The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-04-21
THE WEAKER SEX
By KENNETH HARRIS.
55S2SE59S559S6

lures duu IdIuSI SquSdhy fofSS.
ANY man who would lay his hand
upon a woman, save In the way of
kindness, is less than a BRUTE" he
said. "The Lord created man to be
woman's protector, and therefore
made him in a sterner, rougher mold.
It Is mans part to bear the hard
ships and dare the dangers Of life,
that woman may be spared. The
weakness of woman should appeal to
him and inspire him with a chival-
rous desire to interpose himself be-
tween her and all harm. But I
don't say that woman is an inferior
being, mind you"
That's very nice and magnani-
nous, Treloar," said Cough, with
just the faintest sarcasm in his tone.
Mrs. Treloar ought to be obliged to
YOU"
She is" said Mrs. Treloar for her
self. We all looked at her, tall, SUI
perbly formed, deep-breasted, round
armed and blooming with perfect
health. Some of US no doubt thought
Of her as she was before she married
Treloar-the girl athlete, the Diana
Of the fields, woods and streams, the
rainy-day, snowy-day, blowy-day girl,
who played tennis, golf, basket ball
and billiards in a way that made
nine-tenths of her men acquaintances
look foolish; who pulled an oar that
even her brothers commended and
led the stunts in her college gym.
Was a Skillful Wooer.
Mrs. Branksome had been with
Mrs. Treloar at Smith, and perhaps
that was why Mrs. Branksome turned
her head quickly away and began to
talk to the man on her left in a very
animated manner.
There were plenty of fellows just
crazy over Molly Price before Ire
ioar appeared on the scene. After
that they dropped out ho~pelessly.
Treloar read poetry to her, and
much of it mighty poor poetry. But
he read it nightly impressiyely and
he conducted his whole wooing In an
impressive manner, and Molly ur-
rendered, almost without a fight.
That was the last Of her athletics,
too. For some reason or other, Ire
loar seemed to be quite enough for
her. They were, in fact, a devoted
couple.
I'm many respects she Is a supe-
rior being" continued Treloar. "Her
tenderness, her idealistic nature, her
purity, refinement are what we can
never hope to approach. 1t seems to
me so absurd for US to look down up
on her because our muscles happen
to be stronger and u physical cour-
age greater"
Mrs. Treloar blew him a kiss.
"Still, I'm afraid the age of chiv-
airy is really dead" said Treloar.
"For one thing, we men have no OPP
portunlties to demonstrate u Prov
ess.. Civilization Is too humdrum
and prosaic. One can't die for ones
lady love-"
She Caught the Burglar.
I'm glad one can't" said Mrs.
Branksome. "I prefer to have my
own true knight alive. I find him
quite useful on occasions"
>"I might have had a chance last
September, but I missed it," said
Treloar. did any Of you hear about
that? A burglar got into our house.
Poor Molly was nearly scared to
DEATH"
ooh, don't tell about that" plead
ed Mrs. Treloar.
why not, my dear? It's nothing
to be ashamed of. I think any wom-
an would have been frightened to
wake up in the dead of night and
find a burly burglar prowling about
the room. T really wonder that Mol
ly escaped ervou prostration."
"Horrors!" calculated Mrs. Cough,
81 should have died right there. What
did you do, Molly?"
"She shut him up in a closet" re-
piled her husband, smiling.
I was just desperate" explained
Mrs. Treloar. II was so frightened
that I didn't know exactly what I was
doing. He-he went into the closet
and I slammed the door and locked
him in"
you wonderful ~creature!" said
Mrs. Cough. How could you!"
II was in a sort of panic, you
know" said Mrs. Treloar with height
ened color.
The Capture as She Told 1t.
Then she sat there, trembling,
and praying for me to come" added
her husband with a compassionate
smile. perhaps it's a good thing
she let him go before I came. I
think I should have handled him pref
ty roughly"
"She let him go, did she?" asked
Cough.
81 couldn't stand it having him in
there, I was so afraid" said Mrs.
Treloar. "He promised he would
give up everything he had taken if I
unlocked the door, so I did. And
he went away and left the things"
WELL" said little Treloar, "as l
say, it was perhaps better so, as it
turned out. But if 1 had been there
I might have killed him. Quite like
ly, 1 think. The poor girl was in a
nearly fainting condition when 1 got
in"
ooh, I was so glad to see him.
said Mrs. Treloar.
Later in the evening Mrs. Drank
some got Mrs TrelOar to herself