Barton County democrat., 1902-11-21
A WOMAN WHO
WAS FREE&&
By FLoY CAMPBELL.

IT HEY were driving along country
road together, through the gath
| ering dusk, when one of them said,
looking at the dying light in the west:
"It's getting pretty latess Anne;
hadn't we better start for home? :?
| Mother iS always worried about me it
I'm out as late as this::'
Anne shrugged her shoulders impa-
tiently, as she turned the horses about.
81 wouldn't be the bond slave you
are for worlds she said; Its bad
enough to be tied down to that poky
old schoolroom full of stupid children
for six hours day, but you tie your
self to the whims and notions of all
your family, in addition; it is simply
enslaving yourself, as I said, and call
it silly
Maybe it is" responded the slave,
cheerfully, "but if you have a family
few of your own whims and notions
to the family's, you see."
"Then I'm glad I have no family;
I'm free at least"
The word ''free" is a seductive one
The lips of the bond-slave took on a
momentary wistful curve. She thought
of the other woman's easy life; a clear
income, no daily grind of work, the
ownership Of this pretty cart and
team, the wearing of dainty and rich
garments, no routine family hours
that must be kept-and-no home,
but the fashionable boarding house,
no mother, no sister, no father, no
brother to bear with, love and help her,
and to be in turn, borne with, loved
and helped.
I'D rather be bond-slave," she
said, decidedly.
Anne lifted her eyebrows. each to
his own taste,"' she replied, ''I'll drive
fast for you, then, Slavey."
But in spite of the fast driving, it
was quite dark when the cart reached
the home of the bond-slave, and the
free woman, declining an invitation to
come in," drove on.
The door was flung open, letting a
food of light stream on the walk, and
an anxious voice called:
SIS that you, Madge? Where in the
world have you been? I was scared
to death about you, child.''
oh, Anne came with her new dog
cart and took me driving after school;
and it was lovely, mother, so lovely
that forgot the time until it was al
ready twilight
'Well, dearie, I'm glad you could
have the pleasure. Anne's very good to
you. But [ wish you would be little
more considerate about staying out so
late, when you know how it worries
me. Why, anything dreadful might be
happening to you, and 1 not know it.
And we're all through dinner, too
Yours is hot in the oven, but it's new
er SO good when it waits
Its all right, mother. Now, don't
scold and I'll never do it again until
the next time," said Madge, giving her
hasty hug and kiss as she ran in.
| But her mother did sco1d a little,
| for mothers can never realize that
their golden haired lasses and lads
have become men and women, and no
| longer need the anxious mother-care.
And that very troublesome over-anx-
iety is one of the greatest safeguards
a mother can use. But while she scold-
ed, she hustled about, with her young
er daughter Sarah, bringing the hot
tea and potatoes; and rejoiced over
the keen appetite with which Madge
demolished the simple fare; and while
| the three "did up the dishes, they
told each other all the days news.
"And I've got new duet, Madge:
come and play it with me when we are
| through here" coaXed Sarah
| "And I have a new book, SailysAnn
that I want to read" teased Madge.
But Sarah dragged her to the piano
by main force and promised not to in
terrupt her once again that evening if
she would play the duet "just once
So Madge played and admired it duly
before she took up the book.
She was deep in the first chapter
when a walnut-stained hand pulled
it down, and a pair of boyish eyes
laughed audaciously over it.
"Oh, say, sis. think you're the
incest sister in the worldi Honest In.
jun, now; I was te1lin' Jim and Walter
this afternoon"
Nov, Ted, is it quarter you want
to treat the boys, or cover for your
book, or candy pull next week. or a
lesson you can't get yet?" Madge
laughed in turn, for she knew these
symptoms of old.
you've hit it. It's that beastly a1ge
bra," he groaned; 81 can't make heac
or tail of it."
Madge put down her book with re