The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-07-05


the transgressions of my sex. and
y for five minutes after | never wit
messed a finer display OF indignation.
Her eyes flashed, and If honest and
just anger could have killed. would
have persisted on the spot. let her
talk till her vehemence and indigna-
ton had exhausted her. and she was
finding the usual woman's refuge in
tears. and then l resumed my attack.
deliberately and dispassionately. was
determined TO show 10 one good wom-
an that the bad women are not alone
to blame.
Men are always forming laws TO pro-
tect women from the men: l felt for
the time being that there should be
laws to protect the men from the wom-
en-.
You are like all women: you over
look the real charge in your defense
of yourself. You remind me that your
girlhood was blameless; that you have
been a devoted wife, and that no wife
was ever truer.
Il know all that. 1t is not your treat
msnt OF Jack | would question. II any
thing. you have been too lenient with
him. 1t is your treatment of-ME!!n
A look of bewilderment came into
her eyes. "Of you. Max? Are you era
zy? Why, l have always treated you
as my best friend. If have ever often
ded you (there was a pitiful note in
her voice. you must forgive me.
can't lose a friend like you, Max.
can't lose friend nOu
The Old Subject.
you are not going to lose me as
friend, now or at any other time" TAX
ing her hands in mine and giving them
L pressure that seemed to reassure
her though the touch of her hands had
anything but a reassuring effect on me.
First and last l am your friend, dear
girl, so forget your doubts on that
question.
Sally" dropping her hands. for
wanted to say my say dispassionately,
you kissed me the other morning"
She laughed. "Of course / did," she
said, her eyes twinkling. You have
such kissable mouth have wanted
to do ii before. But what about that?
Are you giving me this scolding just
because / kissed my dearest friend?
You are growing more like a boy ev-
cry day I've a good notivn, 20
Ito kiss you once more. You did look
so surprised and so funny. and you
were so helpless with Manette in your
arms. Really, I am tempted to do it
again"
You say l am more like boy every
day."
She nodded her head. And a silly
boy, too, Max"
"A boy" l resumed gets little blue
tickets at Sunday school for being
good
That kiss" she interrupted, was
little blue ticket. gave 1t to you for
being good"
But" continued, gravely, he priz-
es the little blue tickets not for them
selves, but because an accumulation
means something more. l believe in
Sunday school they call it Reward of
Merit.
Men" l went on, ARE only boys
grown up"
Not Strong.
"You are a good woman, and you
gave me that kiss in all the innocence
of your heart. | am a man, and there
fore not good. In giving me that kiss
you relied on your innocence and my
strength. Sally, dear, | am not strong.
No man is"
er"-she began.
Now don't let us have any eva
sion," said angrily. Il am not your
brother; and it is silly to make the
pretense I am your friend, and your
husbands friend, but l am not his
| friend in the way / was before you
| kissed me.
You are good woman, and ! am
trying to make you see the mischief
good woman can do. am trying to
make you realize that the goodness of
the woman doesn't put all thought OF
mischief out of the mans head"
She was crying, and I can't stand it
to see a woman cry.
81 didn't mean to hurt you l said
tenderly, for / felt as IL I had been a
brute; II just want you to realize that
you are a very handsome woman, a
very attractive woman. and altogether
too lovable to go around putting your
arms around a mans neck and expect
ing him to accept the kiss you force
on him as one that came from a sister.
l don't want to hurt you, but, Sally,
you have hurt me"
Now. there was where l said the
wrong thing, for appealed to her sym
pathies. Instead of remaining in her
chair and saying she was sorry and