The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-02-15

nedrt-
"Failure!" she cried, and clapped her
hands and laughed.
I'm really not very tragic about It,
though / must seem consumed with
self-pity," he returned, smiling. 1T is
only that l have dropped out of the
world while Tom is still in it."
Dropped out of the world!'" she
echoed, impatiently. Cant you see
you've dropped into It? That you"
Last night 1 was honored by your
praise of my graceful mode of quit
ting it,"
And so you wish me to be consist
emit" she retorted scornfully. What
becomes of your gallantry when We
abide by reason?"
True enough; equality is a denial Of
privilege"
And privilege is a denial of equality.
/ don't like that at ALL" She turned
serious, suddenly illuminated face upon
him and spoke earnestly. TITS my hob
by, l should tell you, and I'm very
tired of that nonsense about women
always sounding the personal note
1t should be sounded as we would
sound it, And l think we could bear
the loss of privilege"
He laughed and raised a protesting
hand. But we couldn't"
mo, you couldn't; it's the ribbon OF
superiority in your button hole. I
know several women who manage to
live without men to open doors for
them, and l think i could bear to let
man pass before me now and then,
or wear his hat in an office where l
happened to be; and 1 could get my
own ice at a dance, 1 think, possibly
with even less fuss and scramble than
I've sometimes observed in the young
men who have done it for me. But
you know you would never let us do
things for ourselves, no matter what
legal equality might be declared, even
when we get representation for our
taxation. You will never be able to
deny yourselves giving us our 'privi-
lege.' l hate being waited on. I'd
rather do things for myself"
She was so earnest in her satire, so
full of scorn and so serious in her
meaning, and there was such a contrast
between what she said and her person;
she looked so pre-eminently the pretty
marquise, all silks and softness, the
exquisite, so essentially to be waited
on and helped, to have cloaks thrown
over the dampness for her to tread
upon, to be run about for-he could
see half a dozen youths rushing about
for her ices, for her carriage, for her
chaperone, for her wrap, at dances
that to save his life he could not re-
press a chuckle. He managed to make
1t inaudible, however; and it was as
well that he did.
II understand your love for newspa-
per work, she went on, less vehement
ly, but not less earnestly. II have al
ways wanted to do it myself, wanted
to Immensely. l can't think of any
more fascinating way of earning ones
living. And l know l could do it. Why
don't you make the Herald a daily?''
To hear her speak of earning ones
txfog foo r,,, IL.
gave the impression of riches, not only
for the fine texture and fashioning of
her garments, but one felt that luxuries
had wrapped her from her birth. He
had not had much time to wonder what
she did in Plattville; it had occurred
to him that 1t was a little odd that
she could plan to spend any extent of
time there, even if she had liked Min
ME Briscoe at school. He felt that she
must have been sheltered and petted
and waited on all her lfe one could
not help yearning to wait on her.
He answered inarticulately. "Oh,
some Sday," in reply to her question,
and then burst into outright laughter.
Il might have known you wouldn't
take me seriously" she said with no
indignation, only a sad usefulness. II
am well used to it. think it is because
am not tall; people take big girls
with more gravity. Big people are
nearly always listened to-"
Listened top he said, and felt that
he must throw himself on his knees
before her. You oughtn't to mind be-
ing Titania. She was listened to,
you"
She sprang to her feet and her eyes
flashed. do you think personal COM
ment is ever in good taste?" she cried
fiercely, and in his surprise he almost
fell off the bench eff &c
thing l cannot bear, it is to be told
that l am small 1 am not! Every
one who isn't a giantess isn't small
L hate personalities! I am a great deal
over five feet, a great deal more than
that. /"
Please, please he said. 81
didn't"
Don't say you are sorry" she In
terrupted, and in spite of his contri-
ton he found her angry voice delicious,
1t was still so sweet, hot with indigna-
ton, but ringing. not harsh. Don't
say you didn't mean it; because you
did! You can't unsay it, you cannot
alter It! Ali" She drew in her breath
with sharp sigh, and covering her
face with her hands, sank back upon
the bench. II will not cry" she said,
not so firmly as she thought she did.
my blessed child" he cried, in great
"
l done? II"
call me small all you Mke!" she
answered. II don't care. 1t isn't that.
You mustn't think me such an imbe-
cile." She dropped her hands from her
face and shook the tears from her eyes
with mournful laugh. He saw that
her hands were clenced tightly and her
lip trembled. Il will not cry!" she
said in a low voice.
Somebody ought TO murder mo.
ought to have thought-personalities
are hideous-"
Don't! 1t wasn't that"
81 ought to be shot"
"Ah, please don't say that" she said.
shuddering; please don't not even as
a joke-after last night"
But l ought to be for hurting you,
indeed"
She laughed sadly. again. at wasn't
l am small. You'll try to forgive me
for being such baby? 1 didn't mean
anything l said 1 haven't acted so
badly since l was a child"
tits my fault, all of it. I've tried
you out. And 1 let you get into that
crush at the circus" he was going
on, remorsefully.
THAT" she interrupted. at don't
think l would have missed the circus"
He had thrilling hope that she meant
the tent-pole; she looked as if she
meant that, but he dared not let him
self believe it,.
No" he continued. II have been so
madly happy in being with you that
I've fairly worn out your patience. I've
haunted you all day, and have"
"All that has nothing to do with IT,"
she said, slowly. Just after you left
this afternoon | found that I corId nof