Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-06-20
! LOVES VICTORY !
BY Elizabeth b. Cuttings. !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Copyright, 1901, by Authors syndicate)


sophists. She belonged to North end
club called "Sons and Daughters o.
Progress It's watchword was 1.-The
Srbordination of the Individual to the
Good Of the Whole" From this point of
view it discussed the leading issues OF
tho day, and arrived at some remark
able conclusions. 1t held, for instance,
that the claims of youth were in every
way paramount to those of advanced
age. inasmuch as childhood held I'M
told possibilities of rich fruitage yet
in bud, while old age was but ripened
and emptied seed pod, and even middle
life had in most cases past the zenith
of fruition. Some of the most progress
sive members even went so far as to
aver that when public sentiment had
been sufficiently educated to overcome
sentimental prejudice regarding the
value of human life, it might be pos
sible and wise to dispose of the senile
Or hopelessly diseased in as summary
a way as we treat the emptied pod or
the blighted plant.
Mrs. Reid Joined the club as the wife
Of well-to-do stock broker who had
come west for ga slight throat trou-
BILE" The same winter a tumble
in stocks and an attack of la grippe
had left him penniless invalid. They
removed to two-roomed house in the
South end and Mrs. Reid took in fine
sewing and embroidery. A few months
after this change their daughter AL
berta was born. A week previous to
her birth a wealthy customer came
to consult about an infants wardrobe.
81 will do what I can for you, but can
promise nothing ahead. I"
Her lip quivered and sudden pallor
followed the thought of what she
must soon face and the slender sum
laid by for the emergency. Her GUS
toner was politely sympathetic.
81 am sorry" she said; 81 would like
everything done by your hand; your
work is exquisite"
That evening, when her husband was
asleep, Mrs. Reid took out the dainty
little clothes which she had fashioned
before adversely overwhelmed her.
They were fine enough for the child of
millionaire. After kissing each tiny
garment and crying quietly awhile,
she replaced them. The next morning
she telephoned the wealthy customer,
who came and examined the wardrobe
critically and took it away in her car
riage. After Mrs. Reid had bought a
cheap, ready-made outfit there was
enough money left to double the emer-
gency fund. But she cried good deal
nights, which was bad for Alberta.
For Alberta was not only delicate,
sensitive child, but very early devel-
oped a craving for things dainty and
fine, which her mother could not sup
r. ply. Imbued with the club theories OF
the supremacy of childhood, Mrs, Reid
began to grow bitter over Alberta's
defrauded childhood. Her husbands
cough began to exasperate her in
b stead of arouSing her sympathy. Every
dollar she spent for medicine seemed
. stolen from Alberta. She found herself
vaguely wondering how long a con
sumptive could live. OF course there
were times when these feelings
shocked and panied her, and she would
then redouble her devotion to her hus
band and try to forget club theories.
h Sometimes she almost wished she
had withdrawn from the club wher
their change of fortune came, but il
seemed the one link with her happy
- past, and she could not let it go.
Her husband shared-or tried tt
VI share-the remarkable beliefs of the
"Sons and Daughters of Progress"
do you know, DEAR" he said, as
she was dressing Ior the club ont
evening, that you would be quite
justified in suing for divorced"
Mrs Reid started. Divorce was tn,
subject for discussion that night.
EYES," he continued, "as the law
F. are now, you could get one easil,
enough-nonsupport, you know-an'
unhampered by me you could Civ
Alberta the privileges which SHOULD
be her birthright. I have though
often that I ought-to take-mysel
away-but I am too cowardly-TT
too sick to be brave-and II Low
you and Alberta so"
''But not well enough to die for u
bark! there is my car. Be sure A
30 berta keeps covered, but don't sit u
for me. Good-by!"
Mrs. Reds words were light
spoken. She meant them as a jes
but they entered her husbands sol
. like a red-hot iron.
n At the club they took the sam
L view of divorce suggested by M
id Reid If for any cause a man faile
to support and properly educate h
children and the mother could do TIL
better alone, she was amply justife
in severing the marriage tie. In fac
it was her plain duty to do so.
. ''But if the husband was sick an
helpless?" ventured Mrs. Reid, tin
zee idly.
e ea Harmon Hale shot her a keen il
! Of terrogating glance, which so Disco
certed her that she but half heedt
- the answer to her question.
AT "There are hospitals and sanitai
irts ums. A right-minded man wou
rather himself become puOllc chart
than risk the future of his children
~ Harmon Hale was bachelor m
lze, lionaire who made no secret of b
his admiration for Mrs. Reid, althou(
ing, he never gave her offensive ate
tons. After the club he offered
- drive her home in his trap and s.
veil accepted. He had daring scheme
ad- unfold, and he began cautiously:
igaI ~, -, ss,r,or
. "Will you pardon me, Mrs. Reid,
Aw 7 saw that read the thought behil
, d15e your question tonight? I know yo
at case is a hard one, but did you II
ce- approve of the answerY
"What was it? Oh, yes-hosp1ts
and sanitariums. suppose IL
axe right, but it seems cruel, heartless