The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1909-01-23
A GIRLS SURRENDER.

They had quarreled again. They
were always quarreling, but this last
affair was battle royal.
She declared that he was arrogant,
arbitrary, abusive and abominable.
And she looked SO adorably imperti.
nent when she said these appalling
things that he felt like shaking hei
soundly and kissing her full on hei
red rebellious mouth.
But he didn't. He only took up
his hat, and with the LATEST air and
most mocking smile said he had the
extreme honor of wishing her good
afternoon.
Then he took himself to his club
and ordered brandy and soda and sat
over it an hour looking naughty and
cold and bored, while inwardly he
was raging furiously.
She waited until the door shut be-
hind him, and then announced to the
furniture that she would teach him a
lesson that he wouldn't forget in a
hurry. Then she stamped small
foot, and shook a small fist at his pic
ture on the mantelpiece.
Next she went upstairs and made a
most careful toilet, with deliberate
intent to go forth and walk where she
would be sure to meet the same one
over whom they had quarreled.
Then she threw herself, frills, laces,
feathers and all on her bed, and cried
until her dear little eyes were very
red indeed.
And these imbeciles were neither
married, afianced, nor yet ''lovers. "
They were simply very good friends.
They did not believe in love-that
nonsense
AS if one of taste and judgment
and worldly knowledge does in these
days.
"Why, love has gone out of date, "
she was wont to say with that charm
ing cynical air she was pleased to
affect at times. "You and I are
chums, bon comrades, good fellows
together. Love? Rubbish
He, being a cunning dog, apparently
consented to this theory.
He knew that the new woman blight
had struck her, and that he must give
her time to get over it. And she had
fully recovered he hoped for great
events which were to include a wed.
ding, a home ard happy domestic
life.
She delighted in her role of "bache-
lor girl" She wore stand-up collars
and cutaway coats, and thrust her
hands in the pockets Of her tweed
walking gowns with gentlemanly
air which, being so absolutely at vari-
ance with her personality, was simply
ludicrous. For if ever there was a
soft, dainty, lovable bit of femininity
it was this girl who turned up her
saucy nose at love, and demanded
scope for herself, scope, too, with an
unusually large S.
Marriage? What is marriage?"
she would say. Marriage is mis-.
take. A woman who is married is a
slave to the whims, caprices and inso-
lence of her master. Women have
borne this burden of matrimony long
enough. Let them now develop
themselves let them grow and ex-
pand and show to the world the
heights to which they may attain"
And SO she rode a bicycle, and was
secretary of ladies' debating society
and believed herself a progressive
woman indeed.
All this was very hard for him tc
bear. There were times when he
gnashed his teeth in the impotence ol
despair, and longed to pick her up
bodily-this small, caressable, defiant
thing and carry her away from de.
batting societies, stand-up collars,
knickerbockers and kindred horrors,
and teach her the sublimity of love.
But the methods of the Middle
Ages are not good form in these days
he was forced to content himself with
an occasional outbreak of remon'
STRANGE, entreaty, and today com
mand.
And herein was the cause of this
fierce contest, the smoke of which yet
fingered in the air. He had demand
ed that she should not bike in knicker-
bockers with a contemplate cad.
She had replied that she would
bike when, where and with whom she
pleased, and that she really could moi
see what business it was of his, where
upon he had stalked off to brandy and
soda, and she had taken to her bed.
Now, as l have said, he was Gun
ming dog.
He pondered over the situation
and at last evolved a scheme of re
venge and ultimate conquest.
There was in her circle of acquaint.
ances one young woman of whom she
always spoke with a lofty and dis
dainful air. To this particular young
woman he now addressed note ask
ing if he might have the honor oi
riding with her the next afternoon il
the Park. When he received a gra
cious note in the affirmative a grin ol
unholy Joy lighted up his stern, dark
face.
Accordingly, the next Afternoon
when she. in tan Eton Jacket, anC
the Suggest, smartest knickerbocker:
possible, was bowling along through
the park with the Contemplate Cad
she suddenly saw approaching on the
tan the man she had fouted, torment
ed and annoyed in every possible
way, and whom she had come to look
upon as her special property, devo
tedly bending over That Girl, fault
lessly attired and looking very dainty
and feminine indeed.