Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-09-18
MANS PREROCAT|vE
An Argument, Going to Prove
That All Good Sportsmen
Are Not Masculine.
BY VlNGlE E. ROE.
(Copyright.)

uhTuest upon InelT OWN sex, IuHt We
never forgive, and that jealousy knows
no Justice; and sometimes ! think
they are right. We are dreadfully
small and mean where another woman
u concerned.
How many women OF those we know
would be able to shake hands with the
woman who had woreted them in the
love OF man, and say, Go ahead;
may the best woman VIM"
Mrs. Haleigh reached for another
wafer, and leaned back in her chair,
challenging the small ring Of feminine
faces on Mrs. Bobby Pelham's veranda.
There were drawn sun-blinds and
tall plants, restful In the summer heat,
luxurious rockers, dainty frills and
frou-frous, a white little table with
unkling glasses, and seven refined and
more or less pretty women.
The small gathering bore the one
distinctlon-that all seven were as
uear dependable friends as the exigen-
Giles OF an Insignificant and isolated
army station would permit.
There were other women In the sta
ton, to be sure, but somehow these
seven had drawn together by that law
OF standard and requirement which
binds the nature above a certain line.
do you know OF one?" Mrs. Haleigh
went on. Would |? Would any Of
ns?"
There was an appreciative silence,
while slim fingers toyed with glass and
spoon, and meditative eyes were bent
on slippered toe and rug. Then frank
smiles broke out here and there.
NO." said Mrs. Carston frankly; 81
--don't-know-of-one."
Nor l." confessed pretty little Mrs.
Gaylord.
do we know Of one woman who,
even knowing OF rival who had lost
TO her, could ever think of that rival
without bitterness? II Is the ingrained
nature Of woman TO be narrow where
the love OF a man is concerned, just as
II is the nature Of the male moose to
challenge another on sight in the mat
ing season. Mrs. Payne. what do you
think"
All eyes turned to the newest add.
ton TO the circle-a tall, slim beauty
from some far South, as attested by
the dusk OF cheek and hair and glcri.
Gus dark eyes-Nan Payne, the known
friend Of long standing of Mrs. Bobby
Pelham.
Only within the last month had Cap
tain Payne been transferred to the
post OF which Colonel Bobby was the
idol. and the two women had impressed
the populace with the quiet Joy of their
reunion. II was friendship that car.
ried film OF mystery, so quiet was It,
so sure, SO manlike in its seeming
depth.
AS she raised her face they saw,
with dlsmay. that the soft southern
eyes we're full OF tears.
mo. ladies'" said Nan Payne. 81
don't believe that way"
She looked at Mrs Bobby.
"Tell them what we know, dear"
she said.
Mrs. Bobby Pelham was as decidedly
OF the North as her friend breathed Of
Dixie-a golden blonde. with the glow.
Ing lily and rose OF the German blood,
and a very tender little mouth.
Now she looked at Nan Payne's dim
eyes and put down her glass.
ssNn. paithar Man NOR I ,an
that view OF women as being absolute
iy true. for we know OF case which
gives II the lie."
There was a soft rustic OF settling
throughout the veranda. for the sud.
den small wave OF emotion over the
southron's speaking face had spelled a
romance-and what woman does not
love a romance7
when ! was eighteen" said Mrs.
Bobby. my parents. who lived in
Pennsylvania, decided that the rlgor OF
the winters was responsible for my
slenderness and swift growth upward
without corresponding weight. and
that they could kill two birds with one
stone by sending me, since had
reached the boarding.school age, TO
some seminary in the South.
Il accordingly was packed on, with
many tears and extracted promises OF
weekly letters, TO that dear old mother.
ly refuge OF girlhood. Kidd.Key. the
North Texas Female college. remem.
Der distinctly my first weeks OF loneli.
ness, and then the glorious South
crept into me with its insldlous wine,
and | forgot my woes.
And II was then that first came 10
know the two young women with
whom this little tale has to do. One
was n girl about my own age, n stu
dent at tho seminary. a somewhat shy
and shrinking young person who had
most palpably, never been out Of the
shelter OF her own home before.
"She. too. was homesick those frs,
weeks. and often sat OF evenings
those soft southern evenings. with the
prairie wind blowing free across IN,
level miles-on the rim OF the fountain
and dipped her fingers In tho water
She was homeslck-very homeslck.
And then. after a while, II passed
and there came hop or two, and sh,
got acquainted with the other girls
and also some OF the other girls broth
.ers. And altogether | think this gir
got TO be quite contented.