The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-03
THE EVENING STORY
A Mans Equal.
(By Louis OInev.O

I1dll-nluQen from the others in a
corner, almost forgotten by them,
Elaine bent her fair head over her
dainty bit of sewing and listened I'M
heedingly through her dream of JEFF
~, dream that would soon be reali-
ty. He. would be home any day, sur
prising her as on all his college vaca-
tons, save that there would be no
more vacations. He was through the
law school and they would be mar
ried. They had been planning it for
five years since she was eighteen.
It had been a long wait, and she
had felt, uncomfortably, that his
sister Anne, his housekeeper since
their mothers death, did not approve
Jerry's choice. Now at the little
neighborhood sewing" that repre-
scented 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 college
people, and Anne was saying in her
contentious manner:
We'll, college does change a. mani
And l believe a mans wife should be
his equal if she's to take anv comfort
herself or be anything but drag on
him. There's Mary Stevens, for
shining example of misery. Don Mar
tin got engaged to her before he went
away to school merely because he
was idle and she was pretty and al
ways 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
dendent 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.
but her saw that he had outgrown
her. It was evident that he gave her
both a chance and an excuse to break
the engagement. But she wouldn't
M TI7n
manned 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 bad mess.
He has known women who think and
need mental companionsnip, thing
she can't give him. She had nothing
but mere youth and selfish devotion;
what is Ieft?'' Her needle pricked
back and forth through the garment
she was making.
but surely" defended the minis
ter's wife gently, and remembering
Elaine and her tender young sensi-
biIities, surely love does not depend
on mere mental companionshlp.
Mary's case was but one instance.
Many men want the simple sweet
hearts of their boyhood, and girls who
have always known and understood
them. They can get intellectual slim
11lus from men friends and other wo-
men From a wife they want love,
which the intellectual woman cannot
always give r
Anne still pursued her theme. "of
course, exceptions occur But =! mann
tain that most men find small interest
in til girls they leave behind them
They ,e,ay marry them, if they have
to, but it will be, generally,
because the girl has not the sense 20
y, that his interest has wandered anu
that he would be glad of his freedom IL
fn
ing like a scoundrel to himself ana the
home town. I'm sure l could tell
whether a man really wanted 10 marry
me or not, and 1 would at least give
him a chance
Just then a new arrival and a
silencing gesture of the minister's wife |
toward Elaine, whose cheek mad gone
white, put an end to the tax BUT a
had been wantonly cruel, and the 9TH |
ers firmly believed that Anne had done |
h nurposely. They knew her ambitions |
for Jerry her brilliant brother, ana 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 Terrlss, ana the town
had said So
Now Elaine folded her work and
slipped out into the June sweetness or
he late afternoon, a new thought tear
ing at her heart. Would Jerry like to |
have his freedom? Had he cared Tor
Alma Terriss? She had not been jeai-
he Terhunes the summer before me
air was full of bird-song and rose
bloom. but the ache at her heart hid
.hese things And he might be home
INV time, tonight even.
She had waited with sort OF rap
ure for him. for the final arrangements
or the wedding. But now-well, she
Gould not go home. Half unconsciously
the went over the hin. taking the little
1ath that led to the wood where they
lad told their simple boy and girl love.
she must think it out. A sort of agony
oIded in upon her as she remembered
hat of late his letters had been brief,
uu of the homely, simple past, with
yerv little of life now, his thoughts
row Had he tired of her? If she tried
o break the engagement would he les
Ter? Would she have the courage to
ry2 She could not imagine Jerry talk
ng dismissal from his meek Elaine!
rhen. with sudden decision, her pride
rose in arms She would do it if it
Tiled her-he would have the chance
# freedom She would go straight up
o him the minute she saw him and ]
ay-
A sound made her turn. and Jerry
TODD behind her, reaching out both ]
lands He was thin and wan and
but his smile was very
weet She would have leaped to his
rms. but she knew that once IN the 4
lear, old shelter she could never leef
i'm go. She drew back
Jerry" she said, as wonderment and
larm grew in his gaze. .syou-we-l !