Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
LESSONS IN SELF RELIANCE
IOrfEinal1


en- nowadays to strike out for them
selves. confess there was enough of
the woman IN me to induce me to look
to a man for support. That man came
along in the person of Dudley Dean, a
strong willed fellow. thoroughly able
to take care of himself-and another.
When we met l was twenty, lie thir
ty-two. My plant nature seemed to
be just the complement for his strong
| individuality. 1 found il delicious TO
have some one to make up my mind
for me, and he delighted i'll taking the
| responsibility upon himself One moon
light night in spring, when the air was
fragrant with the Odor of blossoms, /
sank into his arms and promised to be
his wife.
The next morning he said he wanted
to have serious talk with me. Life
was IL serious matter. and marriage the
most serious part of life. That pliancy
which had been so attractive to him,
once we were married, might prove
detrimental. \ husband carnot al
ways be turning aside TO make deci-
sions for his wife. During our en-
gagement lie would endeavor to lead
me to the cultivation Of self reliance.
This sounded well, and chimed in
with his wishes. One of the first les
sons he gave me was this: He had en-
gagged to take me to a concert one even
ing and while | was waiting for him
n messenger came with note and two
tickets TO the concert. The note in
formed me that he had suddenly been
called away OH business, and l must
rely on myself to secure an escort.
Somehow 1 didn't like the lesson n
bit. John Curtis, an old beau of mine,
whom / had rejected because ! thought
he was too easy, going, lived near. and
I wrote him note asking if he would
be my escort He gladly complied. and
we passed Il very pleasant evening to-
gether.
When Dudley returned and found how
l had got over the bridge he had built
for me, he was not especially Gratified.
1 told him that L was but Il weak wom-
an and had done the best could.
The next lesson was in this wise: l
asked Dudley if he would prefer that
l fOregO my summer outing TO be with
him--he would take 10 vaCatiOn--Or go.
as had been my custom, for a month to
the seashore. l was ready TO give up
my outing and only wished to have him
intimate that he would like me to re-
main with him. He told me cOldly that
a girl who could not make up her own
mind in such Il small matter would
never be able TO make ii up in Il larger
one This decided me. l went to the
SeashOre. John Curtis, who did not
know of my engagement, encouraged
by my having asked him to be my cs-
cOrt 10 the concert. came down while
was there, and we spent two weeks in
each others company, l confess very
pleasantly. l began 10 realize that bud
leys lessons in self reliance were not
pleasant. Furthermore, 1t was becOm-
Ing apparent to me that Johns Vacillat-
ing manner was n good deal on the sur
face. He had way OF having his way,
appearing all the while TO be too lazy
to make up his mind what he wanted.
John had not been at the seashOre
ten days before Dudley heard of it and
wrote me either TO leave the place or
require Curtis TO leave or break our
engagement. This made me angry, and
/ replied that he should either come and
finish my outing with me or permit me
to choose my own company OF consider
himself released from his engagement.
This should have taught my fiance
that / had had practical instruction
enough in self reliance, at least for the
present. but by this time had clashed
with his will. and he could no longer
be a dsintercsted teacher. He did not
reply TO my letter but waited till
went home. Then he came to see me-
I was in the kitchen at the time max
ing cake l sent for him to come right
out there.
1T seems" he said, that you have
taken me to be as weak 4 character as
yourself. Having accepted me, you are
now vacillating between me and q
former lover. l have called to say that
under no consideration will 1 permit
And under no consideration Will 1
permit retorted. with flashing eyes.
1T is plain that your makeup is of
the most dangerous character-just the
kind to give a husband trouble. First
you vaciIlate between two lovers, and
when the man to whom you have
plighted your troth objects obstinacy
comes in and
Il wish you TO understand" 1 inter
rupted. "that your tutoring IN SER re-
lance is not agreeable to me, and l
will have no more of it,
Il have never known any one" lie
went on in his superior way, with a
weak will who would not when irri-
tated go TO the other extreme"
And 1 have never known any one"
1 replied. with an imperiOus will that
didn't want 10 dominate every one
else
Weakness and Obstinacy, taken to-
gether'-
1 had reached a point where endur-
ance was out of the question. l raised
the rolling pin held in my hand and
brought IT down-nOt on his head. for
IL was not there-but on the kitchen |
door. which he closed behind him, |
cracking a panel. Then / sat down |