Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-11-11
A MATTER OF DIGNITY.


poured. My spirits, which had been at
zero, went up with a bound; certainly
it was day to be hailed with joy. My
boots and cap comprising the extent of
my outdoor toilet, | was not long in
making it. and with a hasty kiss to
neither, who called after me a string of
cautions about losing myself or falling
into bog. was off for a good scramble,
to blow. as ( said, "all the cobwebs
away
The fresh breeze-it was October-was
celebrating. l decided in the first flush
Of energy that was quite equal to q
climb up Hessery Tor, hitherto eyed du-
b;ouslv Towards Hessery Tor, therefore,
wended my way, and to my surprise
encountered Jack Mereyale, sitting with
rather disconsolate expression on Il
clump of heather near the foot of it.
Going fishing, Jack ?" | inquired
cheerfully. He was Il sort ola kind.of
cousin many times removed, so it was
natural / should call him by his Christian
name.
Nc" he replied. rising slowly, It's
too sunny and windy for the fish to have
anything to say to me today. Perhaps
YOU viii take pity on a poor ut-of work
chap and let me come with ycu?"
He looked appeaingly.
| laughed "Of course you cam" | re-
Piled But l don't expect you'll want
10. I'm going to climb the Tor"
He replied with enthusiasm that the
ascent had long been his dream and am
I oil ,,,1 10
fore we were half way | realized what
foolish things ambitions are, and so will
you if ever you try to climb Devon
shire Tor At every other step you
strike bog. and | should have given up
in despair had not Jack pulled me gal
lantly on, struggling and tumbling, not
only outwardly but with inward temper.
However, when we reached the top at
last, and sat down under a big ledge of
rock. we could afford to laugh; and, sit
ting there, with the fresh breeze blowing
in my face and the glorious sweep of
moor, river. ard tors around us. | felt
had accomplished something worth
while"
| am not a very sentimental person,
and instead of dreaming poetic thoughts
and hand holding with Jack. | chartered
away like a magpie on every topic that
came uppermost i'll my somewhat frivo-
lous mind My companions distracted
air l put down to disappointment about
his fishing For myself, | never could
see the pleasure of standing for hours
waving rod over a river and probably
catching nothing better than a cold at
the end of the day, am opinion | pro-
ceeded to air to Jack with a patronizing
smile.
Women don't often make good fish
ers,' he replied loftily. They haven't
got enough patience"
l tossed my head Indignantly. PA
thence! How absmd!-a woman's pa
thence is proverbial; as for men"
My scorn was whitening He evidently
thought it best to climb down.
Well" he said, deprecatingly, per
haps it is that they have no idea Of
sport
But this rullied me still more.
Pm very fond of sport" | replied,
with dignity. Il love hunting"
I'm sorry to hear it."
Why"
Why? Oh l don't know: I disap-
prove eff ladies in the hunting field"
My anger was rising
just like men; they're always selfish.
and want to keep all the sport to them
selves."
Il was not viewing it, l assure YOU.
from selfish standpoint"
Really! Then | fail to see your rea-
son for ohiecting to woman having
little fun"
Far be it from me- / only said | OBJ
ieeted to seeing her in the hunting field.
There surely are lots Of other opportuni-
ties for fun
lectg"
He hesitated. I suppose he saw was
annoyed. and did not wish to add fuel
to the fame.
Why" l persisted. fixing my eyes
full upon his with julioial stare.
Well he mumWed I'm sorry if
you are offended, but | confess con
slider it fast and unladyike'
jumped up, my face like a peony.
Thank YOU | said. cuttingly. and
without attempting any farewell. walked
away, my head held high in the air.
should have liked to look back and
see how he had taken my anger but my
dignity refused to permit it. | wondered
II he was following and hoped he was
not. Yes! l certainly hoped he was not
Tor as | began the descent of that
vrctehed Tor | realized that dignity was
Incompatible with boys Cnaided by his
strong right arm. | swayed perilauslv
% and fro, springing from clump to
ciump of heather, bat nevertheless sink
ing ankle deep from time to time in
ucacherouS mOrasses. Almost in tears
| struggled ou but before | was MALT
way down the end came. | had leaned
from a quakiug mound If peat only to
land myself right into the middle of .
aog; already my right foct had di,an,
pearci. the left was sinking fast. /
found. 10 my dismay. that / could not
CNtricate myself
"oh, OH" l cried, ard looked around