Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1904-03-15
CHAPTER VII.

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course they went back there.) She
turned to him with little frown.
why have you never let Tom Mere
dith know you were living so near him
less than hundred miles-when ne
has always liked and admired you
above all the rest of mankind? know
that he has tried time and again to
hear Of you. but the other men wrote
that they knew nothing, that 1t was
thought you had gone abroad. l had
heard Of you. and so has he seen your
name in the Rouen papers-about the
White Caps and In politics-but be
would never dream of connecting the
Plattville Mr.. Harkless with his Mr'
Harkless; though did. just little. in
q vague way. l knew you. Of course.
when you came into Mr.. Halloway's
lecture the other evening. But why
haven't you written to my cousin?"
"Rouen seems rather far away to
me-" he answered quietly. "I've been
there only once. half day on business.
Except that, I've never been much far
ther than Amo-and then for conven-
ton or to make q speech-since came
here"
wicked" she exclaimed, ito shut
yourself up like this! l said it was fine
to drop out Of the world. but why have
you cut off your old friends from you?
Why haven't you had relapse now
and then and come over to hear Ysaye
play and Melba sing. or to see Mans
field or Henry Irving. when we have
had them? And do you think you've
been quite fair to Tom? What right
had you to assume that he had forgot
ten you?"
"Oh. didn't exactly mean forgot
ten." be said. pulling a blade Of grass
to and fro between his fingers and
staring at 1t absently. "It's only that
I have dropped out Of the world. you
know. They rather expected me to do
n lot Of things. and I haven't done
them. Possibly 1t is because ! am SEN
sitive that never let Tom know. They
expected me to amount to something,
but l don't believe his welcome would
be less hearty to a failure-he Is
good heart"
"Failurew she cried and clapped her
hands and laughed.
Pm really not very tragic about 1t,
though l must seem consumed with
self pity" he returned, smiling. 1T is
only that l have dropped out Of the
world while Tom is still In it."
"'Dropped out Of the world!" she
echoed impatiently. Cant you see
you've dropped into it? That you"-
Last night l was honored by your
praise of my graceful mode Of quitting
it,!
"And so you wish me to be consist
ent." she retorted scornfully. What
becomes of your gallantry when we
abide by reasonT'
"True enough; equality Is denial OF
privilege"
"And privilege is a denial Of equal
ity? | don't like that at ALL" She
turned a serious. suddenly illuminated
face upon him and spoke earnestly:
"Its my hobby, should tell you. and
I'm tired Of that nonsense about 'wom-
en- always sounding the personal note
It should be sounded as we would
sound it. And | think we could bear
the loss Of privilege
He laughed and raised protesting
hand. But we couldn't"
mo, you couldn't. It's the ribbon Of
superiority in your buttonhole. know
several women who manage to live
without men to open doors for them,
and think could bear to let man
pass before me now and then or wear
his hat in an Office where | happened
to be. and could get my own ice at u
dance, | think. possibly with even less
fuss and scramble than I've sometimes
observed in the young men who have
done 1t for me. But you know you
would never let US do things for our
selves, no matter what legal equality
might be declared. even when we get
representation for our taxation. You
will never be able to deny yourselves
giving us our privilege" | hate being
waited on! I'd rather do things for
myself"
She was so earnest in her satire. 50
full Of scorn and so serious in her mean
Ing, and there was such contrast be.
tween what she said and her person.
she looked so pre-eminently the pretty
marquise, the little exquisite. so essen
tally to be waited on and helped. to
have cloaks thrown over the dampness
for her to tread upon. to be run about
for-he could see half dozen youths
rushing about for her ices. for her car.
riage, for her chaperon. for her wrap
at dances-that to save his life he
could not repress a chuckle. He man,
aged to make it inaudible. however
and 1t was as we'll that he did.
81 understand your love Of newspa
per work." she went on less vehement
", but not less earnestly. II have al
ways wanted to do it myself. wanted
to immensely. I can't think Of more
fascinating way Of earning ones hV
ing. And | know l could do it. Why
don't you make the Herald daily"
To hear her speak Of earning ones
living" was too much for him. She
gave the impression Of riches, moi
only by the fine texture and fashionins
Of her garments. but one felt that lux
uries had wrapped her from her birth
He had not had much time to wonder
what she did in Plattville. It. had oc