Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1900-03-16
JUST A WOMAN'S WAY.


'No, guess not. I'm comfortable
here" And the speaker looked it as he
sank lower in an easy chair and lazil;
blew smoke toward a statuette on the
mantel.
Ideal October day outside, and there's
nothing in the way Of weather finer than
that. Sunday afternoon, too, and hun
dreds Of people out for an airing.''
II don't care for anything finer than
this, and the miscellaneous crowd has
ceased to interest me. Go on and enjoy
yourself, if you care to. I'll stay here
and look after the den."
''Dick, you've got 'em. What if she did
refuse you? You act as though the world
had come to an end for you"
But she didn't refuse me; just said to
wait for time and see. Hung me over
the precipice. az it we're, on a slender
hope" And Dick laughed a mirthless
laugh.
"What's the matter with the girl, any
how? Is she afraid that you have not at
tanned sufficient greatness to crafty her
ambition?''
ITS all because I'm not up to her
standard. She thinks that l write just
to show what little brilliancy l have, to
make money and attract praise. There's
something in it too. Her idea is, don't
you see, that all literature should have q
high moral purpose and accomplish good
among those who read it. That's all
right enough She has 40 ideals and is
going to live up to them. You can't help
admiring woman with the courage of
her convictions, can you?'
my candid opinion is that she comes
mighty near being bluestocking. Now
don't get huffy, for she has dropped you.
That's plain enough
II tell you she hasn't. We're to remain
friends, just the same, and I'm not the
fellow to so back on my friends
"You're hopeless, Dick. Don't you
know that clever girl always let's fell
low down that way? Come on out and
give up this fool idea of stagnating just
because you've met with disappoint-
ment. Chances are that We'll see her,
1t was this last possibility that induced
Dick TO make a hurried toilet and then
start up the avenue with his friend. In
fact. they were chums, one doctor. the
other a writer, and both bachelors occu-
plying the quarters in which the above
conversation occurred.
Though the mathematical probabilities
were all against it, they did meet her
sauntering about the park with her ia
ther All four stood near the fountain
talking for some time, and then the ia
ther indicated that they must part by
asking Dick to be sure to call at the
house the next evening, as he had an ln,-
portant matter to talk over with him.
Dick cConf nrlv hnv1r hale hot
night, devoting all the remainder of the
time and the next day to wondering and
guessing at what her father might want.
His most plausible conclusion was that
she had told the old gentleman of the
proposal, and he wanted to discuss some
phase of the matter. probably to caution
him not to repeat the offense.
But Dick was on time and was shown
into the pretcntious library for private
conference.
"My young man, Began the father at
once. Il have consented. at the solicita-
ton of my friends, to run for congress.
am assured Of the nomination, and.
Notwithstanding we have close district,
am confident Of election. l can afford to
spend some money and propose to do so.
You are Writer?"
'Not on political economy or the great
issues now before the people,"
''Of course not but you know how to
put ideas into forcible and effective Ian
guage. I want some one who can do
the smooth and the plausible. convincing
those that are not settled and firm in
their opinions. III supply the cartridges
and only want you to fire them"
"But I'm not Of your party. and not in
accord with it's tenets. I do not believe
that it should be intrusted with the adj
ministration Of our national affairs. and
I cannot lend myself to bringing abou.
such a result"
I'm not asking you to sacrifice your
convictions, sir" replied the old gentle
man stifay. I'm responsible for my po-
sition and the arguments with which I
fortify it. You simply supply the Ian
guage to be utilized as campaign litera-
ture. | hire your talent as writer"
II do not write from dictation. either
as to words or thoughts. Pardon the
suggestion. sir. but what you want is
stenographer and typewriter" With that
Dick arose and nothing more was said
until the door was reached, when the
father CURLY Informed Dick that he
could not reasonably expect to be a caller
at the house in future.
swell. you have put your foot in it,"
laughed the doctor when he heard par
ticulars Of the call.
"Foot? I'm in up to my ears. But I've
established standard. haven't I? I'm
an advocate Of what believe to be high
moral principals, am l not? I'll do some
writing now in which l will seek neither
money nor praise, and that's what she
wants. isn't it %
"Pshaws Ny dear boy, she wouldn't
look at you il she'd meet you on the
street. Her abstract theories won't in
dorse an action that hurts her father.
You've burned your ships behind you.
Dick, but don't show the white feather"
And Dick didn't. He wrote campaign
literature for his own party and wrote
as never before. Once stirred, he was an
champion Of his cause
lie took to the stump, not as special
or specious pleader, but as an honest ard
conscientious patriot. His utterances
went thrilling home as the truth. and
those who heard him had a more exalted
idea of the duties of citizenship. During
the entire campaign he never heard a
word from her. and when the old gentle
man was handsomely defeated Dick hur-