The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-02-16

|
Oswald Deering said stif1y.
"Every woman should feel that
way"-Penelope's scornful little nose
was in the air-"and every man. The
welfare Of the country depends on it"
Pm not so sure"-Deering was fast
becoming aggressive-"that a woman
knows
And then Penelope blazed. "Of
urse'-becoming ggressive-'that a
woman ought not to dabb1e In such
things But the blood of my ancestors
Is in me. All Of my grandfathers were
In the Revolution and in the war of
1872. Ny father served with honor In
the civil war and my brothers In the
Spanish war. How can help feeling
that the men who wouldn't fight
were She stopped.
Oswald was very pale. Il know
what you were going to say-that be-
cause 1 didn't fight was coward"
Something in the stiffness Of his an
ger frightened Penelope.
1T didn't mean she faltered.
"Yes, you did" be told her You
meant that l was a coward because
didn't go TO the war when your broth
ers did. But there were reasons"
There are always reasons" she
flashed out. you may now say there
are reasons why you are not going to
vote tomorrow"
"Well, don't think you could under
n&ax6 ~ I cold WOW ponoIoFa
She stood up and faced him. "Oh,
she said, and her little figure in the
clinging mauve gown was drawn up to
its full height-"oh, ] always thought
that you put women on low plane,
Oswald, and now know 1t"
ut isn't that" he said doggediy,
"but / think ought not to be made to
explain my reason for not voting. 1t
involves some one else. / shall stay
away from the polls tomorrow as
matter Of conscience, Penelope"
Her little nose was buried In the
bunch of yiolets he had brought her.
81 don't think it is worth arguing
about" she said at last YEARLY as she
lifted her head from the flowers. "But
really think we couldn't be happy If
we feel so differently"
"You mean He had risen and
was standing beside her.
II mean that-that think we have
made q mistake"
"Then you won't marry me, Pencil
opeT
Il have never said that l would. Os-
wald."
"No, but you gave me hope. You
knew that thought
Before his accusing eyes her own
dropped.
"But never really said Yes" she
whispered
perhaps not. But / understood
that 1T 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
sternly, Don't talk of mans ale
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. I want the love of woman
who believes in me-"
She was staring at him in dazed
way. "Then-then-good she quiz
| cred.
He came over and took both Of her
hands in his. "Oh, little Penelope"
| he said, .why can't you trust me?"
Her lips quivered why can't you
tell me-" she demanded tearfuliy,
''why you won't vote, Oswald?"
He hesitated and then shook his
| head. mo; it's a matter best left un-
discussed. Perhaps some day you'll
see things differently"
| Her chin was raised mutinously. Il
shall always love my country, Os-
wald."
"And l shall always love you" And
with that he was gone.
Left alone, she wondered If it 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 Penelope'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 at dinner they toasted
| their favorite candidate in water from
their own clear spring, and their ia
Their made a little speech. 1--WE have
all been fighters" he said, "and hope
l shall never have a son or grandson
to break our record"
And Penelope, thinking of Oswald.
WINGED. What place had he among
these men of war?
But when the feasting was over her
Youngest brother, Bruce, said, 1--WE al
ways felt that there was no force like
the force Of arms, but l tell you |
heard something about Oswald Deer
ing today that made me believe IN a
new kind of courage"
"What was it?' they demanded.
"WeI. the nurse who takes care of
| Oswald's mother told me when was
waiting In Oswald's Office today. 1t
seems that his father was killed in the
civil war aud 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 thai
/ nearly killed her. So Oswald stayed
| at home and studied medicine, but he
has never really got over his disap-
| pointment"
/ Penelope's father brought his hand
down on the table with bang. but
he should have gone at his country s
| call" and Penelope's eyes flashed
"And have killed his mother?" Bruce
asked quietly. For moment the older
man was silent and then he said, 1T
was a test of patriotism, but the boy
| did the right thing"
Penelope leaned across the table and
asked an eager question, but only her
mother knew of her real interest and
why her cheeks were pale and her
eyes Swallowed.
"But--but do you know the reason
why Oswald didn't vote" she de
manded.
Bruce nodded. Same reason. His
mother insists that he shall vote the
ticket that his father always did, and
his conscience won't let him. He says
conditions are different now. So he
doesn't vote at ALL"
/
II think he's somewhat tied to bis
mothers apron strings" Penelope'f
voice was scornful
Little sister''-Bruce's steady gaze
| -, a,,h doaoIv age Won knew