The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-01-22
Ole Patriotism
OF Penelope.
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR.
Copyrighted, 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.

Penelope dramatically.
''of course II you feel that way"
Oswald Deaing said stifiy.
Every woman should feel that
way"-Pmeaope' scornful little nose
was in The air-"and every man. The
welfare of tho country depends on It."
"I'm not 80 sure"-Deering was fast
becoming aggessive-"that a woman
knows
And thea Penelope blazed. "Of
eourse"-becOming aggressive-''that a
woman ought not to dabble in such
things. But the blood Of my ancestors
- In me. All Of my grandfathers were
IN the Revolution and in the war OF
1872. My fat&er served with honor In
the civil WIZ and my brothers in the
Spanish war. How can help feeling
Shat the men who wouldn't fight
were" she stopped.
Oswald was very pale. ri know
what you vvwe going to say--that be-
cause didn't fight was n coward"
Something h the stiffness Of his an.
ger frightesed Penelope.
81 didR't mean''-- she faltered
yes y0a ga" he told her. "You
meant TINT was a coward because !
DIDN'T 20 30 the war when your broth
ess did. B<af tAere were reasons"
'"Thepe 80 always neasons," she
flashed ont. "You may now say there
are reasons why you are not going to
vote tomorrow"
'Well, I don't think you could under.
stand II tdsd You, Penelope"
She stood up and faced him. "Oh."
ghe said. and her little figure IN the
clinging mauve gown was drawn up 10
its full height-"oh, ] always thought
that you put women on low plane.
Oswald, and now know IT,"
ut isn't that" he said doggedly,
"but think ought not TO be made to
explain my reason for not voting. II
involves some one else. ! shall stay
away from the polls tomorrow as n
matter of conscience, Penelope"
Her little nose was buried in the
bunch Of violets he had brought her.
81 don't think It Is worth arguing
about" she said Mt last wearily az she
lifted her head from the flowers But
really think we couldn't be happy n
we feel so differently"
"You mean He had risen and
was standing beside her.
az mean that--that ! think we have
made a mistake"
''Then you won't marry me, Pencil.
opeT'
~ have never said that would. os.
wald."
"No. but you gave me hope. You
knew that thought.
Before his accusing eyes her own
dropped.
But ne~cr really said Yes" she
whispered.
Perhaps DOT. But ! understood
that It was because you wanted TO be
sure" His voice broke. and then all
at once he gathered himself together
and, with his head held high, said
sterniy, Don't talk Of mans allie.
glance TO his country, Penelope, when
you have failed IN your allegiance to
your love"
81 don't love you" she began. but he
interrupted her. You do. You know
you love me, Penelope. But deep
down In your heart you don't trust
me. And don't want that kind OF
love. want the love OF n woman
who believes In me-"
She was staring at him In n dazed
way. "Then-then-go odby." she quiy.
cred.
He came over and took both of her
hands in his. "Oh, little Penelope"
he said, why can't you trust meT'
Her lips quIvered why can't you
tell me-" she demanded tearfully,
why you won't vote. oswaldT"
He hesltated and then shook his
head. mo; it's a matter best left un.
discussed. Perhaps some day your
see things differently"
Her chin was raised mutinously. ~
shall always love my country. os-
wald."
"And l shall always love you" And
with that he was gone.
Left alone, she wondered II II was
true. Surely In a little while Oswald
would be back begging her to forgive
him.
But the next day came, and the men
gathered at the polls, and Pcnelopc's
father and his sons went out TO vote
as the men Of their family had done
before them for conscience and for
country, and Mt dinner they toasted
their favorite candidate in water from
their own clear spring, and their IA
ther made little speech. I'VE have
all been fighters" he said, "and hope
shall never have a son or n grandson
to break our record"
And Penelope, thinking Of Oswald.
WINGED. What place had he among
these men Of war2
But when the feastlng was over her
Youngest brother, Bruce. said, 1--WE al
ways felt that there was no force like
the force OF arms, but I tell you /
heard something about Oswald Deer.
Ing today that made me believe in n
new kind of courage"
what was itT they demanded.
"Well, the nurse who takes care OF
Oswald's mother told me when I was
waiting In Oswald's Office today. II
seems that his father was killed In the
civil war and that since then his moth
er has been very delicate.
when the first news Of fighting IN
Cuba came Oswald was wild to go, but
she opposed 1t strongly, and at last
when she found that his mind was
made up, she had heart attack tina,
nearly killed her. So Oswald stayed
at home and studied medicine, but he
haS nnYer reallY got over his disan.