The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-10-02
WHEN The MAN FAILS HER.
By JENNIE PROCTOR.

this man" A father stood before g
daughter, black-browed. unyielding.
"Oh, l cannot, father. l cannot"
"You must If 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, please! I 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 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 VIII
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 her
and hers forever.
When her baby girl was two years
old a storm broke over Amy's house
hold. She never knew quite how 1t
had happened. She had been SO busy
with little Evelyn. Her housesold 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 WITS 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 were
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 cast-off went to
a 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 do
nestle 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 it stopped; she was
lifted into the tonneau and hurried to
the nearest hospital.
When the woman opened her eyes
they rested upon a 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. I want you to save your strength
for him."
"But-you-and-f ather-together?
Yes. l ran away from my fathers
home. l couldn't stand it, and grand
father took me In. You see, GRANDPA
Their failed rapidly after you went
away. l seldom leave his side ow. He
seems to get 80 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 10 sleep
murmuring: HE needs me; he needs
me-"
BY big bay window overlooking a
park, Amy Plummer Page and her
daughter were standing.
Mother, l 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, broken
old mar 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 so. You are right;
our women must learn to stand alone"
Daughter and granddaughter ten
derby 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 t~5t and
read to him until he slept. Then both
sat perfectly still watching over him,
lest something should come to disturb
his comfort.
And when he awoke they smiled ten
derby up into his face, and asked what
more they could do to brighten his
hours.