The San Francisco call., 1904-02-21
HER MANAGEMENT
By Euphemia Holden

What right have you to askr"
The lines on his face dropped.
None" he replied humbly.
We'll, I'm nOti" she retorted, morD
than appeased with his humility. After
a pause he spoke softly.
My mother always said ia be very
easy to manage"
But you know she spoiled you You
were her only boy. Personally.
wouldn't try it II you were the last
man on earth
She was almost sorry when she saw
his mouth tighten and the fine nervous
lines of his mouth grow deeper.
That's a blow" he said with dry
lips. Yet you told me once that
had never failed YOU"
In service-nO"
only in little things, then?"
They're what count with a woman"
That's not reasonable. I'm abrupt
-disagreeable at times, / guess-but
you know quite well that is only man
ner."
She gazed into the light without re-
plying His eyes we're on the rug pat
tern again.
Il have always thought" he began,
after a minute. that marriage is a
partnership of equals the capital
stock personal liberty. and. OF course.
love and respect Then, if the wife
wanted to do one thing and the hus-
band another, they'd either go il alone
with perfect pleasantness or compare
notes. Whoever showed the best case
would win the day.
For instance" the interest in her
face warmed him to his theory. ''if
you and 1 were married"-her face
changed to roguish disgust-"and you
wanted to go to a dinner and / wanted
to stay at home, you'd give your rea-
sons. / mine. If you wished to 70
more than I wished to stay, we'd 60.
Isn't that fair?"
mo. no. no." she cried. excitsdly.
Who'd be the Judge? You. OF course.
I'D be as bad a hermit as you in q
little while. I'd rather give In than
have friction"
I'm not frictional." he pleaded.
You can't or won't understand mA
Besides, il you don't like me as am
take me and edit me-
You told me you never touched -
Jected manuscript. Why should ~
He laughed, though the shaft found
a tender spot. After another interval
of silence he began to speak IN a ou-
rious. controlled tone.
can't realize my dream Is donA
hadn't any right to IT. OF course, bue
just the same I've thought OF a time
when you would care enough to marty
me. I wanted little house, not verY
large or wonderful 1t wouldn't need
to be, II you were there-think OF hav-
Ing ones own brand OF sunShinAs
What a fool I've beeni You couldu.f
care for a man older. unpublished. his
enthusiasm and freshness gone.
suppose some fellow will be lucky
enough to sit opposite to your suils."
II hope So" she said quietly. ct
don't care to be an old maid"
You won't be. / wonder who-nO4
Howells-he's not clever enough. It's
rather a wonder you have stuck Il out
so long. You're unusually fasclnat-
ing. Did ever tell you that?"
You never told me anything niea,~
she said pettishly.
But you knew that for me You
were the Drettiest, sweetest woman In
talent. Why, If you'd been willing to
marry me we'd have made you a
famous artist. sYou won't find many
men who hold the theory OF a
woman's right to individuality"
"Oh, theoriesl" she cried, impatisntIy.
You'd feed woman on theories when
she was starving for a kiss"
He sprang to his feet, his face flush
ing.
That's cruel and unjust. You con-
denim me without knowing Lots OF
times your face has been so close to
mine had only to put my arms about
you and-and instead I've clinched my
nandS ana moved away because knew
you hAld a kiss a sacred thing, and I
had so little to offer except my loveI"
You merely mean" she said. her
breath coming little queerly. that
you refrained from gratifying a passing
temptation"
"Why will you try to hurt me?" he
demanded, stopping his quick pacing
and looking down at her. Il mean / re-
Trained from telling you / loved you
with all my heart and souI-that YOU
are the ore woman in the world who
satisfies all my imaginings-and then
and then"
II can't see why you didn't" she
murmured, haif-bold, half -tremulous.
I've kept my lips for such a kiss
Something dropped from him like q
dark garment
But you said.'' he faltered. She put
two trembling hands upon his should
ers.
you've never told me you loved me.
and I've waited so long" Her face was
hidden now
You said" he choked. holding her
very close. you said you wouldn't mar
II me II wers the last man on earth"
i said MANAGE don't want to man
ags-I Just want to be loved"