Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-01-23

Newspaper Syndicate.)
Gerald" AIMS voice threatened
tears.
Forgive me. dear, but you mill
! tants are rather funny, that's ALL"
Gerald Ford tossed aside the news
paper he had been reading aloud and
laid strong, sun-burned fingers on his
sweetheart's arm.
An shrugged his hand away. He
, stared straight ahead through the
trees where the river flashed a silver
streak at the foot of the garden.
AIMS lovely dark face was sulky.
Suddenly her red lips parted in in
dignant protest of Gerald's scornful
attitude toward her whole-souled i'll
terest in the suffrage movement.
Il thought you were in sympathy
with me, Gerald she said colby.
"You know how much this means to
me and yet you poke fun at it-and
me-"
my dear girl!' he protested, 81
wish I could persuade you to look at
it in my way-there are so many
er-wrongs that woman can better
adjust by retaining her present status
her influence is so heavy in certain
directions pertaining to the home and
her children, if she cares to exert it
instead of that she overlooks the
duties close at hand and is fighting
for tasks that men are better fitted for
by reason"
How about, the unmarried wom-
an?" cut in Ann frigidly. "The girl
who takes her place in the business
world? Hasn't she the right to choose
place in the government OF her
country if she wishes?"
81 suppose So admitted Gerald re-
luctantly, "but she Is better off mar
ried, believe me-"
Ann got up with a little air of deci-
sion.
'I've changed my mind about join
ing the ranks of the married women
who should have no say in the laws
that govern the lives of their families.
Now, l am quite free to 60 out in the
world and assume my portion of labor
and insist upon my rights to vote!'
Gerald's dazed eyes beheld AIMS
straight young form running lightly
down the steps Then his gaze drop
ped to the sparkling diamond ring
that she had LETT in his palm.
He realized that he was no. longer
engaged to Ann Dalton, and that
beautiful Miss Dalton was quite free
to mount a soap box and thunder
forth pleas for women's rights to vote.
Suddenly the summer weeks that
had seemed so beautiful to him, ap-
peared like dream. A chill was in
the air and the Dalton simmer home
seemed bleak and drear.
1t was all because he and Ann no
longer belonged to each other.
It was November and Gerald was
debating the last of his letters to his
stenographer, Miss Pinney. When
she had gathered notebook and pencil
and various memoranda, Miss Pinney
adjusted her eyeglasses and informed
Gerald that she wished to resign her
position the following week
I'm sorry said Gerald frankly.
"Are you going to be married, Miss
Pinney?"
The brown little woman essayed
blush and admitted the romantic fact.
She even added that the head book
keeper, Mr.. Breen, was to play the
part of the. happy bridegroom.
And you don't feel any regret at
giving up your freedom and combining
your talents to the care of homer
he asked.
Miss Pinney blushed again, and
waved a gesture Of distaste around
the office. Il hate it ALL" Then she
added wistfully ut Is so nice to De
taken care Of"
When he was alone Gerald stared
moodily from the window. Suppose
Ann had thought the same thing
that II was good to be protected!
They would have been married by
this time: they would have been mar
ried and Ann would have taken up
her portion of labor-the making or
coy home for them both.
when woman steps out OF her
sphere to compete with men In .pusl.
ness, some mans home goes hang!'
growled Gerald as he slammed down
his desk in a very bad temper.
The next morning he directed Mr..
Breen to advertise for another stem
ographer and his absence from town
for the last half of the week quite
drove from his mind the fact that ne
would have to readjust the routine OF
his office.
Monday morning he entered his Of
fee and, hanging up his overcoat and
hat, pressed the button for Miss Pin
ney.
The door opened.
Good morning, Miss Pinney,' ne
said. 20 without looking up; i've
heap of letters here and"
"Er-good morning" said hostile
voice.
Gerald lifted his head and gazed
in mingled Joy and wrath at the sight
of Ann Dalton standing there IN MS
Office, looking adorable in trim
black cloth skirt and white shirt
waist.
Ann Dalton was his new stenog-
rapher.
"Ah!" said Gerald, at last. Il had
forgotten Miss Pinney was leaving
last week. I presume, Miss Dalton,
you are familiar with the details OF
a business Office"
II am graduate of the Luckie