The Monticellonian., 1895-09-13
M'D0UGALL'S CONVERsI0e
BY BELLE FrEL.,.
.aWhatp,


 simply indeseribable, as Harry Mo pongah dropped his paper and regard , ed his cousin in dignified amazenient , A prettier cousin than usual she wa,
 just then, her blue eyes and pinl
 checks little bluef and pinker, a,
 She viewed her surprised relative. whe soon found voice to remonstrate:
 Do you mean to say that you, whose Sole ambition should be the enhaneibd of woman's chief virtue, retiring mod. esty' are really proposing to enter my hliii as bookkeeper? If so, you are either very ignorant of what would be eX. pected of you in that capacity OF you are forgetting what is due yonr own Womanhood. Henrietta McDougaI, l am ashamed of youl'
 The subject Of this tirade merely gave her decided chin little lift. and made answer
 l toh need not hatter yourself that l you are going to extinguish me with your heroics, Harry, for 1 most cer- tainly do intend to go into an office even if the shock should prove serious to your conservative organization. As you refuse my offer, shall take a posi- tion with the Big Salt Lumber com i pany; but l thought it would be pleas ant to work with you.n
 1 The young man cleared his throat two or three times before he found voice for expostulation.
 But, Henrietta, it is not a Yoman's $ l place. Contact with men in business life disarms woman of her best weapon. EHd withal her greatest charm. She wreelIs her own matrimonial chances: Tor, you see, when men marry, they do net choose the gIrls who have thrust themselves forward, but tie for life to the home girl Then, too," continued he, with touch of pempositv. "woman's brain is of such different caliber that she is never success in the business world. While l esteem you very highly as friend and cousin. l could not give you place in my office. 1 must have the broader out look cf man, and dc not feel that | could trust apy woman with such responsible position as that held by my booleHeeper.a =
 This time there was no mistal1ing the real indignation In the girls face and voice.
 Harry, l should be very angry with your insinuations, but l really only pity one who holds such warped views l want you to understand that girls nowadays are not compelled to go about on tiptoe and with bated breath for fear of spelling their matrimonial chances. Talk about trustworthinessl Who abseonds with the employers money? Not the woman Talk about the broaderoutloolS. Wait until your cross-eyed booillleeper goes to South America with the contents of your safe, and you will wish you had one of the untrustworthy women in his place"
 Don't let HIS quarrel, my dear" patronized Harry, flor 1 did not wish to offend You. l was shocked that you, so young, so pretty, wished to do mans work
 1t is not mans work, Harry" said the girl, quickly. Work is classified according to it's excellence, and not the sex of the worker. But there is no use in arguing with you, turning to leave the room. "0n second thought" and she paused on the threshold, let me predict that you will fall hepelessly 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 1 become an imbecile 1 shall marry for a companion; q woman who will know her sphere and keep it. ''
 "Ah, it will certainly happen, my sapient cousin, and how l will gIoat over you and remind you of these spicy conversations of onrsl''
 With merry laugh the girl closed the door and ran lightly down the hall. leaving behind her a much beruified young man.
 Harry McDougall was not at heart an intolerant man, but his whole life environment had been conservative in the highest degree.
 His residence in the west had been but short, and he was daily surprised at the freedom accorded women about him. lie marveled at the unconscious ness with which business men accepted into their precincts the entrance of l business women, and abhorred. | through ignorance of the thought of | the times, their intrusion" as he | called it.
 His disposal of "the superfiuous woman" had been by matrimony, or [ relegation to her own roof tree, not | considering that the superfluous wom- an had no one to marry her, nor male relative to provide a roof-tree, or support it beneath its shelter, even did the bread of de- pendenee taste sweet to her.
 But few months before young Me Dougall had come to Kansas from Connecticut to take charge of a flour ing mill lately purchased by his father a property situated in small town some thirty miles west of Elliston, home
 The business was prospering, and does not make an intolerant man tolerant; So upon his visits to El- liston his alterations with Henrietta had become more spirited, eliminating in the application by the girl for posi- ton as bookkeeper in his mill and his pompous refusal of it.
 The next morning, before breakfast. a telegram informed Harry that his father had been the victim of an acci- dent in the old min at home. and de sired the immediate presence of his son. He had barely time to write in- structions to his bookkeeper, placing