El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-08-01
= One WOman's Story =
BY Virginia Terhune Van de Water
CHAPTER VI

n
York little longer than was alb
- sOlutely necessary. He intended
to go to Boston at the end of a week,
he said, but in reality he could have
left New York a little earlier than that
had he been inclined to do so. He
would stop again in the big city for a
| couple Of days after his return from
the east making his present hotel his
headquarters and running over to
Philadelphia for some orders which he
thought he might secure in the City of
BrOtherly Love. All this he confided to
Mary Danforth when he called on her
one evening soon after that on which
he had dined in her home.
I have done much better than I ex-
pected," he said in self-congratulation
L got some more orders today, and I
nave called tonight to suggest that
you help me celebrate Won't you go
to the theater with me some evening
this week.
Mary hesitated. "I would love to CO.
she acknowledged frankly, yet regret
IulIy, out fear ought not to, for
am very busy just now with my
studies 1 must pass my exams you
know, and L have been working over
time on my stenOgraphy and type
writing That is one of dads fads, and
he insists that I must be perfect in the
only thing by which I could make a
living If had to. Then the dear man
ing me that he will see to it that !
. never have to earn my own living In
consistent admit. but I want to humor
him"
DO you find the work hard?'
queried Craig.
''No, but much less interesting than
other studies. History, English and.
other things I do like would not bring
me IN any money, even at a pinch-but
they are certainly pleasanter than
learning to make cabaliStic shorthand
signs and to write on the machine.
Yet" with sudden seriousness Il have
feeling that will have to depend on
stenography and typeWriting some day,
and must be ready for that time"
.NonsenseP' Craig declared. you
viii have your father to care for you
But" protested the girl, her eyes
dark and her voice trembling. my
father is no longer young. and
muSt never be a burden to him or to
anybody else in all the world I have
a superstitiOus dread of that
Don't be superstittons." the man
warned her, with smile. 1T is a
sure sign that you are overWorked
and tired when you feel so. I know,
for have felt so myself several times
in my life. You will be as comfortable
as you are now until you marry, and
then your husband will care for you"
He had begun the sentence teasing
". but as he spoke the last words he
became grave.
TT is he added. zone of the things
that a decent man looks forward to
taking care of his wife and providing
her with all she wants"
The change in his tone startled his
listener and put her on her guard. She
lifted her head proudly.
And every self respecting woman
feels that she would never marry if
she had to be entirely dependent upon
her husband!" she exclaimed.
The man looked at her in astonish-
ment DO you feel like that about mar
riage% he asked curiOusly. why, it is
a mans privilege to care for a woman
and to support her"
That may be, she returned with
decision, but while a woman might
be willing to have her husband sup
port her-if she knew that 1t was his
quite equal to caring for herself-she
would deSpise the thought that she had
to marry to get a home, clothes and
food I would sooner die"
The Westerner felt his heart beat
with admiration as he watched her
animated face. and saw her eyes snap
with the vehemence of her expressed
opinion What a sumner she WasI
And how few girls had such conVic-
tons and the courage to express themi
He remembered several young women
of his acquaintance who had married
men much older than themselves-men
he felt sure who could not have Sc
cured young wives had they not been
rich widowers.
You are right" he acknowledged
gravely, and I respect your feeling.
But" again smiling, what about the
theater? You will go with me, will
you not2 Please do?'
This time the girl did not answer
as promptly as she had when he first
suggested the evening of celebration"
She appreciated dimly that she was
finding this young man dangerously
agreeable and that after she had talked
with him it was hard for her to turn
her thoughts from him to her work
She did not feel that she was wise
in yielding to the impulsive desire to
see him oftener. Her face betrayed
none of the doubts and fancies that
were hurrying through her mind, and
the man. waiting for her reply, did
not suspect her inward perturbation.
At last she spoke, courteously, but
firmly.
Thank you. Mr.. Craig" she said.
but I really think I ought to study
this week and to deny myself any
diversion that may make it difficult
for me to get up and go to work
each morning. Moreover, I may have
to work on one or two evenings. So
[ know that it is my duty to decline
your invitation. tempting as it is"
But the Texan was not to be thus
easily dismissed.
"All right" he said, 'but I will not
accept your decision unless you &C
it with the promise that YOU
will go to the theater with me next
week, after I return from Boston,
As she looked into his appealing
eyes Mary's determination wavered,