Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-07-17
TIRED OUT.

Old Mr.. Corbett used to say that
his niece Audrey would certainly
end by marrying professional ath-
leie, or the "strong man" from some
show. He said this whenever he
was more than usually annoyed with
her. He was somewhat old fash
Toned person, and the modern mus
cular young woman filed him with
both surprise and indignation. 1t
was, therefore, unfortunate that his
niece should have been a particular
ly fine specimen Of this kind of
thing.
Audrey Corbett was unusually
tall, unusually fair to look upon, and
very unusually vigorous and active.
Other women liked her. They said
she was nicely which they meant
that she was as healthy in mind as
she was in body, and that the small
WEAKNESSES which spoil many ma
lures had been lett out of hers; but
with the male portion Of her acquaint-
ances she did not get on quite so
well. She suffered from an unceas-
ing desire to prove the general su'
periority of woman to man.
One Of her pet theories was that,
given fair advantages and proper
training, there was no reason at all
why women should not presently RI
val men in physical strength. She
herself walked, drove, and rode and
bicycled, and golfed and skated, and
tennised with amazing vigor.
Her cousin, Tom Corbett, was
wont to listen to her TRADES with an
amiable smile. He said that she
was undoubtedly right, and that
men were poor lot. That was why
it was such good thing that the
women were going to take over the
management Of the world.
He was big, broad-shouldered
young man, With clever, ugly face,
and great talent for lying con-
tentedly under trees.
Now it was desirable for many
reasons (reasons principally connect
ed with the property that these two
cousins should presently drift into
matrimony; that it was perhaps on
ly natural that Audrey should set
her face against the arrangements
with all her might and Audrey's
likes and dislikes were not to be
trifed with.
You might argue with her if you
felt SO disposed, and when you had
exhausted yourself she would smile
sweetly and say she was quite con-
WINGED that your way was best, only
she did not intend to follow it.
AS soon as she suspected her uncle's
little matrimonial scheme she SHE'D
away from it like frightened colt.
"The man I marry" she announc-
ed one day, apropos of nothing,
"must sympathize with and share all
my pursuits
"Poor be-beggar !" said Tom.
"Choose him sound in wind and
limb, Audrey, or he will undoubted-
ly double up and die from exhaus-
ton"
But old Mr.. Corbett was disturb.
ed by Audrey's opposition.
"You know, Tom," he remarked,
after Audrey had left them, dit is
really most desirable that you should
marry your cousin
Tom was lighting his pipe at that
moment. He waited until he had
finished before he made his reply.
II mean to marry her, said he.
mot because it is observation-disclosures
l want to-
"But IL am afraid she doesn't
want to, Tom"
Il know she DOESN'T be returned
cheerfully. Nevertheless, 1 mean
to do it. Do not look so startled !;
do not intend to use force
Now few days after this Tom
was lying comfortably stretched out
under tree on the lawn smoking,
when Audrey came out of the house
and stopped beside him. She was
dressed for walking, IN short skirt
and thick boots. She professed to
despise personal adornment, but
those boots, though thick, lad made
her bootmaker very unhappy before
they were to her mind.
II cannot imagine, Tom,n said she,
chow you take pleasure in being so
ridiculously lazy u
II cannot imagine, Audrey" said
he, chow you take pleasure in being
SO ridiculously activer'