Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-12-07
IATwentiethCen
Marriage Contract
By EDNA PHILIPS
Copyright by American Press Aaso-
cIation. 1911.
By EDNA PHILLIPS

nine-tenths OF the young women Of the
world. including the wealthy classes.
work This educates them to u self
dependence OF which their grandmoth-
ers knew nothing.
Charlotte Blake was one OF these
girls who worked Work TO her was
not necessary. Her father was abun-
dainty able TO support her. but she
could not brook idleness. She possess
ed a good voice aud would have liked
to go OH the stage had her father not
objected As IL was. she gave music
lessons. But when she engaged her.
self TO Henry POmcroy her lover OBJ
jected to her doing anything whatever.
50 she gave up teaching.
She had been engaged several months
without hearing anything from her
fiance as to their marriage. and, time
hanging heavy on her hands she spoke
to him about the matter.
I'm getting things into shape for
that" lie said Leave II to the. Just
as soon as I'm ready III let you know. q"
do you propose always to keep
your aualrS 10 yourself!
why would you wish to hear about
them? You wouldn't understand them
and yoar COMMONS upon them would
only bother me. I'm like a horse used
to a mountain trail. Give him his
head and h-'Il carry you safely. Try
to guide him and he'll spill you"
This was al that was said about the
nIal
tinued to do nothing. while Mr.. Pom
eroy pursued the even tenor of his
way without mentioning his affairs 10
her He was devoted to her in other
respects. taking her to the theater. TO
drives and aiiordng her other amuse
ments. Indeed. he treated her In the
old fashioned way, as his father had
treated his mother. as his grandfather
had treated his grandmother.
But Charlotte lived In n different
age from his mother or his grand
mother She had been developed. She
was itching to assume her part of the
family headlDarA. F-it ooniEoi war
one of the features Of this develop
ment, and that self control enabled
her, having spoken once on the mat
ter that most Interested her. to refrain
from doing so arIim. Nevertheless
there was n smoIdering fire within
Miss Blake was n representative OF the
twentieth century woman.
Meanwhile the flowers came regular.
ly, and her fiance was not sparinG OF
his invitations. As 10 the flowers. she
sent them e. an invalid whom sh" rc
garded her especial protcGe, and some
Of the Invitations she declined. These
methods OF cour; hip did not interest
her Pomeroy. not having risen Ia
modern methods. knew OF no other
way TO show ais devotion. while she.
being a modern girl. had no use for at
tentiOns In vogue half century he
fore.
One evening Pomcroy appeared ~
her home and said. Il am happy TO an
nounce that my affairs are now IN con
dition to take you from your fatnr-
and support you in the same style ~
that to which you hay" been accu
toned"
What am to do?''
What are sou TO do? don't under
stand you
81 infer from what Won say that you
will be able 10 hire the best OF serv
ants, who Will take every care Of tie
house s"e nothing to occupy H."
Ny mind will hc vacuum"
what have aides always doncf'
81 am not Concerned with that !
have never considered marriage ever
In the present day. only know that
l am a woman have earned SUN
cheney 10 tale care OF myself and don
need anv one 10 take care OF me II
could Lr as q ru1rried woman. {"
partner in my husbands affairs / sup
pose | shOu 4 be Interested in mItrl
mony. AZ 1t Is, don't think / have
any use FOR Il"
The lover stool aEhast, and his fan
Gee continued.
81 have found the period OF engage
ment insipi1 You have sent me flow
ers and thca'er tickets only won
dered that you didn't send me a dol
Now you propose TO set me up in yOUT
home as q wax dgure under a gia,-
cover. / decline the honor. l am about
TO sign a contract To go on the stage
I'm going :" try occupying myself n
the profession OF music for two years.
but ] am practical enough 10 realize
that II ] once enter upon that pr"fcs
sion | shall doubtless follow II as long
as my voice lasts That Is what 9th
ers have done. and SEE no reason why
should be an exception"
PomerUy was 50 taken aback that fpr
awhile be d,j not iinOw what To say
'It seems to me he said fn0i'r
"that you are yrO,e,G.sg as much tpu
fast as az too slow | see that J ~.
not up TO date in the matter of u cOUr'
ship or In my estimate Of the mod"-r
| position OF wife. | VIII meet You
halfway. will take you az part
| ner as well as one 10 love II you 81.
give up the career you have chosen 70
accept the Partnership"
"Now you nre proposing some'h.n'
that meets my concurrence" said ChnT
lotte. 81 atree 10 your terms"
But the care NJ family threw IN.
wife back 20 the status Of her grand
mother. She found II Impossible -
supply the wants or her children and
learn enough about her husbands T. rs.
ness to consult with him in'eIliger ~
The consequence was that she natural
| iy dropped into her own sphere. leav
Ing her husband TO occupy his alone,