Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-07-16
DAILY SHORT STORY
A woMAN's uNMANLINEss.
IOriginal.l


tumn would hunt together.
One morning when l started out, ex-
pecting 10 find Titus at the front door
waiting for me. as was his fnvariable
custom, he was not there. Nor did he
again appear He had been stolen.
In town that winter l met Miss Jean
nette Fearing. She chafed at being
confined between brick walls. compelled
to seek solace in an occasional ball or
other similar entertainment, and pinned
for the summer home of her family,
where she could ride on horseback,
fish and hunt This was manly, and !
admired manly women. When with
her. instead of being obliged TO chat on
the happenings in our social circle, l
found her ready to discuss more impOr
tant topics, and where she did not I'M
derstand she was quite willing 10 lis
ten.
After enjoying her society at inter
Yals through half n winter l met her
one afternoon and was surprised at re-
ceiving from her a very cold nod. My
first impulse was to go to her and ask
for an explanation. Had she been an
other woman | would have done so. for
women are easily offended, and doubt
less some tritiing act of mine had been
misunderstood. But Jeanette Fearing
l had considered above such petty mis-
understandings, and if she had a griev-
ance against me she should state it
openly in a frank, manly way.
l did not see Jeanette again that
winter, nor indeed that summer. In
the autumn l was invited to the coun-
try seat OF a friend and had some eX-
cellent shooting, though l missed Titus
and lost many n bird that l should
have Dagged with his assistance
When the party broke up 1 remained
to get a days shooting in n region some
twenty miles distant where woOdcOck
were said to abound. Starting early. l
was driven TO the ground. and with
my gun entered the wood. l had had
such bad luck with my hosts dogs that
l had brought none of them. l had
bagged several birds when l heard not
far away the report of gun, and Il
few minutes later n dog broke through
the underbrush and, seeing me. paused
to examine me. In another moment he
uttered Il yelp of delight and came for
me on the jump. l saw at glance
that he was my old friend Titus.
While he was climbing over me. licking
my face and hands, l CareSsin9 him,
woman wearing Il short dress and
high boots, carrying a gun, emerged
from the brush and stood looking at
me. What was my establishment to
recognize Jeanette Fearing. ! raised
my hat, and she returned my salute,
but as coldly as when | had last met
her in the city.
This is a singular meeting" l said.
do you live near by?"
Our country place is 4 mile away"
And l am visiting near b"
Caesar come here" she called
Caesar, as she dubbed him, demur-
red, and when she ordered him more
sharply skuIked along slowly, occa
sionally turning to me.
"Tite"
With a bound he started in my direc-
ton and did not stop till he had his
paws again on my shoulder Jeanette
looked puzzled.
How did you come by this dog?" l
asked.
Il bought him in the city last fall"
you are under the ban of the law.
having I'll your possession stolen
goods "
Il shall be happy to pay for him."
Il do not care to sell him, but you
are quite welcome TO him"
II am not in the habit of accepting
presents from men"
1--WE might leave it to the dog to
choose his owner. Tite. go to your mis-
tresS."
| pointed to Jeanette and looked
sternly ut the dog. He lay down on the
ground whined and thrashed the turf
with his tail. But did not cease my
orders till he had gone to a point mid
way between us. Now" l said. 1--WE
shall see whether he will follow you
or me" I moved away. Jeanette, too.
turned and walked on. The dog stood
looking from one TO the other. His dis
tress was so great that we both
stopped.
For the dogs sake" I said. Il will
ask an explanation of your changed
treatment of me"
Last winter | wrote you a note to
your club containing simple request.
You did not consider 1t worth a reply"
letter gone wrong" Then TO Jeanette:
There IS a man in the club with the
same initials as mine and similar
name. He sometimes gets my letters
and usually turns them over TO me. but
last fall he went abroad. He probably
read your letter IN Europe"
She stood looking first at me. then at
the dog. then on the ground.
Don't you think" I asked, that
more manly way
Il am not n man"
Il have often endowed you with Ger
tain manly traits. y man, not receiv-
ing a reply to n note from me. would
have come 10 me at once for an ex-
PLANTATION
A woman would scorn to do such a
thing"
You have given me great pain"
And you spoiled my-my winter"
There was 4 slight tremor in her
voice Having discovered Sarn athiug