Rock Island Argus., 1908-05-27
8he Hrgus Daily Short Story
I'm Her Moment of Weakness. BY Cecily Allen.
Press.

She had always been distressingly
capable and competent.
Il don't believe Beatrice ever had a
headache or a nervous spell like you
girls have" Henry Dalton had remark
ed one day to his two sisters, absorbed
by bonbons and new novels and wrap
ped in Indifference and silk negligees
And the tone in which he spoke was
a distinct note of personal injury rang
through it, for how can man assume
an attitude of protective chivalry to-
ward a girl entirelys capable of doing
for herself?
Beatrice never dropped her fan or
her handkerchief, nor came into the
drawing room with her glove unbut-
toned, nor gave opportunity for the lit
tie services which other women SEEM
ed to have demanded of Henry Dalton
since he had risen to the dignity OF
knickerbockers.
Yet withal Beatrice Craig was moth
ing if not feminine. She wore the
softest and most clinging of fabrics.
She played golf, but did not court bare
but she softened them with delicious
| froufrou bows of lace at her throat
She was rutiiy and fluffy, but she>never
| tore her ruffies and then asked for a
| pin to make repairs
And If all these things she was be-
| fore her fathers failure and death she
was doubly inaccessible and impregna-
BILE after reverses overlook her. Be
| fore that she had simply fenced with
Dalton. Now she donned an armor
that seemed well nigh invulnerable.
| Directly the estate was settled up
and the smallness of their Inheritance
was made known to her Beatrice Craig
| had turned breadwinner, investing the
pitiful little heritage i'll smart shop
where layettes of the most superlatiye
/ fineness and beauty were sold.
/ In the front room. with its exquisite
i fittings and scented presses, she exhib-
tied wares selected to suit the matrons
among whom she had grown from girl
hood to womanhood. In the rear room
she gathered the most expert needle
women her purse could command. and
Il all work was done under her direct SUI
4 pervision.
Il Her delighted clientele said that her
success was founded on this personal
oversight. Her doctor said that nery-
Gus prostration would inevitably result
from her persistent close confinement
to business. Her mother wept in sheer
loneliness at first and later drifted
from their tiny apartment back into
the old bridge playing, novel reading
circle of gray haired friends. And
what Henry Dalton said is not for
repetition here, for, having no nieces
or nephews. how could he offer de-
cent excuse for haunting layette
shop? And only at her shop was Bea-
trice to be found save the cruelty few
hours when outraged nature demanded
rest and refreshment
q And now today, with Henry Dalton
thrust into the dim background of the
life when her mother made all things
J lovely for her we'll shod feet to walk
{ upon, she was standing before hel
} cheval mirror preparing for a return
just brief return giimpse-to the old
life.
Her mother had wept to some pun
pose. The doctor had said certain
Ishar1 things that were more effective
than maternal tears, and SO Beatrice
lad accepted the De Haven Smiths
warm invitation to spend the week eni
& land perhaps few days more at theil
) Hodge in the Catskills
4 Beatrice surveyed with critical ey,
4 her smartly tailored travelling suit ant
then cast sEliiing glance at the sui
) case who're rested d delightful matinee