The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-02
Their Engagement
Was Not Broken
By F. A. Mitchell

| Dora Atterbury was an especially
feminine young lady. Nevertheless she
was very bright. She distinguished
herself at college and after being
| graduated engaged herself to Professor
Ernest Ballinger, a young man equally
brilliant and whose specially was b.
ology. They had been engaged some
time when the professor received a
note from his flancee asking to be re-
leased from her engagement for the
reason that she had decided to study
profession and she considered a
profession for a woman Incompatible
with married life Professor Ballinger
! called upon her.
II think 1t BEST" he said. that I
| should release you"
There was q slight contraction Of
Dora's brows at this. She had asked
to be released, but preferred that she
should be required to struggle for her
freedom.
"You agree with me, presume, that
professional woman has no business
to be married."
"My reason lies deeper than that"
replied the professor, unconsciously
falling into tone used in lecturing to
his classes. you are aware, I pre-
sumo, that there are cases Of effem-
macy in men. Some psychologists hold
that this occurs from environment.
do not admit this. l consider it the
result Of birth accident. Such men are
born effeminate-that Is, they partake
mentally Of the nature of the opposite
SEX"
II cannot see," interrupted Dora
what that has to do with the matter
between U.s."
BE patient, and you will see. The
corresponding accident to this in wo-
men, viraginity, renders a woman as
much Of a freak Of nature as a man
who Is born effeminate. Viragints take
up mems occupations naturally
DO you mean to assert that all wo-
men who enter the field Of law, medi-
cine, business, are viragints?"
mo, but mean that viragints natu.
rally turn to mems occupations"
The views promulgated by her flance
were evidently not acceptable to Miss
Atterbury. In her features was ex.
pressed opposition to his theory, min.
gled with pain at foreseeing that he
was about to apply 1t to herself.
Il do not agree with you in referring
these things to birth accident" she
said. II know young man whose
only companion as child was his sis
ter. He is very effeminate.
In this case possibly his effeminacy
came from environment. but doubt
It, In the case of women who possess
traits OF men we have analogous cases
In certain birds. After certain age
the female assumes the plumage of the
male and will destroy the eggs of her
species. This cannot result from en-
v1ronment. because environment could
not alter her plumage."
Miss Atterbury did not at all like
this result of her announcement Of the
breaking of her engagement and the
reason she had given for breaking 1t.
She began to look troubled
"The upshot Of all this" she said, 81
presume, is that l am freak of ma.
ture.'
That does not necessarily follow"
replied the professor imperturbably.
Not necessarily, but it is evident
from what you have said that you con-
slider me such'
My views are not the views of all
psychologists, and not all women who
adopt mems pursuits are viragoes,
though | believe that most of them
are"
You have not answered my cues.
ton"
What question:"
Whether or not you regard me as
freak"
You did not ask such a question.
You said that you presumed the up-
shot of my theory was that you were a
freak of nature"
Do you or do you not so regard
me-"
My opinion can have no effect on
the truth. If your intention to take up
q pioieSolou is the result or birth acCi-
dent. so be it, My dictum would not
prove or disprove the fact"
There was silence for some moments
during which the young lady. was alb
sorbed in thought
Gould you love such a woman
freakT' she asked presently.
Men love their opposites. No man
can feel toward another man as to-
ward a woman"
1t seems impossible" replied Dora.
with quivering lip. TO pin you down
to anything. II am one of these hor.
rid freaks you speak of, how is it that
you could have loved me thus far?"
You forget that heretofore 1 have
not so considered you"
But you do now?"
Not at all. Your desire to take up
mans profession causes me to sus-
pect, Your taking up the profession
would be additional evidence. Your
practicing the profession would-in
my opinion. mind you-be as good
proof as 1t Is possible to attain in your
individual case"
You suspect on the verge of tears
The professor t0ok har On b;S N r,,,.