Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1907-11-27
CYNTRIA,s CAREER
By FLORENCE BRIGHT

/ arrived as usual to spend the aIIeT
noon with Cynthia, found her, to my
great surprise, immersed in the paper.
She never even troubled to open one
as a rule. She was lying in the ham
mock. a great bush of crimson rhod-
odendrons forming an appropriate
BACKGROUND to her dainty blue gown.
Her manner was distinctly distract,
and she replied at random to all
said.
paper very Interestingly" / said at
last. rather tartly. had inquired after
the health of her aunt, and Diogenes'
the black poodle, and related my OWL
small stock of happenings at the war
office.
"Er-um-I beg your pardon. Wnat
did you say?" asked Cynthia, looking
over the edge of the paper at me,
and blinking her forget-me-not blue
eyes absent-mindedly.
How is The Hague conference 60
ing? Or perhaps it's the money mark
ct you're SO absorbed int" / said dis
sembling my feelings, not very sue
cessfully. had looked forward to the
customary delightful afternoon with
CYNTHIA, and without undue vanity II
was annoying to be so overlooked.
20, dear, no. But there's something
really important in the paper today
and she nodded gravely at me.
Indeed! You surprise me" re-
piled, dryly
Eyes. But 1t is puzzling. l can't
make up my mind. What do you think
is the best career for women?"
ITO sit in a hammock, wear their
| prettiest blue frock and make them
selves agreeables to their friends"
said promptly, and special emphasis
on the last phrase.
ooh! That's so like man when you
ask his advice. see now what you
are, You're just one Of those men who
want women to he dolls
well! Even that's o, career-of
sorts-isn't it?" interjected. She
flashed scorn at me, and Immediately
regretted my f1ippancy. But has any
thing happened? l don't understand"
fastened to add.
"Of course not. Men never do. Men
never think that women want ca
reer-some purpose in hfe-as well
as themselves"
ooh! WE'LL" conceded. "some NO
men-perhaps. But you--you are
surely not thinking"
"Of career? But certainly am.
This discussion in the paper"
ooh! that's it." / interposed gloom
NJ beginning to see daylight in the
thing.
Has been so illuminating-so
realizing" She drew a deep breath.
and looked far away over my head at
the clouds. Il never thought before OF
the possibilities in life for women
Just think what It must be to wo-
man to be independent. To be great
doctor-a great ter-or-or--"
She stopped. enthusiasm seemed ia
choke her.
"Or-what?" I asked, rather brutal
ly. Where did ccTne in, in all this
Cynthias had not been the only rove
lation. Eyes. Or what? Go on" said.
Tim thinking" she announced,
with q little pout.
"Or a great Judge, or an engineer
or q statesman? There are SO many
careers open to women, aren't there?
l added sarcastically.
She at last admitted that their mum
Der was rather restricted-at present
But they'll open up as time goes on,
she concluded enthusiastically, and
waved her hands in space, vaguely.
l permitted myself to smile in 8
superior manner.
"Oh! you're too tiresome for any
thing this afternoon" she cried
Cpringing nimbly out Of the ham
, mock.
'T'm sorry" said. How can
make amends2"
go and get my sunshade out Of the
hall and tell them to bring tea ou
here" l hastened to do her bidding
and found her stroAing in the shrub
! berry on my return. She called me K
look at . robins nest we had beer
watching for some time.
'You know" said gravely. handing
! her the parasol, Tim not sure. Blu
, III don't think that women who 60 ii
for great careers have men to fOtcl
and carry for them"
"No?" She looked incredulous. "Bu
why not?"
"Well, / scarcely know. But perhaps
! IT'S because they haven't got time TO
the-frivolities."
"Oh! But that would be horrid'
She looked quite panied.
, what? Horrid? To be independ
emit. Why, thought you said jus
, now"
Eyes, but didn't mean that sort o
] independence" She gave little stamI
I OF her foot. Il think men ought Al
i ways to do things for women. Don
n your? She looked appealingly at me
I Certainly. IT'S the whole duty o
/ man" paused, then said, "Yo,
propounded a conundrum to me JUS
now"
Il did, sir" She looked at me arct
! ".