The daily Alaskan., 1905-10-26
CHILDREN, AFTER ALL
LOrigLnaLl

rkSOme to me. IlpuBu WOrk AuS hOt been necessary to me, l have worked From the first 1 wanted a career ] chose literature for a profession, and living literary life made me reader of many books. Great social questions interested me especially, and l studied the different methods that from the earliest ages have pcrtainci to the re- lations of the sexes. 1 came out of these studies impressed with the belief tha: marriage Is a civil, not necessarily L moral, law.
 I had reached this conclusion some time before 1 met Arthur Tracy. He was the manager Of a magazine to which sold articles and by admirine them first won my grateful attention, afterward my love. He was mated with woman who had no sympathy whatever with his duc, apprcciattve and discriminating mind. He found in ne one who could sympathizc with him on every point, and it was not long before he told me that l could turn his unmated life into one of McNpress- Ible happiness.
 Unfortunately for us both, there was no ground on which he could get d. vorce. Mrs. Tracy was a good wife and mother, the only reason why she could not make her husband happy being her intellectual iureriority. But why was a divorce necessary? Had I not reached a conclusion th2t mar rlage was not necessary to morality Had not one of the greatest of English women uovelIsts lived with a man w,.o could not get a divorce from his vie? Why should |, holding these views, stoop to encourage ll1 man ] loved to secure his liberty by tvaulu le-t means? Would it not be a far better part to make him happy in de frnce of a world that had received its opinions from antiquity! ] made up my mind 10 rise above an aut.guated custom. My love and l would pledge ourselves to each other for lie.
 I had never seen Mrs. Tracy, uor did I wish to see her. There was no blame attached to her that sue vas unu suit. ci.ntly Intellectual to be it cJ1pa0 Iou for a very superior maa. "'u.i not permit myself to consider lH-t #Is WIS standing in the Way ot jwJ Do rle whom God had especially Intended fo. each other. l w,,s hot. sJ GIinAu as that One day l went Co the office of the magazine to consult about thr method of printing an article OS mine, anI from the suit of editorial rooms a little girl about three years old came racing along, straw hat hung to her back and riuglets flying. She was such a merry madcap that l took her into my heart at once and, stopping, literal ly took her Into my arms. She strug glcd to be free, laughing the while, and when set her down jumped again Into my arms.
 You little humbug" l exclaimed. You're like most of your seX-when you can have what you want you don't want it. Whats your name"
 Helen Tracy"
 l looked into her heaven blue eyes, and for the first time since l had met her father the still small voice of cou- science spoke to me 1 was about to bring sorrow into the life of this innO- cent child.
 Come and see mamma" she said, graspIng one of my fingers. She's In papa's office waiting till he comes in."
 She dragged me to the office door, lad no intention of going in, but suddenly it opened and some one came out, leaving 1t open. Within sat q woman with a face as sweet and inno- cent as the child's. My confusion en- abled the little one to drag me to the threshold.
 Come ln," said the lady, rising. I wish to speak to you"
 She shut the door behind me and stood facing me. All my philosophy could not save me from feeling that l was In the presence Of an accusing angel.
 "I know you from the picture Ar thur has. He has told me much about you and your ideas-ideas that have neither the learning nor the mind to appreciate. It has come to memo matter hOw-that his heart has fol- lowed his intellect I do not blame either of you. l am deficient in what he requires; you possess it. 1 love him too well either to stand in the way of his happiness or to give him reason to act unworthily. Whatever steps he may see fit to take to break the bonds binding him to me and the children l shall accede to. They of course must remain with me-"
 During my philosophical studies favorite expression with me was ''the cobwebs of the past" While 1 was listening to these words, involving a far greater wisdom, a far higher con- ceptOn than had ever dreamed of, 1t seemed that with a feather the speak CT was brushing away the cobwebs of the present. She had shown me the yawning gulf on which I stood. In 6 twlnkling she had dissolved the air castle I had built up about her hus- band, for it had flashed upon me that he was greatly her Inferior. Before I could reply the door was opened and bn aI Int, tho r.,,r4, NEhf1A hE