Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-11-19
lETITIA's DEFIANCE
downright, 1919, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.1 :
BY CATHERINE COOPER.

downright, 1914. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)
my dear Letitia, you are no n
suited to the lecture platform than l
am to open a mothers meeting" Nor
man Prince gazed fondly down at his
sweetheart. There was, however. suf-
ficient Of masculine superiority in his
expression TO irritate Letitia.
men always make such absurd
comparisons" she retorted quickly.
Just because you cannot preside at
a mothers meeting is no reason to
suppose l cannot lecture successfully
on better babies"
''The idea is absurd" Norman said,
more holly than he realized. "A girl
of your age can't know anything about
either better or worse babies, and as
for lecturing on the subject to wom-
en- who have brought up children as
old as you are-well, your W com
mon sense should teach you the folly
of such an idea"
And your own common sense
should tell you that | would not con-
slider lecturing on a subject had not
mastered. Just because women have
brought up children Is no sign they
have brought them up properly"
And you are going to teach these
mothers what their children might
have been had they heard your lee
ture first" Norman laughed long
and heartily.
Letitia's eyes were fixed wrathfully
upon him. She was very serious over
her proposed series OF lectures before
the club and she did not like being
laughed at. She was sorry Norman
was so fine a specimen OF manhood
1t was dificult to give him up. but
perhaps when she had succeeded in
showing him and her world that she
was an efficient speaker he would
come back to her and bow in acknowl-
'edgement Of her gift
Before she could speak the fiery
worlds that would terminate their en-
gagement Norman himself gave ex-
preston to his quickly matured reso-
luton.
-Letitia, l am sorry to have hurt
you, but I think l understand you
better than you do yourself, also
realize that you are going to give
me back my ring and tell me never
to darken your door again. Isn't that
right"
~Yesi" retorted Letitia defantly.
Well, under the circumstances, l
think you are right. But | see no
reason why we should eve our
friendship. have always been your
best friend and always want to be-"
He looked earnestly into Letitia's sur
prised eyes. Cant you manage to
promise me that?'
Yves" agreed Letitia. trying not
TO seem amazed at his readiness to
sever the closer tie. But l will be
very busy during the next week or
two preparing my lecture" she added.
by way of introducing the new lie
titia, She more or less reluctantly
pulled OF the beautiful ring from her
plump little finger and gave It &c .Sor'
man.
"Oh. thanks" he said, with a merry
smile. eve almost forgot to end things
properly He put the ring in his
pocket with the casual remark. y
suppose 1t is up to mi to find another
girl before this solitaire burns a hole
in my pocket"
Letitia's head went up into the air
but she made NJ comment. She wa
frightfuIly hurt. but defiant.
7 want to help you all 1 can" Nor
man told her. with his usual gentle
manner toward her. IF you Just
study up your lecture and practice II
"a me IT will help you wonderfully.
you've no idea how difficult it is to
speak the things out that you have
conceived in your mind, especially be.
fore a seething mas Of people. Your
voice sounds like a lost soul when you
first speak and you get positively
CHASTITY weak In the knees He
laughed In recollection OF his own first
attempt. $50 II you Just practice up
on me a bit you'll find 1t will help a
lot when 1t comes to the nerve-rack'
ing ordeal"
Letitia essayed a smile, but she felt
rather weak In anticipation Of her first
speech.
you are certainly cheerful and en-
couraging," she said finally. How
ever, | think your suggestion Is q
good one. ! will be very glad to speak
my lines over before you. 1t Is good
of you to think of It," In her graft
tude Letida would have offered him
the habitual lovers kiss, but she re
membered just in time that they were
no longer lovers but only friends.
Norman smiled but made no com
ment. He had seen her swiftly with
held caress and In his heart rejoiced
He did not press the advantage, but
shook hands In most friendly fashion
and left her.
After that Letitia threw herself
heart and soul into the preparation o
her lecture to be delivered before
the club women of the town. Sh,
felt very important and very much ii
earnest. Norman seemed to hav,
Wouldn't Stand II.
A boy who had been well worke,
and badly paid for two years succeed
Oh In eating n haffar foh IIf. lee