The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-12-16
ARMS and THE GIRL
sy FORBES DWIGHT.


Edward Frisby. sadly perturbed,
mounted the steps Of the Stanwoods'
house and rang the bell. OF the maid,
who opened the door for him. he asked
% sharply II Miss Stanwood we're in
that the girl involuntarily stepped
eway from him. Presently Helen was
standing there before him.
why at this unseemly hour Of the.
day. Ned?" she vas asking.
81 came to set my mind at rest"
said he. Il want you to tell me 1t
isn't true-that you're going to ride
ct the head Of the procession as Joan
Of Arc tomorrow"
She tried to smile nonchalantly,
blushed a little, and turned away her
eyes.
Eyes, it's true" said she. IT wasn't
originally cast for that role. you I'm.
derstand. It was Alice MARI. But
she's Ill. So they've asked me and
I'm"
Good heavens! OF course you
cant!" said he.
She made a wry little face. Also
her right hand went out in a little i'm.
patient gesture.
"rleddy. don't be horrid," she urged.
"I'm not" said he. why. goodness
gracious. child. 1t would be- You'd
have to be in armor. of co~urse?" he
broke of suddenly.
4, "0f course" she admitted with the
faintest Of added color
"Well. DON'T said he.
< For what specific reason?" she de.
handed.
Because I ask It,"
"That isn't enough"
He. frowned.
j. "lsn't it," said he. "Then let me
nay, because, If you do persist-if you
don't think any more for me than that,
I don't think I'd better come here any
more"
= She looked at him wide-eyed for q
moment. Then quietly she slipped OF
the ring on the third finger Of her left
hand and passed it to him.
"As you like" said she. IT shall be
Jeanne dare tomorrow"
:. Before he could demonstrate she
was gone. She stepped past him and
he heard her going very firmly up the
stairs. He started to call after her,
but instead he squared his shoulders
and went out. and he did not close the
front door quite as softly as was his
wont.
He went to the club that night and
to forget his troubles he plunged into
q game Of bridge with Norton and
Babcock and old Colonel Haskins. He
played later than he had meant to;
also he played very badly. In conse-
quence he oversight next morning,
and he had an important appointment
with a client at his Office at $3.50
o'clock. It was after ten o'clock when
he rushed downtown.
Martial music gave him pause.
Hand-clappirgs and cheers also greet.
ed hts ears. OF course, the parade.
He started On. but at that moment the
head Of the parade came abreas, him.
Behind the hand was a huge banner
with the legend:
VOTES FOR WOMEN"
And Just back Of that was a wonder.
ful vision. a girl in flashing armor, trim
aud 1.-THE and straight on a snow.
white horse. The shimmering helmet
she carried III Der hands. leaving her
hair like spun gold cleaning in the
morning sun.
Frisby stood quite still while tho
rest Of the procession passed. At the
end was a nalidfu! u men, marching
sturdily and looking very sheepish I'm.
der the gibes that we're hurled at them
from their watching brothers on the
curb.
Frisby had quite forgotten that eli.
ont at his Office. All he thought of
was that wonderful girl at the head of
the procession on the snow.white
horse.
>, He pushed through the crowd. In
smother moment he had joined those
shame.faced. marching men at the end
Of the procession. Then he marched
grimly, unmindful apparently that he
was being invited to go home and
wash the dishes and that he was being
told in many falsetto voices how per.
1ectly sweet he looked.
There was q reviewing stand in
front Of the Women's clubhouse. On
the stand various notables, men
and women. and before it while the
procession passed. the matchless Joan
OF Arc sat her white charger in her
glittering armor.
As the tail Of the procession came
along she caught sight Of the standard.
bearer. She gasped in surprise. She