The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-12-12
WEEKLY SHORT STORY
THE INDEPENDENCE OF CATH
ERNIE.
BY James Osborne.


Helen; dt you ever see me letting any
man take my arm, you can just know
m engaged TO nim." SO said indie
psdent Catherine Potter to her chum,
Helen Wild. Il know we live in a
sleepy, backwoods, old-fashioned town,
but the way the girls here let the men
pilot them from one end OF the town
70 the other, just as if they couldn'.
walk quite as well by themselves, 7
think is ridiculous And now you. OF
all people. l followed you for eleven
blocks on my way up here today, and
i do believe Billey Landis mad his hand
on your elbow half the way. 1 think
it's awfully silly"
But l can't help it." Helen defended
herself eff man says May II when
you come to a rowded crossing, and
then forgets to take his hand away,
what can l do? l don't know"
well, do" said Catherine,
Strengthening herself up to the full
ness of her feet ?. "You can say
that YOU don't like to be led about
like a baby. You can say, please
DON'T
But ] don't like being disagreed
BILE" Helen went en-.
I'm not disagreeable. I've just got
some sense.
lnwardly Helen acknowledged the
truth CT the statement. Certainly men
al q find Catherine disagreea5le.
Tacy seemed 20 ike he. Independence.
lS4'i slthougn H laE dill justice 70
Catherine's powers of attraction, she
would not admit openly the right of
GATHERINGS point OF view.
Anyway, Catherine Potter" she
contekded, "I'll wager you a pound of
chocolates that within q week you'll
forget yourself and some of us will
see you calmly letting a man steer
you about this old town of Warren. f"
mo, indeed" reiterated Catherine.
IF you, or anybody else, ever sees
me letting any man pilot me around
by the arm unless, of course, it's might
in big crowd, where just can't get
along by myself, you can Just know
I'm engaged TO him. And then, even,
1 won't like it,"
Helen chuckled to herself over her
friends explosive declaration of her
beliefs and privileges. And before the
day was over she had passed on the
story of GATHERINGS declaration to
many OF the young people who made
UP what was called the younger set
OF Warren's socially elect. These, in
turn mad passed it on TO their elders,
and soon all Warren was smiling to
itself at GATHERINGS expense.
50 1t was that William Lands. one
of the men who found GATHERINGS in
dependence Irresistible, hit upon a
plan.
Il know that Catherine likes me, at
least, he unused to himself, thinking
OF the time, week or so ago, when
the spirited Catherine had refused to
listen his plea of love on the ground
that he was talking nonsense. she
is just afraid to let herself go. She's
so used to being independent, she does
not know how to be ANYTHING else.
l may be mean, but III put her in n
position where she has to explain
things, and then we'll see what will
happen"
William kept his plans to himself.
not even confiding it TO his good
friend Helen Wild. who had told him
Of GATHERINGS declaration.
Warren boosted one business street.
of Importance calledd Main Street. 1t
was necessary that all the town, when
1T went shopping or visiting or to its
work, should at some time or other
cross or traverse this thorougihfare.
one day, few days afetr Gather
ines call upon Helen, William Lands,
returning to his Office afer luncheon.
suddenly saw Catherine coming unsus-
peclngly toward him down Main street
lie quickly prepared to put his care
fully formed plans into practice.
Just as Catherine caught sight of
him, when she was only a few feet
away, William skillfully shook his eve
glasses from his nose. Both lenses
shattered themselves on the stone side
walk. In apparent CONSERVATION he
stopped and CROPPED about the side
walk finally picking UP and pocketine
the gold nosemece. He squinted his
eyes and stared at Catherine as she
stopped in front OF him.
"Oh, that is you, Catherine. 7
couldn't quite make you out. am
In an awful hole" he lied glfblv
GLASSES broken and 1 can't see three
rect away. l suppose u Will have to
Stagger home the best way can"
William smiled, sighed, lifted his hat.
and started to walk away. He careful
~ collided with lamp post.
Billy" said Catherine, forgetting her
preJudices in a moment, IT Just can't
let you go running into things like
that Here" she said, putting her
hand on his arm, couldn't / guide
ycu?''
why, you are awfully good. If you
oon mind just TO my office door; or
Just tin we see some little boy that
would take poor beggar lilpe me for
a quarter"
mo, indeed" said Catherine de.sid
edly Il can just as well wall; home