The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-13

llltI up again IntSCulGNOuElN INTO
eyes-"I knocked him down"
Sir Roger roared.
Yes, he said. I'VE had the gentleman
up before the bench a week later for rob-
bling hen roosts. and he was still carry
ing fine healthy black eye. He confided
the story to Roberts, our constable, and
his comments on Mary's hard hitting were
as complimentary as they are unsuited for
polite earsH'
Dallas looked disguised.
You have played tennis to some pur
pose, Miss Jenner," he said. colby.
FOh, it isn't all tennis" she answered,
with her frank smile. "One of my cous-
ms taught me a little about scientific hit
ting He showed me the positions and all
that; and l have an old foot ball slung
from the ceiling, and practice on that
every morning"
Did your cousin recommend that as
suitable training?"
NO, / saw it in ]. L. Sullivan's book
on sparring. He says anyone can keep
their eye and hand in, that way
Really. And you devote so many hours
day 90 knocking this ball about?"
Minutes" she corrected; and only
few-fifteen times with each hand, and, OF
course, advance, retreat, and work round
it. Really. it is a splendid thing for de-
Yeloping ones muscles"
Ihat Delng. OF course, so desirable in
woman" sneered Dallas.
The girl looked at him gravely.
You mean TO be sarcastic" she said;
but surely every woman and every man
should try to cultivate the best physique
poss'ble2 Is not perfection of health and
strength beauty?"
Il confess l have never looked on
strength as a desira bic quality In a wo-
man. l am old-fashioned, and prefer a
woman to be womanly."
And what do you mean by a womanly
woman" she inquired.
Dallas was annoyed.
II hope it is not necessary for me to en-
tighten you on the essential qualities of
your own sex. There are certain attrl-
butes we look for in a woman (the antith-
esis of those we require in a mani, which
this horrible new woman movement
seems bent on eliminating. But perhaps
you sympathize with the latest phase of
female emancipation
IF you mean that approve of girls be-
ing trained physically and mentally to be
real companions to their brothers and hus-
bands yes, most certainly l do
Then we must agree to differ I'm
afraid. No man wants female compan-
ion. He has his men friends with whom
to share his masculine pursuits and in
terests. He doesn't want to. consult his
Wife on politics, or bushes, or sport. When
he wants relaxation he likes to talk to a
woman, as woman. OF course, l know
all the catch words of the modern craze,
but this assumption of mems dress and
habits, all this rot about higher education
and equality of the sexes is destroying the
essential feminine charm. A girl goes to
Girton, initiates the swagger of an under
graduate. smokes, drinks brandies and So
das. talks nonsense about sport, and brags
about her muscular strength. She becomes
loud and slangy and-well, / think dis
gushing, and what does it all amount to
Just talk! II any real strain Is put on
her strength, she breaks down, and must
be forgiven, If l doubt her being any
pluckier than the grandmother she de-
spises."
There was little pause. Then Miss
Jenner asked quietly:
Have you known many Girton girls?"
mo, thank Heaven and | don't want
to- said Dallas shortly.
Il am afraid you must know one now. :"
she responded meekly; Il am a Girton
girl, Mr.. Dallas, fair average specimen.
l think. We are not in the least like the
description you have just given Most of
us are as well bred, better educated md
quite as refined as our grandmothers: for
whom, by the way, we cherish a great re-
spect. These who can afford to do so.
dress well; many are both pretty and
charmlns You seem to have collected
your idea of Girton girl from the cheap
Press, and the novels of ignorant and pref
udieed writers; and on this point" with
emphasis, 81 must confess, your opinion
seems to me of very small value"
Then she rose TO follow the ladies to the
drawing room, leaving Dallas with the I'M
pleasant conviction that he had been thor
oughly and deservedly snubbed For the
rest of the evening he avoided her. and
was slightly surprised by her apparent nm
! consciousness of the fact.
He was further destined to discover that
! she possessed a well-trained contralto
voice, and sang with taste and feeling
Later on she took hand at whist and 6
/ Dallas watched her judicious play, and
noted the fine lines of her shoulders, above
the fan of cards in her hand he was COM
PEELED TO admit that Miss Jenner contro-
verted all his theories concerning the mod
ern girl, and Il is to be feared that he
liked her none the better on that account
! But as if fate took a malicious pleasure In
thrusting her on his notice, hardly a day
| passed ON which Mary Jenner was moi
forciby recalled to his memory. Now il
was the vicar who warmly eulogized her
| helpfulness in the parish; or the old
! groom, whose admiration of missile &
his gratitude for her unvaryng kindness
to his bed-ridden wife. If Dallas Went
| round the estate with Sir Roger. he was
sure TO catch a glimpse of his aversion 90.
ing in and out of the poorer cottages. ~
he had to listen to praises of her skill and
! generosity in times of sickness and iron.
bic. Dallas listened with impatience and
escaped as soon as possible
81 am sick of her very name" he gr,m.
4 bled to himself; ''every one is mad abou
the girl. l wish TO goodness they wouldn
1 bore me with her virtues. l hate strong
minded, muscular women, who are al
ways managing other peoples business
If the girl had evinced any special in
terest in him, Dallas would Instantly hav,
stood on the defensive. but she never man.
Tested the smallest desire to attract lbiA
attention. When they met she was pleas
| ant and civil; if he absented himself. She
2 never appeared to miss him.
Her serene indifference piqued the youns
man. He became less unapproachable. III
no longer avoided Mary: by degrees be
even fell into the habit of coming in ~
tea on afternoons when he knew she wa,
visiting his aunt. and of walking horoe
with her when he met her in the village
. Before a fortnight was gone Dallas began
to think sensible girl might in the Ions
/ run prove better company than a pretty