The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1906-11-23
and broad her woman's sphere could

ana broad her wOman's sphere could
be.
At last letter came telling that
she was surely coming home, and tell
ing how anxious she was to be with
him on Thanksgiving day. She COM
planned ever SO gently that she feared
he had not taken her exactly as she
wished-that she was no longer
child. and that her mind was quite &C.
cupied with the problem Of "Woman's
Mission" In fact, she had lately
been made president of the Woman's
Emancipation Circle, which organiza-
ton had originated in her school with
every promise of becoming power
for great good among women. II SUBJ
join" she added, "the principal max
inns for which we pledge ourselves to
labor without ceasihg:
1--WE claim equal rights before the
law.
1--WE ask equal pay for equal work.
eve ask that men cease to impose
upon us by their empty flattery. and
"That we be recognized as reason
able human beings with eyes to see
for ourselves; hands to work as we
will"
This time even Mckenzie could not
fail to catch her meaning; he looked
puzzled and troubled and finally said:
"In the morning she will be half way
home and shall go to meet her. I
think" he added slowly, 81 think
Mary needs her father. Yes, Tine sure
dead sure-she needs her father"
{"
For some time the next day McKen-
zie was shyly makig his daughters
acquaintance. He could not for the
life of him see the slightest trace of
the dread phantom her last letter had
treated. He thanked God that she
was womanly and gentle; that her
heart was right, whatever error of
fancy had gotten into her head.
''Why, dear Mary" he answered her,
"you don't want to work like a man.
You can't do it. When was your
age could handle a pick all day; l
could do it now. A woman's work
cannot be equal to mans; so it is
hardly fair for her to ask equal pay.
Poor Mary! She could not help be-
ing disconnected. Her fathers opin-
ions, she knew, were always based on
common sense. So it was some time
before she spoke again; and then it
was to ask why it was that women
did not have equal rights before the
law. "You see, my DEAR" he went on,
'their rights are really identical, their
interests the same; and it is mans
first notion Of duty to see that these
rights are respected"
Poor Mary was COMPOUNDED. After
all. were men and women really equal
before the law? If that were SO,
what became of the enormous injus-
tice and gigantic abuses that women
had silently and patiently borne all
these years? It all seemed so con.
fusing, so difficult, so very puzzling;
she could not doubt that her father
was right-he always was on practical
questions.
She recognized at once that she had
met defeat; and with all the bravery
she could command, the conversation
was turned to other things. In
short time they would be home and
enjoy Thanksgiving day together.
Was it in truth necessary for me to
see Mckenzie at once about that
broken fence, or was it only the crisp
mountain air that tempted me from
the house three hours before I was
expected to arrive at Jim McKenzie's?
One thing was certain, could not
wait another moment, and in half an
hour I was spending along and near
ing his place. AS rode up saw her
standing on the porch. She came
quickly forward to meet me. FLUSHED
like schoolboy when took her hand
and looked into her eyes. Yes, there
was still the deep, searching, truly
baby look. l felt relieved at once
and thought. "It won't be SO very hard
after all; she could not look like that
and be really New Woman"
In a few moments I had forgotten
about the broken fence, and we went
together to see the beautiful brown
filly. I suggested that there was time
enough to try her before dinner, and
Mary acquiesced at once. She had a
fancy to saddle the horse herself I
never thought of interfering. until she
came to tighten the girth; then l
simply said:
.'You would better let me do that
for you.'
"Never mind" she answered; "why
can't a woman use her hands and help
herself?"
OF course. was disconnected, and
saw at once that was treading on
right, but why not allow fellow the
privilege?"
Made No Difference.
Stern Mother-When George pro-
posed to you. did you tell him to see
me?