t.
But few months before young Nc
DouQall had come 10 Kansas from
Connecticut to take charge OF Hour
ing mill lately purchased by his father,
a property situated In small town
some thirty miles west Of Elliston,
Henrietta's home.
The business was prospering, and
prosperity does 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 bookxccper in his pill, and his
pompous refusal Of It,
The next morning, before breakfast
n telegram informed Harry that his
father had been the victim OF an acci'
dent In the old mill at home, and de-
sired tho immediate presence OF his
son. He had barely time TO write In
structions 70 his bookkeeper, placing
necessary funds at his disposal, before
the next train for the cast
"What pity you did not accept my