Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-03-26


E reached their bench. (Of
course they went back there.) She
turned to him with a little frown.
why have you never let Tom Mere
9th know you were living so near him
less than hundred miles-when he
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 II 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 aud in politics-but he
would never dream of connecting the
P1attville M. Harkless with his Mr..
Harkless; though | did, just a little. In
q vague way. | knew you. of course,
when you came into Mr.. Halloway's
lecture the other evening. But why
haven't you written to my cousinT'
"Roueu seems rather far away to
nae" he answered quietly. 1--WE been
there only once. half day on business.
Except that, I've never been much far
tier than Amo-and then for a conven-
ton or to make a speech-since came
acre"
Wicked" she exclaimed, ''to shut
yourself up like this! I said 1t was fine
10 drop out Of the world. but why have
700 cut or your old friends from you?
Why haven't you had a relapse now
and then and come over to hear Ysaye
play and Melba sing. or to see Mans
SeId 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. l didn't exactly mean forgot
ten" be said. pulling a blade of grass
to and fro between his fingers and
staring at II absently "Its only that
I have dropped out of the world. you
know. They rather expected me to do
lot OF things. and haven't done
uscn. Possibly it is because I am sem
sftive that ] never let Tom know. They
expected me to amount to something,
cot l don't believe his welcome would
he less hearty to failure-he is
good heart"
"Faiiurel' she cried and ciapped her
hands and laughed.
I'm really not very tragic about IL,
though j must seem consumed with
reif pity" he returned. smiling. 1T Is
eniy that I have dropped out of the
world willie Tom is still In it,
Dropped out OF the worldv" she
echoed imps tiently. Cant you see
you've dropped into it? That you
Last night | was honored by your
praise OF my graceful mode OF quitting
H..
And so you wish me to be consist
emit" she retorted scornfully. What
becomes OF your gallantry when we
abide by reasonT"
True enough; equality is a denial of
privilege"
And privilege is a denial OF equal
tty? | don't like that at ALL" She
turned n serious, suddenly Illuminated
face upon him and spoke earnestly:
Its my hobby, | should tell you. and
Am tired or that nonsense about WON
Ell always sounding the personal note
II should Ice sounded as we would
sound IL And l think we could bear
che loss OF privilege -
He laughed and raised a protesting
hand. but we couldn't"
NO, you couldn't It's the ribbon of
Superiority in your buttonhoIe. know
several women who manage to live
without men to open doors for them,
ana | think | could bear to let a man
PASS before me now and then or wear
his hat in an office where | happened
10 D-' and ] could get my own ice at "A
dance, i think, possibly with even less
russ and scramble than I've sometimes
observed in the young men who have
dome II for me. But you know you
would never let us do things for our
serves, no matter what legal equality
might be declared. even when we get
representation for our taxation You
VAL never be able to deny yourselves
giving US our privlleger | hate being
waited on! I'd rather do things for
myself"
she was so earnest in her atire SO
'@ii or scorn and 50 serious in her mean
ah%' ana th%re was such q contrast be-
tween what she said and her person
ssi" looked SO pre-eminently the pretty
narquise, the little exquisite. 80 essen
baIiy TO be waited on aud helped to
Lave c!oaks thrown over the Gamnncss
fer her 10 tread upon. TO be run about
1"r-he could see half dozen youths
rushing about for her ices. for her car
rage, Tor her chaperon. for her wrap.
81 Ga nces-that TO save his life he
0ouiu not repress chuckle- He man
aseu 10 make il inaudible. however.
ShG IL was as we'll that he did
understand your love of newspa-
per work" she went on less vehement
" nut not less earnestly II have al
ways wanted To do it myself. wanted
"a Immensely ! can't think of n NOR.
fascinating way OF earning ones liv
MS. And know / could do il. Why
con You make the Herald a dailyf"
10 hear her speak OF earning ones
h'hS was TOO much for h:m. She
gave the impression of riches. no;
OILY hy tue fine texture and fashioninc
o. her garments. but one felt that lux
cTieS lad wrapped her from her birth
he mad not EnI t,,n.h ts.,o