The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-09-04
A WOman's Privilege
BY F. A. GROOM.

The rector's daughter was in hur-
ry. She had been scataloguing the
school library books, and time had
slipped away quicked than she thought
for.
Then, as ill-luck would have it, the
squire caught sight of her as she was
taking shortcut through the glebe
meadow, and made hSste to overtake
her. 1t was certainly not a favorable
momeut to breach the subject of his
feelings and wishes, but he was re-
solved to take advantage of the very
next opportunity that offered, and this
was the next opportunity.
Accordingly, without any beating
about the bush, he asked her pat out
to marry him.
Certainly not" was her answer.
She was hot and tired; and, yes, lit
tie cross.
The squire's face fell.
.'You don't care enough for me,
suppose?"
She shrugged her shoulders by way
Of reply.
'I'm not bit clever, know" he
pursued, "but I'd do my best to make
you happy And I do love you aw-
fully. always have, you know, So
phie."
Yes, Sophie did know. And maybe
it was because she was so sure of his
devotion that she was inclined to rate
it lightly.
Il have no wish to marry" she de-
clared
II would wait" he cried, eagerly;
Il would be willing TO wait as long as
you wish"
'But I don't wish at all in the mat
ter and Sophie gave her parasol pet
ulant twirl. The sun poured down
tiercely, and she would be late for din
ner. 1t was horribly inconsiderate of
Phillip to detain her like this.
Il wouldn't interfere with anything
you wanted to do" Phillip assured her.
do say yes, dear"
BAIT the girl shook her head.
Il can't. It's quite impossible" she
rejoined.
Perhaps if you were to consider
little you would You might change
your mind then"
Il never change my mind" retort-
ed she.
Then it's no good my saying any
thing more?"
mo good at all"
''If you do think better of it. though
you'll let me know, won't your"
IF do, oh yes. Goodbye" and
she nodded and turned away evident
ly glad to go.
Phillip stood and watched her as
she moved quickly along the path. and
through the gate that led into the rec
tory paddock, and SO out Of sight
And he sighed dolorously more than
once. He was young and rich, and
stood over six feet in his socks. Rut
neither youth nor money nor comeu.
ness counted for much just now. see
ing the one thing he longed for-yiz..
Sophie's love-he could not obtain.
I'm such duffer where brains
comes in" he remarked sadly to him
self. And she knows such lot
about everything. OF course, she de-
spises me-" and he stalked slowly
and mournfully back to the hall.
There were other women doubtless
who would have been pleased to be-
come mistress of his home. But the
rector's daughter was the only one
whom he should ever ask to reign
there, sad she declined the honor.
Another SIGH, more profound than
oany of its predecessors, escaped him
as he turned in the lodge gates.
Sophie was very busy person.
She prided herself, indeed, upon be-
ing always occupied, and on more than
one occasion had expressed to the
squire her opinion that he took life
and his responsibilities far too easily.
During the latter days Of summer,
however, Sophie seemed not quite
herself. She would fall a.thinking,
and her fingers would remain idle the
A4s