The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-08-25
Miss DIANA'S
DU TY
By
JOHN LANGDON HEATON
Copyright, 1898, by the International
Literary and Nc1Us Service
ISIS DIANA TALBOT was so
pretty that she might have
been pardoned if she had felt
that she was fulfilling her

AVA pretty tnat she might have
FE0S7J been pardoned if she had felt
Sez2S that she was fulfilling her
purpose in the, divine plan by merely
existing. But a strain of almost NOR
bid conscientiousness drawn from a
long line of New England forbears pre-
vented her from taking such a simple
view of the problems of life
mo, Herbert" she said in the course
of an animated dispute with Mr. Mat
teson, II cannot turn my back upon
the promptings of duty. I have been
thoroughly cated-eXpensively edu-
Gated, at least-as you know. More
than that, Pm a specialist. I went
from college to Professor Arbuthnot's
laboratory. There aren't ten women
in the country who know zoology as I
know it. Professor Arbuthnot has
often said that if Maud Jones and I
wasted the chance he gave us and
threw away the pains he took with US
by getting married he'd never bother
with another woman as long as he
lived. He's right. I have a duty to
him, to the students who come after
me, to the community. I cannot turn
back from my task. l shall not even
seek a professional chair. 1 shall teach
young children in the common schools
who need me. You do not. You have
your factory to attend to, your mother
and sisters
"Confound my sisters! No, l don't
mean that exactly. They're we'll
enough, my sisters are; but I don't
want another. Somehow I can't get
the hang of these modern philanthropic
ideas. Here are you and 1, plainly de-
signed to be married, and some mil
lions of children equally destined to
grow up in happy ignorance of bugs
and butterflies. Instead Of marrying
me you go off to teach them lower
forms of animal life. Result-I'm mis-
cradle, you're lonely, they're disgusted
Unhappiness all round and not soul
the better for it. You don't need to do
it either"
mot for money-no. But here in
Massachusetts, there are plenty of girls
for all the men who wish to marry.
There'll be fewer superfuous women
by one if 1 so to work. Society has
made great sacrifices and gifted men
have spent their lives to prepare me
for working. TO be perfectly frank,
I think I am fit for something better,
industrially, than sewing on buttons.'
"Don't doubt it; but refuse to con-
slider you industrially," observed Mat
tesOn.
"Ah, yes" cried the girl, throwing
her head proudly back, "a toy in a
gilded cage-tired of, probably, as soon
as won; that's the mans idea of matri-
mony! Don't argue with me, Herbert.
It's breaking my heart to send you
away, but must do it, and I beg you,
oh, beg you, not to make it harder
for me!'
At this outbreak Matteson began to
look uncomfortable. His silence reused
in Diana's mind the hope that he was
convinced by her cogent argument-a
hope which proved that, much as she
knew about invertebrata, she was lit
tie versed in the ways Of the higher
mammalia. For A1atteson, a bullet
headed ex-right tackle with a magnif
cent record in ground gaining and in
reference, was by no means a quit
ter" Nevertheless he kept silent for
some moments, and when he spoke bis
words were honeyed guile.
"I'll tell you what I'll d." he said
slowly. "I'll go away and not see you
again unless you send for me, if you'll
kiss me goodby."
"Not see you again?". cried Diana
Talbot aghast. But l don't want
II think it would be best,'' said Mat
teson gravely. your duty prevents
your marrying me. Then 1 must learn
to forget you-the sooner the better.
You cannot expect to refuse me as
husband and keep me as a lover, or
even as friend. You mustn't make it
harder for me. Goodbye
He rose to go.
Pale and painting she confronted him.
Then, fiinging her arms about his neck,
she kissed him passionately.
Go, go!' she CRIED and, turning
about, she fled from the room.
Matteson looked after her reflective
~ and then took his departure in fair
~ good spirits for rejected lover.
1t was only a few days after this
that Nepontic became aware of an as
founding rumor that Herbert Matteson
had mysteriously disappeared. AS he
was the most important individual in
the place-shops, professional men and
even churches being almost dependent
upon the weekly pay roll of the Nepon-
tic Milling company, of which he was
president-the news caused a sensation.
Many were the queries addressed to
Arthur Rankine, the treasurer of the
mills, pleasant faced young college
chum and personal friend of Matte
son. Of course, because of these re-
lations, he put the best possible face
upon the situation.
Il do not know where Mr.. Matteson
u.s." he would say when he felt called
upon to say anything. II presume he
went away on private business, but he
said nothing to me about it's nature.