Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-07-15
Love Assistance.

my dear, men are good as fetchers
and carriers thoroughly indorse the
opinion Of lady novelist on the sub
ject-but l don't believe in tying my
self up to man for life"
''That may be all very we'll for you,
Jennie, but then it isn't every young
woman who can be SO self-reliant and
so able to make her own way added
Helen Carron meditatively. Its nice
TO think that you've got strong man
20 protect you, and whom you can
help
''Weil, I don't feel the need of pro-
tector," asserted Jennie Nelson quietly.
sand if I have any ability to help, I'll
help myself and take the credit
Elm half inclined to believe that you
are putting it on" said Helen jesting-
1y. Anyhow, I won't utter those
opinions too loudly in case you alter
your mind later on. | have noticed
that Mr.. Coyne has been attentive
'To you!" interrupted Jennie again.
''Well, he might do a great deal
worse!"
And that was all that could be heard
by the young man seated in shady
nook of the garden.
He had been lazily reading when
voices fell upon his ear, he had lis
tened with some amusement and curl
osity to the first words of the two
girls-which we have not set down
here; but when they began to talk of
matters matrimonial, his face became
grave and he also dreaded that they
might elect to wander his way and dis
cover that he had been listening.
Then he heard his own name and his
cheek flushed a little.
''T wish they had said a little more, .
he muttered, after long pause. Its
like beginning a book and finding that
the last pages are gone. | might have
discovered whether I had any chance
or not"
The problem seemed to be very
hard one to solve, for Mr.. Harold
Coyne remained in his brown study
for a considerable time. At length he
left the nook with an air of resolu-
ton about his handsome features.
E'I suppose we mortals are strange
creatures. I wouldn't mind facing a
dozen savages and fighting for liberty,
but don't like the idea of popping the
question to a woman, and-and not be-
ing sure, of the reply"
A fortnight passed, and the months
holiday in the delightful country
house was nearly at an end; two days
more and they would all be whirling
equations, these young people, so full
of life, youth and vigor. If Mr.. Coyne
had any intention Of making his at
tempt on the affections of either OF the
girls whose conversation he had over
heard he had not shown any special
sign of his intention. He had been
attentive to the two girls, who were
almost inseparable; they were often
accompanied by another cavalier, and,
had he so desired, he could have had
many a quiet talk with either, but
he had not availed himself of the op-
portunity. The hostess, who had
hoDed that he might have chosen Hell
en- Carron. was trif1e disappointed at
the thought that the month had slip
ped away without her desire having
been realized.
''There goes Jennie Nelson" she
said half audibly, as she looked
through the window and saw the girl
walk toward a bower in an out-of-the
way corner. Il thought they were all
out for an excursion. | confess" she
added with a sigh as she turned from
4he window. that l don't understand
that kind Of woman. I'm old-fashioned
i suppose, but l wonder whether she
has a soul above figures and signs?
She will develop into a professor-or a
professoress-of mathematics, whereas
1t is a womans part in life to be the
helpmate Of man and the mother OF
"a family"
She left the window with the idea
that Jennie had sought that retreat
and had taken advantage of the alb
sence Of the rest in order to study
some new problem; but she would have
been surprised had she waited min
ute or so longer and had seen Coyne