Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-01-26
Tie Argus Daily Short Story
THE PATRIOTISM OF PENELOPE--BY VIRGINIA BLAIR
- Copyrighted, Literary ~

a man who can vote and won't
vote ought to be made to vote said
Penelope dramatically.
:'Of course if you feel that way"
Oswald Deering said stif1y.
every woman should feel that
way"-Penelopes scornful little nose
was in the air-"and every man. The
welfare Of the country depends on it,"
I'm not so Sure"-Deering was fast
becoming aggressive-''thata woman
knows
And then Penelope blazed. "Of
course"-becoming aggressive-"that
woman ought not to dabble in such
things. Brt the blood of my ancestors
is in me. All of my grandfathers were
in the Revolution and in the war of
1912. Ny father served with honor in
the civil war and my brothers in The
Spanish war. How can l help feeling
that the men who wouldn't fight
were She stoprssd
Oswald was-..Yery pale. 81 know
what you were going TO say-that be-
cause didntnfght l was coward"
Something in the stiffness of his an
ger frightened. Penelope
Il didn't mean she faltered.
Eyes, you did, he tQld her You
meant that l was q coward because !
didn't go to the war when your broth
ers did. But there were reasons
"There are always reasons" she
Aoe.
are reasons why you are not going to
vote tomorrow"
We'll. don't think you could under
stand if l told you, Penelope"
She stood up and faced him. "0h."
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 a low plane,
Oswald, and now / know it,"
at isn't that" he said doggedly,
''but think ought not TO be made to
explain my reason for not voting. 1t
involves some one else. I 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.
Il 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.
Il mean that-that l think we have
made mistake"
Then you won't marry me, Pencil
ope?"
II have never said that / would, Os-
| valid"
mo, but you gave me hope. You
knew that thought
Before his accusing eyes her own
| dropped aa
"But never really said Yes" she
| whisperedsai9
Perhaps 9not. But | understood
| that it was because you wanted to be
sure" His voice broke. and then al
at once he, gathered himself together
and, with his head held high, said
sternly, l.Don't talk of mans ale
| glance to his country. Penelope. when
you have failed in your allegiance to
| your love-.
II don't love you." she began, but be
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 wos staring at him in q daZed
way. Then then goodby,' she quiv-
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 qulvered. why can't you
tell me-. she demanded tearfully,
.'why you won't vote, OSWALD"
lie hesftated and then shook his
head NO: it's matter best left I'M
discussed. Perhaps some day you'll
see thin.s Inherently"