Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1910-12-07
SHEPLAYEDA
MANS PART
By SHEILA ESTHER DUNN
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.


box designed for n receptacle for
newspapers to be read by hospital pa
tients. l wrote ON the margin OF my
paper. Hope you are better today"
gave my address In full and deposited
the gift.
Being woman and no. knowing
whether the recipient would be male
or female. l wrote the name so as to
lie ambiguous. am Frances kimball
and signed myself Frank Kimball.
which would lead one not knowing me
to suppose | was II man.
In few days received n note
that the paper had fallen into his
hands and that 1t had afforded him n
couple OF hours entertainment. Be-
yond this there was something very
pleasant I'm occupying his fancy In
wondering what sort of fellow | was
He had pictured me as middle aged
or old mantle young are naturally
selfish. he said-with benevolent faco
and undoubtedly interested In char
liable work.
wrote reply. in which I RETAINED
myself though ! asked him to go on
with his imaginative pictures OF me.
l wished to know how near the truth
he would come This elected a further
reply, in which he dcduced from my
one act of tEoughtfulneSs many vlr-
tues-for instance. a thoughtful man
was sure 10 he well poised man. and
since self control was the principal
qualification for bravery l must be
brave. BY such logical deductions he
endowed me with SO many nnc quail
fications that l was very proud of my
self. Besides. 1t was quite interesting
TO see how he worked II out on the
supposition that | was n man.
One day l wrote asking him to sup
pose that n woman had sent him the
paper and deduce from this initial act
what kind of person she would be.
II is reply was that such an act was
far more within wOmans realm than
mans: therefore It did not argue that
the woman who perpetrated 1t was so
far superior to others OF her sex as a
man who did the same thing would be
bove his. But" he continued, 81
confess that ! should. after all. have
appreciated II more had 1t come from
n woman than man. and for this rea-
son: Nature has not given us the pow
er to respond TO a mans sacrifice for
us as for Il woman'S. Indeed. the man
who gives TO another man is limited in
his feelings for that man. The reason
! have deduced special qualifisa tons
from your act Is that II was a wo-
mans rather than n mans act. though
it by no means indicated other femi-
nine traits. Indeed. II Is the one femi-
nine trait a man can possess that
marks him for the highest type of
man."
received In time q note stating
that my correspondent would be dis
charged from the hospital within q
few days. That he had an identity of
his own is manifest from these words:
Il would be glad to meet you. but II
seems to me II would be far more
agreeable in the end for us both Lot to
come together. My reason Is as have
written you. There can be nothing
demonstrative between two men. We
Should shake hands cOldly make 9
few commonplace remarks to eact
other and separate. Those finer feel
ings TO which we have given expires
sion when separated would SOUND
tame If spoken. In other words. oui
mans nature prevents us from any
thing like expressed sentiment. So
will say goodby TO you. and God b,
with you"
wrote him in reply that l did no
agree with him: that history. song ant
story were each and all full OF exam
ples OF men whose hearts went ont L
each other. What could be better proc
OF this than the case OF Damon an,
quest that he meet me at my house o.
Sunday afternoon. Sunday being III
only day that j was free.
His next note surprised me. He sti
refused TO meet me. "Give up spoilin
this pleasant episode" he said. "by
meeting. ! confess | should not knoV
what to say to you. Were you n won
an l could take you in my arms. kis
{ your lips and pour out my heart I
D yOu-a heart which has been won b
the delightful traits you have di.
played by the first act and by the sui
/ segment correspondence"
Now. leave IT TO the reader II TIL
d was not an embarrassing position fe
:. me. Nevertheless ! insisted on a NEE
e Ing and finally secured one. When
Il went TO the room where we wei
h 20 meet found pleasant lookir
IS tian OF thirtyfive. bearing evidence ,
u intellect. refinement md prosperity.
I advanced toward him. smiling. 81 a
n your correspondent" I said. my ha
II Ing permitted you to suppose that