The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-10-08
~ VsE VVIVVII.
THE NEWEST WOMAN. ]


WELL really now, this is awfully
good Of you, Miss Polly, taking pity on
a poor devil like me. Have a chair,
will you?' and Roderick Hospitality
swept O pile of papers from the single
CHAIR his stuffy little office contained.
Thanks. said Polly dcmurely. ut
grieyes me to sce"--with severe
bending OF her pretty brow-"that you
are not quite so commodiously dom
iciled as you have led your friends TO
believe. Indeed, | fail to observe the
costly statue, or the Curtaincd recess
which hid n painters masterpiece, or
the bric-a-brac which adorned your
special sanctum, or the jardiniere of
eXotics--or''--
"Oh come, now, don't be hard on
fellow if he tried TO cheat the world a
little with his optimism. but | found a
parallel for every parable
Parable is very mild expression"
put in Miss Polly. "G call it lies"
THE Bible name sounds better" he
suggested, mildly, land more appro-
pirate, besides | can illustrate every
assertion. For instance"-he pulled
aside the curtain before his one win
Gew-"this is the curtained recess, un-
snug ledge here, from which I look
down upon my costly statute: there it
is-od Ben Franklin, shedding his be-
nigh presence over that dingy square.
Is he not as much as mine as he is
yours or Mr.. Smiths next door? That's
the sociological light to view it in;
and the painters masterpiece is a lit
tie further on, but visible to the naked
M. 1T,
quisite in the sunlight and on duh and
murky days it is Corot at his best; it
might be n Turner just now, it is such
a brilliant dash of color. And the
bric-a -brac. | assure you. Miss Polly,
that brokcn-noscd Juno on the shelf
just over your head is a marvel Of the
rare unique"
And the exotics," murmured Polly,
how can you account for thcm?"
My greatest treasurer" he an
nounced, pushing a single flower pot in
view. "This if a spring of rose ger
an,um that certain young lady
dropped from her hair last Christmas
at the Carringtons' ball. Are you sat
isiicd?"
"No. All those half-truths are worse
than lies'-with "A queer little catch in
her voice, then with sudden change
"Roderick"---
"Wcll?"
"Tve come to eat my lunch with you;
It's dreadfully improper, / know. but"
maliciously, my little Office was 50
small that I sighed for more spacious
quarters. Are YOU sure your clients
will not interrupt u.s."
81 think ! may assure you safety on
that score
every well, then. I shall spread the
feast" cried Miss Polly, springing uT
and grasping a fat black bag, which
had nestled unnoticed in her lap. Re
move your ink ana Quills from YOU
desk into the recess, also the lega
cap and those heavy tones of juris
prudence and "The Heavenly Twins,
With withcrng scorn. "Is that the
way you spend your time, Roderick?'
"Only in my leisure moments" hC
l:saded.
do you know" said Miss Polly
"Pye been thinking it over calmly ant
deliberately and I've come to the con
clusion that progress and poverty
Gput pull together at all. Theoretical
ly it's all very well to strain a poin
aud say they do, but coming down t.
facts" with a smart thump OF he
closed fist on the desk, "it doesn't
work The grindstone of poverty ha'
no more in common with the gian
strides of progress than-than"-
You with me-" suggested ROderlcl
Z She sent a reprOaChful glance acrOs
the desk the where he sat in the re
cess.
"Can't you be impersonal for jus
two minutes?" she asked "I like 4
generalize wide of the mark and mar
row down gradually and logically T.
my objective point 1t is such u mis-
take TO think that all women jump a
conclusions. The new woman is a bov
such things"
You must he the very newest thin
in women" he said, in an cmphati
tone of approval.
She shook her head. "NO, we haven
Eeaehed the supcrlative yet"
I'VE! Then you are one in tn
ranks?"
Certainly" cried Polly, looking dis
tinctly offended. You don't suppose
have come here for nothing?"