Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-03-18
Put to the Test

DAVID barclay was not IN the moou W
notice It.
do believe in their existence. or
IN their results?" His smile was
somewhat scornful. why, | suppose
II girl wants to ask a man to marry
her she sometimes does 1t. 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 a wom-
an have the same right as a man, hon
estly? IT'S always puzzled ne abb
stractly."
David Barclay laughed good-humor-
sdly. 'It's the propriety you're ques-
hOning, is It? Oh, you women with
your interminable whysl Custom is
custom. suppose. and fancy that's
your answer. Man began 1t, didn't
he? Who made the first proposal
anyway"
Eileen shrugged her shoulders. Evi
IDENTIFY his questioning was more alb
stract than hers. you are making
fun Of me-" she said, land l was a 1T
tie bit in earnest"
He was a chivalrous fellow in spite
OF his contempt for a style of girl
which he thought she was affecting
and when he detected hurt tone in
her last words he melted at once.
my dear Miss Melchor," he an
swered. 'T never make fun of honest
questions, but yours didn't sound like
you"
81 know it," said little Eileen. "bu
honestly wanted information and e.
mans idea. Cousin Lettie and souv
Of her friends we're talking f5out
last night, and they found three case
where the girl had proposed to the
man and a happy marriage had follow
ed. I've been wondering II the e
we're weaker minded than the ave
age, or the women stronger minde
or II neither Of them had to be dine.
ent from other people"
David Barclay was thinking He
began TO realize the little girl bes.Ge
him was in earnest. Could she be in
| love with someone of whom he did no
know and did she really want his adj
| vice?
They were old friends, be and sh :
almost enough so for him to ask hcl
why she wanted his opinion. On >
/ long time ago, he had asked her q
question that was more importan
than this, one that she had not an
swered as he wished She was ve'
young then, so young that now whel
they met again after long absen'
on his part they each fancied the 9th
aad forgotten. He found he could NEE
her again calmly, even be alone witt
ner and act like friend merely
out in the depths OF his heart he kne7
ne had not forgotten, that he neve
would forget.
Your words still surprise me some
what" he said, and she wonders
Why his voice had grown gentler, "an'
yet l don't see. honestly, why til
woman shouldn't have the chanc
when she wants to use II, as well a
the man. don't think she need b.
stronger minded, necessarily, nor h
of weaker character. l think the
might be Just ordinary people like, 70
instance, you and me-"
How had he dared? The bloc
seemed to have rushed to his hear
and to be pounding there unmercifu
ly.
Eileen Meichor had grown pale. u
no. was II his fancy?
~ wonder now-I don't believe
the woman wouldn't have the coul
age" she said, and he believed he
voice trembled. "If-the man didn
care, wouldn't she just want to di
, Of shame7 Wouldn't she have to?"
Why any more than a man in
similar position?" he questioned. "R'
member. we we're putting them on a
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 a ma
suffer. you think the man ought to b
given the same chance-in the al
stractlp
Perhaps direct, too. Why not!
Was he helping or hlndering her
What did she want to say?
But men are braver than wome
, when it comes to putting affection
/, a test"
/. I'm not so sure. They have tn
advantage of custom and convention
: ality. A woman who dared it wit
those obstacles would be far brave
= than the average man."
She caught her breath sharply an
the crimson color came sweeping oy'
! her face and neck. 'Mr. Barclay" sh
said, and her voice was almost maud
BILE, II don't know how to say
VIII you marry met"
!, He looked straight into her eye
and kept his arms away from her b
force OF will. Yes" he said gentl
81 will. When?"
"Any-any time" she faltered, an
:. when her eyes brimmed over and tn
drops fell on her dress he knew hC
. woman's pride had broken for the tim
:. being. aud the love of his manhoo
=, need be held in leash no longer. BI
the thought that was in his min
found expression in words as well.
You were always the dearei
woman l ever knew" he said. Now
know you are the brayest one"
But they both knew that she ha
been brave only because love had ca
ried all before 1t and conquered II
woman's shame in her heart befol
! she. could show il to him.-MARIO
u S. WoNsoN.
She Expected as Much.