The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-10
Watchful
Waiting
Ii Proved Effective
In Time.
BY OSCAR cox

Miss Imogene Danforth, believing
In the equality between women and
men, was one day expressing her opin-
ions to her cousin. Jack Fearing.
"TutT' he said. That's all well
enough for women who can't get hus-
bands. It's no use for those who can. /"
DO you mean to assert that l can't
get a husband?" she demanded, bris-
Ting.
mot at all. being well aware that /
have proposed to you six times"
And l have as many times told you
that woman must choose between In
dependence and marriage. 1 choose In
dependence. / have leased an island
on the New England coast, which /
propose TO COLOMBO with girls of strong
character. There shall prepare them
for the propaganda for woman's rights
and send them forth to teach their
sisters"
Il presume you will pick out the
homeliest girls you can find"
Imogene was ruffled. She declared
that in order to show him that the
cause of woman's rights was not lin
tied to the support OF unattractive wo-
men she would select comely girls.
Jack, the scamp, in this way intro
duced the cankerworm that was to eat
into her apple.
Imogene located her colony on the
LIST of June with twelve girls, all fair
to look upon. She did not organize her
school for those who had been CON
verted to the cause. She expected to
train them to that end. There was a
house on the island large enough to
contain them all, so no great prepare
ton was needed. No man being al
lowed on the island. the servants were
women.
One morning soon after their arrival
Imogene convened her flock in a wood
near the water and, arranging them
In semicircle, proceeded to lay down
the causes that had rendered woman
to man. She opened with
woman's primeval condition as a servi-
tor to fighting man and was proceed
Ing to trace her career In eastern ma
tons when she paused and looked
down on a patch of water revealed be-
tween the trees. A yacht that had
been luffed up into the wind was NOV
Ing slowly toward the landing near by.
The girls, turning, saw the yacht and
\ dozen young fellows, not counting
Jack Fearing, the owner, on her deck,
zach man made more handsome by
becoming yachting costume.
Imogene frowned; the girls looked
pleased But 1t must be remembered
that they were novices and had not
yet been trained to consider man their
enemy. The fellows secured the yacht
10 the landing and advanced to the
lecturer and her class, each man with
cap in his hand and all resembling
rather slaves to the women than wo-
mems masters.
I'VE have come" said Fearing, mot
10 interfere with your course Of In
struction, but to invite you to take
,ruise with us when the present lee
lure is concluded"
"Thank you for your invitation" re-
,lied Imogene, but It is declined. May
beg that you will depart9"
"Most assuredly, since you wish IT,"
'eplied Fearing. "Your commands
hall be obeyed."
He led his men back to the landing.
They all got aboard, unloosed the
FAINTER and, raising a jib, withdrew
OR few hundred yards from the
hore, where they dropped anchor.
How obedientr'
what handsome fellowsg'
Surely, Miss Danforth, these young
men seem ready to serve us instead Of
o Cypress u.s."
These were some Of the remarks
made by the young ladies. Imogene
lisdained to reply. Instead she re-
umed her lecture. But she might as
veil have lectured to the trees, for IL
vas evident that the girls minds were
n the yacht. and under the circum-
tances mans tyranny did not interest
hem. Seeing this, Imogene brought |
Ter discourse to a close and, looking
own on the anchored vessel herself. |
rendered what the men meant by re-
where they were.
Il think" said one young lady, that
hey're showing their obedience"
"Nonsensew exclaimed Imogene.
Perhaps" said little miss with a
oft voice, they're going in for watch
vi waiting"
you've hit the nail on the head, su-
e." said Imogene.
There are just as many Of them as
here are of u.s." remarked another
Dung lady. 'Tf we were to pair or
lere would be fellow for each girl"
"Gwendolenp' said Imogene sternly.
II you and the others harbor such
loughts our school win be broken
pr
How long, Miss Imogene" asked
usie, will we have to withstand the
atchful waitingT
II don't know. Why do you askT"
Because" was the meek reply, 'I'm
raid can't stand it very long"
Girls" said Imogene, 'in order to
lip you to get your minds OF this con-
mptible effort to break up our school
win call your attention to the Inn
Of our going on a cruise.
there one among you who would
} an improper act?"
''No!" cried every girl at once.
VERY well. We could not go with
lem without a chaperon. and we
vent a chaperon."