The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1910-12-16
A Mans Equal
By LOUISE OLNEY
Copyright 1910. by Associated Literary Press

AOpyIlRut. 1910, ny AS
Half-h1dden from the others in
corner, almost forgotten by them,
Elaine bent her fair head over her
dainty bit of sewing and listened un-
heed1ngly through her dream Of Jerry.
dream that would soon be reality.
He would be home any day, surprising
her as on all his college vacations. He
was through the law school and they
would be married. They had been plan
ming 1t for five years-since she was
eighteen.
1t had been a long wait, and she
had felt, uncomfortably. that his SIS
ter Anne, his housekeeper since their
mothers death, did not approve Jer-
rvs choice Now at the little neigh
borhood Sewing" that represented
society to some extent, where much
opinion went forth, but where gossip
was theoretically tabooed. Anne was
holding forth to the rest. The talk
had been largely of college and col
lege people, and Anne was saying In
her sententious manner:
We'll, college does change a man!
And l believe mans wife should be
his equal If she's to take any comfort
herself or be anything but drag on
him. There's Mary Stevens, for a
shining example of misery. Don
Martin got engaged to her before he
went away to school merely because
he was idle and she was pretty and
always about. Then. while he studied
four years she sat at home and read
his letters and embroidered doilies.
She simply lived from one vacation
to another, and never had an indie
pendent thought Of her own, or read
a book that she was not forced to
read! She waited for him to marry
her, and that was ALL You know, as
well as l, that finally everybody but
her saw that he had outgrown her.
1t was evident that he gave her both
chance and an excuse to break the
engagement. But she wouldn't though
Mark Towne, who had remained right
here and adored her and was on
her own level, was wild to get
her. She would marry Don. and she
did. Now-he's Indifferent and she
Is jealous and it's a bad mess. He
has known women who think and
need mental companionship, thing
she can't give him. She had nothing
but mere youth and selfish devotion;
now. the youth Is slipping away and
what Is left?" Her needle pricked
back and forth through the garment
she was making.
But surely" defended the min
listers wife, gently, and remembering
elaine and her tender young sensi-
bilities, surely love does not depend
on mere mental companionship.
Mary's case was but one instance.
Many men want the simple sweet
hearts OF their boyhood, the girls who
have always known and understood
them. They can get intellectual slim
illus from men friends and other
women. From a man they want love,
which the intellectual woman cannot
always give"
Anne still pursued her theme. "Of
course, exceptions occur. But I main
tain that most men And small inter
est in the girls they leave behind
them. They may marry them, If they
have promised to. but it will be, gen.
orally, because the girl has not the
sense to see that his interest has
wandered and that he would be glad
of his freedom If he knew how to get
1t without seeming like a scoundrel
to himself and the home town.
I'm sure could tell whether a
man really wanted to marry me
or not. and would at least give him
a chance"
Just then new arrival and q
silencing gesture of the minister's
wife toward Elaine, whose cheek had
gone white. put an end to the talk
But it had been wantonly cruel, and
the others firmly believed that Anne
had done it purposely. They knew
her ambitions for Jerry, her brilliant
brother, and the interest Alma ferris
a young artist friend of his had
taken in him. The town had
thought he would jilt Elaine and
marry Alma Terris. and the town had
said so.
Now Elaine folded her work and
slipped into the June sweetness OF
the late afternoon, new thought
tearing at her heart Would Jerry
like to have his freedom? Had be
cared for Alma Terris? She had not
been jealous Of the young artist who
had visited the Terhunes the summer
before The air was full of bird SONG
and rose bloom, but the ache at her
heart hid these things. And he might
be home any time, tonight, even
She had waited with a sort of rap
:ure for him, for the final arrange
nents for the wedding But now
we'll, she could not 60 home. Halt
1nconsciously she went over the hill
.aking the little path that led to the
wood where they had told their sim
ole boy and girl love. She must think
It out A sort of agony folded in
upon her as she remembered that OF