The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-05-18
Put to the Test

notice It,
DO | believe in their existence, or
! in their resuts?" His smile was
somewhat scornful. why suppose
II girl wants to ask man to marry
her she sometimes does It. AS for the
result, l presume it's a question OF
temperament as to whether he throws
the bait or catches it."
This wasn't at all what Eileen Mel
chor meant. Her eyes grew more
earnest. But why shouldn't wom-
an have the same right as a man, hon
estly? It's always puzzled me alb
stractly."
David Barclay laughed good-humor-
edly. tits the propriety you're ques-
! tioning, Is It? Oh you women with
your interminable why's! Custom is
custom, I suppose, and l fancy that's
your answer. Man began it, didn't
he? Who made the first proposal,
anyway"
Eileen shrugged her shoulders. Evil
IDENTIFY his questioning was more alb
stract than hers. you are making
fun of me-" she said, "and was lit
tie bit in earnest"
He was chivalrous fellow in spite
of his contempt for a style of girl
which he thought she was affecting,
and when he detected a hurt tone in
her last words he melted at once.
my dear Miss Melchor," he an
swered 81 never make fun of honest
questions, but yours didn't sound like
you"
81 know It," said little Eileen, "but
I honestly wanted information and a
mans idea. Cousin Lettie and some
of her friends were talking about it
last night, and they found three cases
where the girl had proposed to the
man and happy marriage had follow
ed. I've been wondering II the men
were weaker minded than the aver
age, or the women stronger minded,
or II neither Of them had to be differ
ent from other people"
David Barclay was thinking. He
began to realize the little girl beside
him was in earnest Could she be in
love with someone of whom he did not
know and did she really want his ad.
vice?
They were old friends, he and she,
almost enough so for him to ask her
why she wanted his opinion. Once,
long time ago, he had asked her a
question that was more important
than this, one that she had not an
swered as he wished. She was very
young then, so young that now when
they met again after long absence
| hic ~ oh fanrind he ~ q
had forgotten. He found he could meet
her again calmly, even be alone with
her and act like a friend merely;
but in the depths of his heart he knew
he had not forgotten, that he never
would forget.
your words still surprise me some
what" he said, and she wondered
why his voice had grown gentler "and
yet | don't see, honestly, why the
woman shouldn't have the chance
when she wants to use it, as well as
the man. l don't think she need be
stronger minded, necessarily, nor he
of weaker character. think they
might be Just ordinary people like, for
instance, you and me-"
How had he dared? The blood
seemed to have rushed to his heart
and to be pounding there unmerciful-
ly.
Eileen Melchor had grown pale, or
no, was 1t his fancy?
81 wonder now-I don't believe
the woman wouldn't have the cour.
age" she said, and he believed her
voice trembled. "If-the man didn't
care. wouldn't she just want to die
OF shame? Wouldn't she have to?"
"Why any more than a man in a
similar position?" he questioned. RE
member, we were putting them on an
equal footing"
But a woman's shame is terrible. "
she faltered.
"a mans may be-" he persisted.
Don't you believe men can suffer?"
"And II a woman has made man
suffer. you think the man ought to be
given the same chance-in the alb
stract!"
Perhaps direct, too. Why notH''
Was he helping or hindering her?
What did she want to say?
But men are braver than women
when 1t comes to putting affection to
test"
Pm not so sure. They have the
advantage OF custom and convention
ality. woman who dared It with
those obstacles would be far braver
than the average man"
She caught her breath sharply and
the crimson color came sweeping over
her face and neck. "Mr. Barclay" she
said, and her voice was almost inaudi-
BILE, Il don't know how to say It.
VIII you marry me?"
He looked straight into her eyes
and kept his arms away from her by
force OF will. YES" he said gently.
81 will WhenY"
"Any-any time" she faltered, and
when her eyes brimmed over and the
drops fell on her dress he knew her