The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-09-25
|WHEN THE MAN FAILS herr
BY JENNIE PROCTOR.

You must choose between me and
this man" A father stood before o
daughter, black-browed, unyielding.
"Oh, cannot, father. cannot"
"You must. II this man-this scoun
drel-is to be your husband. / will
have nothing more to do with you
That is final, Amy"
Father, oh, father, pleased love
him. l."
But the father had closed the door
behind him. He was done.
Amy Plummer, golden-haired, young
beautiful, headstrong, made her choice
She left her fathers house and mar
ried the man she loved-married him
In the rooms of a justice of the peace
When her baby was born, Amy's happi
ness was almost complete. The one
flaw was that her father had not yet
forgiven her for her marriage to Will
Page. A successful man, able-bodied
living in the midst Of luxury, he was
deaf to his daughters plea. He had
closed the parental door against hef
and hers forever.
When her baby girl was two years
old storm broke over Amy's house.
hold. She never knew quite how 1t
had happened. She had been 80 busy
with little Evelyn. Her houseeold du-
ties had absorbed every vacant hour.
She had SO little time.to see what was
going on about her. Perhaps she had
neglected Will. Many evenings she
was too tired to notice Wills absence
or his whereabouts.
But one morning the scales dropped
from her eyes. Her baby was taken
from her and she was cast adrift upon
the world-a divorced woman. An
other and more care-free woman had
taken her place. Where Amy had
cared for the child and had done her
own work, a nurse and servants we're
employed. And there was nothing that
Amy could do. They told her that the
law had SO decided things, and Amy
knew nothing Of the law.
In desperation, the CASTOR went to
friend to borrow the money to go to
another city. Often she was hungry
and her clothes were ragged, thread
bare. There was no work for the in
experienced hand. At last, kindly
woman gave her employment as a do
mestic servant. For seven years she
lived thus, unknown and unmolested.
Crossing a busy street one day, an
automobile dashed around the corner.
Its shrill siren startled the nervous
woman. She lodged first one way,
then the other. The big car passed
over her; then 1t stopped; she was
lifted into the tonneau and hurried to
the nearest hospital.
When the woman opened her eyes
they rested upon golden-haired girl,
fashionably gowned. 1t was the same
girl who had hidden the chauffeur stop
the machine that it's victim might be
cared for.
Don't try to talk, mother" said the
girl. They are bringing grandfather
here. want you to save your strength
for him"
"But-you-and-f -father-together?
Yes. l ran away from my fathers
home. l couldn't stand it, and grand
father took me in. You see, GRANDPA
ther failed rapidly after you went
away. seldom leave his side ow. He
seems to get so much comfort from
just holding my hand. For years we
have searched for you. And now you
must be very quiet because we want
to take you-home Grandfather needs
you so.''
The woman's tired eyes lifted up
wonderfully and she went to sleep
murmuring: "He needs me; he needs
me-"
By a big bay window overlooking a
park, Amy Plummer Page and her
daughter were standing.
Mother, / wish you wouldn't make
me learn to earn my own living. We
have money, and"
Every girl should be able to make
her own way in the world, unaided !;
every woman. For none knows what
day she will be thrown upon her own
resources. l want TO teach you to care
for yourself. The thing we women
must learn is to put our trust in our
selves, Evelyn, not in men,"
Unseen by the two women, a broken
old man had entered the room. His
wrinkled hand rested on his daugh.
ter's arm.
you are right, my daughter. We
men fail our women, but our women
never fail us. 1t has always been so
1t will always be 30. You are right;
n 4
Daughter and granddaughter ten
derly placed the old man in the rooms
most comfortable chair, with cushions
and footstool. One brought him his
favorite drink. The other selected one
of the books that he liked best and
read to him until he slept. Then both
sat perfectly still watching over him
lest something should come to disturb
his comfort.
l.