The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-06-07

merous, and yet the war OF wordt
showed but faint signs of abatement.
The secretary Of the Young Ladies
Mission band, who kept the records OF
the matrimonial debate as duty equal
| ly important with keeping the records
Of mission work accomplished, an
nounced that all pseudonyms had been
solved, and all but Hedsy, OF the Bach
elors' club, and all but two of the M.
M. L. had appeared in print In defense
of their avowed principles. And yet,
though Hedsy was confessedly the most
wavering bachelor, he had thus far
shown not the least sign that he in
tended ever to capitulate or change
camps. As he explained to Miss CUTLER
ene evening, there was no possibility of
Ms being converted until some one in
/, the ranks of the M. M. L. by example
or reason could overcome his one objec-
ton against women; and insomuch as
no writer on either side had yet
touched upon the mannishness of the
weaker sex, either directly or Indirect
ly, he was apparently safe for all time
to come
Regarding the two married men who
had not written there was considerable
conjecture. One was a lawyer who had
recently moved into Welham and whose
abilities as disputant were still among
the unknown quantities; the other was
a young newspaper man lately married
to Wellesley graduate who wore
starched linen collars and four-in-hand
neckties all the year round.
While concerning these two surmis-
ings had as yet reached no solid
ground, and while the M. M. L. were
hoping and the bachelors were afraid
that Hedsy would change sides in the
struggle, new nom de plume appeared
among the defendants of matrimony.
"Peter Pen" was the insignificant name
signed to the most virile and convinc-
ing article that had been printed dur
ing the whole course of the discussion.
In it every rule Of logic and every can
on of taste was most exactly observed;
argument followed upon argument,
each apparently more convincing than
its predecessor. and yet all articulated
with marvellous nicely, decked out
with every grace of style, frightened
by touches of the gentlest satire or
richest humor. 1t was,~ in short, a
masterpiece, and most, strangely of all,
its central theme, the idea from which
every argument derived its greatest
strength, wasthe eternal femininity Of
woman, the Etoig soei6HcAe as Goethe
would call it.
If sudden death had overtaken all |
the people of Welham that night, on
every heart except one, and that Peter
PENS" own heart, would probably have
been written the question: "Who is
Peter Pen?' Some said that the logic
of the article, its concise and vigorous
treatment Of hackneyed theme,
pointed indubitabl y TO a lawyer as it
writer. Others looking at the grace
full wording and fine literary work.
denied that anyone but
journalist could be capable of such
And between these two
each striving to lead the other
unto the truth, and yet each unwilling
to yield one jot of it's own convictions,
Welham almost forgot to think Of
Hedsy Hoyt. the doubtful bachelor.
He received his Gazette from his
newsboy, went upstairs, and entering
MS room carefully locked the door be-
1ind him.
How the article impressed him,
whether he was hardened or convinced,
whether he was mad or glad, l shall
never know, for was on the outside
If the door. But can certify to these
acts: An hour or so later Hedsy
,alled upon the young lawyer who had
'ecently come to town, and asked him
! question. Having received an an
wer, he next hunted up the journal
st, propounded to him question and
vas given a reply. AS he left the
ournalist's house l fancied he looked
but only for minute. A
light as of revelation broke over his
ace, and, directing his steps toward ,
'ol. Quiller's house, he rang the bell
nd was ushered into the parlor.
Several evenings later, Col. Jared
luiller, editor, manager and proprie-
or of the Welham Gazette, balanced :
is account for the last time in the
natter of the Bachelor VS.. Married.
Ian venture. The items were some
hing as follows: Credit, twenty-nine
etters from prominent citizens, one
thousand one hundred and fifty new
nbscribers to Gazette; Debit, one post
&c stamp, one hundred and twenty
ounds of the most valuable matter on
ne face of the globe, best described by
ne name Rose. And it was some one
Their than the colonel who did the ,
niling.-Amherst Literary Monthly.