The leader., 1897-08-25
Inn, neveri And you who say these

him, neveri And you who say these
things are no honor TO your Sex"
Here we had all instinctively risen,
for the scene was getting warlike. The
men, though silent, looked angry, and
there was fear in my heart that things
had gone too far. Mrs. 0lhausen never
looked so we'll; slightly pale, from the
insult, she preserved calmness Of fea-
ture that was admirable, and her an
swer came like ice drops.
we differ in our opinions, and may
never be friends. You express your
ideas freely. reserve my judgment of
you. i repeat, | shall use my pen and
voice ever in opposition TO this new POI
sition of women, trusting that a few
loyal ones may in time abate this fe-
verish epidemic-this temporary aber-
ration of the female mind"
She swept from the room like queen,
and we followed. y murmur of admira-
ton, and su5dued whistle from the
little neutral man could be heard midst
the frou frou of female drapery.
After a day or two peace spread her
wings again over us all, to the exclusion
of excitement. Another day came when
Mrs. New told of her fathers death.
We had been bathing, and were rallying
her on her evident terror of the water.
She told us how her mother, she, and
her tiny sisters, were OH the shore,
watching the husband and father us he
swan and dived. They were so proud
of his strength, so amused with his
merry pranks. Finally, while they were
laughing, clapping their hands and
shouting to him, he gave "A deep plunge,
and when he came to the surface he
struggled-they thought it fun-and
while they laughed, he disappeared.
Mrs. Old was looking off to sea. y ten
der sympathy glowed on her face. Per-
haps this was not lost upon the speak
or, who went on: I'VE lived in Ger
many. My mother was only gentle
mother-and a haus frau-that was all.
My fathers brother had our little money
to invest. He soon possessed himself
Of it, and we were homeless-penniless.
Every mans hand was against us. My
mother fought a hard, bitter fight,
clothing and educating us at the cost
of health-almost of life. Finally, by
her persistent effort, she saved enough
to bring us TO this country, and put us
in way to earn an honorable living,
without man or boy to hel Up her!"
The poor, sad story. None seemed to
feel it more deeply than Mrs. Olhausen,
who stole softly toward the house, with
head turned from us, silent as were we
all.
Bathing always makes me drowsy.
The still air, comfortable hammock and
warm salty breeze sent Inc off into a
sound sleep. The hum of voices aroused
me, and | realized that the afternoon
shadows had heightened, and that was
an eavesdropper.
Mrs. Newstadter was standing by the
old horse-chestnut tree, gazing over
the water, her face full of bitter and
sweet memory. Mrs. Olhausen came
up beside her. holding out to her late
enemy bunch of fragrant red roses,
saying, softly:
The old woman comes to the
new one, to ask her forgiveness, she
has misjudged her, doubted, opposed her.
she acknowledges herself wrong in
many things. Can she be forgiven
Out went Mrs. Neustadter's arms, and
her grlishly eager voice said:
"Oh, my dear, forgive me! perhaps
would have thought and felt as you, had
nv ancestors been like yours-my girl
hood guarded as yours was and all
trouble ard evil that men do smoothed
away from my path. We are both right
and both wrong"
Here came the sound of sobs from
two voices. And looking up, to my in
tense surprise, l saw those two locked
in loving, close embrace. The fusion
was perfect. You could not have told
the new woman from the old, to have