Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1911-12-07
ATwentiethCen
Marriage Contract
By EDNA PHILIPS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.
By EDNA PHILIPS

ent from v hat il WIS a century ago
Then there was one head To the fami
ly. the husband. Now. IL IL claimed
nine-tenths OF the young women Of the
world. including the wealthy classes
work. This educates them to a 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 and would have liked
to go on the stage had her father not
objected AZ Ii was, she gave music
lessons. But when she engaged her.
self to Henry Pomeroy 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
fance as to their marriage, and. time
hanging heavy on her hands, she spoke
to him about the matter.
I'm Ertting thiugS into shape for
that" lie said Il cave IL to me. Just
as soon rs I'm ready III let you know"
'Do you propose always to keep
your affairs 10 y"urselfE"
why would you wish to hear about
them? You woulIn't understand them
and yoSr CpInlons upon them would
only bother me. I'm like horse used
to u mountain trail Give him his
head and ha'll carry you safely. Try
to guide him and he'll spIlI you"
This was AL that was said about the
matter at the time. Miss Blake con
tnued to do nothing. while Mr. Pom
eroy pursued the even tenor of his
way without mentioning his affairs to
her. He WAS devoted 10 her In other
respects, taking her to the theater. to
drives and alTordinG her other amuSe
ments. Indeed. he Treated her I'm the
old fashioned way, as his father had
treated his mother, as his grandfather
had treated his grandmother.
But Charlotte lived ia different
age from his mother or his grand
mother. She had been developed She
was itching to assume her part OF the
oEc .se -. F.atss.ess <sss-this devalOn.
ment, and that self control enabled
her. having spoken once on the mat
ter that most interested her. to refrain
from doing 50 again. Nevertheless
there was smolderinC fire within
Miss Blake was representative of the
twentieth century woman.
Meanwhile the flowers came regular
ly. and her tiance was not sparing OF
his invitations. As to the flowers. she
sent them {" an invalid whom sh" re
garded her especial prOtege, and some
Of the invitations she declined. Thes"
methods OF couri hip did not interest
her. Pomeroy, not having risen l."
modern methods. knew OF no other
way TO show his devotion. while she.
being q modern girl, had no use for at
tentions In vogue half century hc
fore.
One evening Pomeroy appeared at
her home and said: Il am happy to an
nounce that my affairs are now in con
dition to take you from your fathc-
and support you in the same style IL
that TO VIII, h you have been accu-
toned"
"What am to dor
What are you 10 do? don't under
stand you
81 infer from what you say that you
will be able. TO hire the best OF srrv
ants. who will take every care of the
house. see nothing 20 occupy ia.
My mind will be vacuum"
what have 'niies always doncT
81 am not Concerned with that
have never considered marriage ever
In the nresent day. 1 ONLY know that
am woman. have earned sua
cheney 70 foln care OF myself and don't
need anv ono 10 take care OF me. n
corId be as married woman ?
mariner I'm my husbands affairs / sun
nose I shou.d te Interested In p,rr,
mopv A. II e. don't think 1 hay.
any use for g."
The lover STOOL orba-t- and his Gap
cea conti,uad
"r hive found the pe-iod of enroge
ment insipid You have sent me f,ow.
ers and tteaiar tickets only won
dared thot v,u ridn., sand mo n do,
Eo,u, vou rr,,,osc - 90. mo nm In vo,,r
ho,ne ss WY npure undar n ,,la..
cover dac.fna tho honor \ am abo,,,
IN sign contract IN 90 on the stage
I'm roIn- - frr occrnving myself y.
the profession. Of music for two years
bur ! am practical enough to realize
thst II | once enter upon that profes
sion shall doubtless follow it as long