The Washington herald., 1907-12-15
Rr HELEN ROWLAND.


'Heavenr protested the Mere Man.
regarding the discontented face reflected
in the mirror with surprise.
There's no marrying nor giving in
marriage" " she declared with tragic
fnality.
"Who said that?" demanded the Mere
Man, as he opened the door and they
passed out into the winter afternoon sun
shine
The Bachelor Girls blue eyes opened
wide with reproachful astonishment.
Nobody" she returned promptly. DO
you suppose anybody would say it? We
only think il and know it. We keep it
hidden away down beneath our stays and
our shirt waists and our jabots; just as
we keep the hole in the tablscioth hidden
under a dolly and the spot on the wall
hidden under picture; but. it's there
nevertheless, and she walked along so
rapidly that the Mere Man had to change
step twice in order TO keep up with her.
And yet" he sighed thOughtfully,
within the past year more good, wise
men have been led 70 destruc-to the al
tar by their stenographers-"
Their stenograDhers! repeated the
Bachelor Girl. turning on him with an
impatient little Jingle Of her chatelaine.
"Of course They're working girls. Work
ing girls marry-sometimes," she con-
ceded doubtfully.
And more little dukes and counts and
things have been hunted down and cap
tured by rich maidens-"
"Of course" broke in the Bachelor
Girl. "the rich girls snap uD all the ma
trimonial prizesi That's part of the trou-
bic. Why is it," she went on, pathetical-
ly. that while settlement workers are
struggling for the advancement Of the
working girl and all the popular novel
fists are dissecting the psychological prob
lens OF the society girl, there is not 4
single champion. not single voice lifted
in protest for the middle class girl-for
the girl who is stranded on n social ISL
and between the SEA of hardship and
drudgery and the river of luxury and
discomfort; for the girl who has neither
the necessity nor the training for earn
ing her daily bread. nor the time and
money for the pleasures Of society? Isn't
the world full of them? And aren't they,
as the women who are most eminently
fitted 20 become mothers and housewives,
worthy Of consideration and she shook
her chateiaine so Indignantly that ali the
little silver trinklets ratified in protest
Don't blame met begged the Mere
Man. anxiously IF had my way, I'd
marry them all. 1t isn't my fault that
there aren't enough husbands to go
round"
And yet said the Bachelor Girl, look
ing at him scornfully from under her
rose-wreathed hat, you haven't even
married one. You haven't even done your
share. nor
Give me time" pleaded the Mere Man.
I'm going 70 marry one, but I've got
right to choose which one; and if the
Cne l want won't"
Il suppose YOU think interrupted the
Bachelor Girl hastily. that I'll deny it"
"Deny-what? My perfectly evident.
open-faCed ador-admir--'
your perfectly open-faced. indelicate
statement. that there aren't husbands
enough to go round" corrected the
Bachelor Girl.
There are modest. feminine things
who would deny II" admitted the Mere
Man gently.
Just as they'd deny their ages or the
powder on their noses or the number of
their shoes rejoined the Bachelor Girl
promptly. But down in her heart of
hearts every one Of them who has strug-
gIed her way 20 the altar or failed to do
so knows that It IS true. The day has
passed when getting a husband was only
a matter of time, luck, and attractiveness.
1t is now a matter of who gets there
first, Of who can snatch the matrimonial
prizes And in the great game of grab
bag the middle class girl doesn't stand
single chance While she sits at home
waiting the society girl is carefully skim
ming all the cream off the husband mar
ket, and the working girl is quietly sap
ping Up most Of the milk"
"As for that said the Mere Man with
complacent dignity. "a society girl pos
sesses-er solid attractions"
What
Money explained the Mere Man sue
cinctly, and opportunities. You can't
blame a chap for having his head a bit
turned by a pretty, gilded girl, with
whom he is thrown. under the most fav-
orable circumstances: with whom he rides
in the morning. gOlfs in the afternoon.
and dances at night; whose whole cam
paign is set TO an accompaniment OF
music and flowers and soft lights and
good wine Besides, look at her field
OF conquest. If she fails to acquire
nice cOngenial spouse of the home va
riety there are the matrimonial bargain
counters Of a dozen other countries all
waiting FOR her to choose from. And If
there are not enough men in her own
set 20 go round she has only TO dig a
little lower and extract the best eligibles
from the class next beneath her-my
ciass-the poor but worthy" and the
Mere Man glanced at himself in a shop
window with a self-satisfed expression.
And that's what you're all waiting
for" retorted the Bachelor Girl. scorn-
fully. Every fairly good-looking man
is hunting for a rich wife nowadays"
Money said the Mere Man, gently
us like a chiffon veil 1t covers a multi
tude Of sins and adds an illurement all
its own. Besides" ne added, tits Just
as easy. you know. to fall in love with
nice rich girl as with a nice poor one
especially when we are invited every
where and always so cordially welcomed
by matrons in search of dancing partners
for their guests. But" he went on
what's all this to you? Where do you
come in2"
'I?" The Bachelor Girl turned on him
with uplifted eyebrows. IT don't come
in at all. Mr.. Porter. I am not a rich
girl, nor a poor girl, nor working girl;
I'm bachelor girl"
"Oh. well," returned the Mere Man.
hastily. But where does the working
girl come in then How does she get an
opportunity-"
Come in cried the Bachelor Girl. ira-
matioaliy. 'She comes in between the
middle class girl and everything that's