The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1895-09-17
THE NEW WOMAN.

wish you would see 1t In the proper
way. she began presently, turning on
me abruptly. "Iwill endeavor to-, said
Ipolitely. '"Pray explain " She frown-
ed. 'fWell, said she, 'you must sure
ly see that the evolution of woman is
continuing. She has developed great
deal. "Of what?" 1 asked. "Of moth
ing" she exclaimed impatiently "Her
position has developed, and she must
have more freedom. !" ''Freedom?'' I
asked inquiringly. Eyes, freedom to
come and go, freedom to live her own
life. What is the difference, pray, be-
tween man and woman?"
"Why''- said l.
"There are certain differences, Ger
tainly," said Miss Lambton- Hyatt, hes
itating, "but not the great distinctions
that are vulgarly supposed. A woman
has mind, she has her own thoughts,
and she ought to pursue her own career
like man. But marriage'-I began.
''Pooh Marriage! p said she contemp-
tuously. "If she likes to marry, let her.
So does a man, and it does not inter
fere with him." "Then woman, said
l, trying to understand, ''should be as
much like a man as may be?'' Miss
Lambton-Hyatt considered "No," she
| said, "you put words into my mouth. I
never said that. /" "Well?" l asked.
"She ought to be as independent as a
man, said she triumphantly She look
| ed her triumph at me, and my eyes
| wandered over her face, and to her hair
and down again to the rich silk of her
| opera cloak.
"Why do you look at me like that?"
asked Miss Lambton- Hyatt irritably.
"I.was thinking said L ooh, yes"
she interrupted, "you were thinking
that am too weak or pretty or fragile
to be independent. That's what men
are always thinking. It's their stock ar
gument. Argument" She laughed and
turned to me again. 81 put in practice
my theories" she said deliberately and
watching me for the effect of the thun-
derbolt I started "What do you
mean?" asked hastily. She nodded.
81 live my own life now, said she.
'Whose life did YOU But there l
broke off, for Miss Lambton- Hyatt's |
handsome eyes were glittering "Oh,"
said feebly, that is Interestingly
''Do you think, she said, that am
tied to man s coattail like other girls?'
"Do you think that / come and go at |
any ones behest?' tNo, no." said,
shaking my head more firmly. "Do you
think that would obey-well, you, for
instance?" "Good gracious, nor' l said
in haste
"Do you think"-
Certainly not, I broke in hurried
". ''See how free am. she went on
warmly, and throwing back her cloak
in her enthusiasm she waved her long,
white arms Significantly about the car
riage. "Yes, indeed, l said, looking at
the arms. "Here l am, at II 80 at
night, returning from solitary expedi-
ton to the theater--all alone 81 am
here put in bashfully. She looked at
me and frowned ooh, that is an acct
DENT" she said, 81 met you. - GA for
tunate accident, murmured. WHAT"
said Miss Lambton- Hyatt sharply. "For
me, F" added humbly. well, she said,
"is it not far better to be quite independ-
emit like this than to be forever hang
ing upon some one else for what you
want, like an encnmbrance?" Ever so
much better" assented quickly.
The train rolled out of the station.
Suddenly l leaped to my feet and thrust
down the window. Good heayensl"
cried. ~
whats the matter?" said Miss
Lambton- Hyatt anxiously
pulled in my head, shut the win
dow slowly and sat down opposite to
her. 'That was our station" said.
She looked at me iu distress. "You
don't mean / nodded. "Unfortu-
nately, yes. =
She jumped up and pulled at the win
| dow frantically. please sit down."
said, ''you can do no good now. The
train can't possibly be stopped. " She
dropped into her seat breathing hard.
"What will happen?" she asked.
"Why"- said l. I'VE shall have to get
out at the next station?" she said, with
note of Interrogation in her voice and
some embarrassment in her manner
"This train does not stop for 20
miles. explained. "OhW she cried,
blanching. st is the last train" said
/, land there's no up train before to-
morrow morning." ''Ohp' she cried
again and stared at me, frightened.
"What shall we do?" she asked in low
tones shrugged my shoulders 1T is
a nuisance, isn't it?' said l calmly.
Nuisance ~ she said. How can you
take it SO coolly? Oh, it's awful It's
DREADFUL r. And she choked back
sob and gazed at me with scared face
"We can t even let them know" / said
Its too late to telegraph. "Oh, Mr..
Somerville,' she cried brokenly, what
will they think?'' Perhaps they II fan
cy you staid the night in town, - said
soothingly. "Of course they re accus-
toned to your independent ways?"
"How can you?" she cried. "How un-
kind of you, when l am So They Il
think I'm killedr' "Oh, no." said 1
cheerfully, .'you mustn't think that p
"But it's SO horrible, she exclaimed
tearfully, 'to be here, right away from
every one p "There's me-" said.
eyes, yes; I'm SO glad you're here, .
she cried, staring restlessly about the
carriage. DuI-Ouo "h"V AN "
do? Oh, do say something-do suggest
something's 1--WE shall have to put up
at hotel, 4" said L HOTEL" she ex-
claimed, looking at her dress and then
at me. "But what will people think!
What will"- "Well, it's the same fol-
me, /" said 1 nonchalantly. "Oh, but its
different with you'll" she broke forth.
Chow can you compare the two cases
Your a man, and you're a WON
an finished for her.
She eyed me. "You are very unkind. ;
she said tearfully ''You take advantage
of me. I" Indeed" protested, II viii
do exactly what you tell me. Only Civ
me your instructions. She wrung he
hands. "But l have none" she ex
claimed. II have no idea what to do
p
I sat looking at her. "You Nigh
have seen what station it was and toll
me- she said presently in reproach
full voice. 81 beg your pardon, said
apologetically, "but was listening
you. You were so interesting in wha
you were saying about the independ
ence''- sob, please don'tp' said she
Her humiliation was SO complete ths
had not the heart to proceed, and
was silent.
The train slackened. settled down