The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
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
'sTutv' 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 / can't
get husband?- she demanded, bris-
Ting. .
"Not at all, being well aware that ]
have proposed to you six times"
"And / have as many times told you
that woman must choose between In
dependence and marriage. choose in
dependence. have leased an island
on the New England coast. which ]
propose to colonize with girls of strong
character. There shall prepare them
for the propaganda for woman's rights
and send them forth TO teach their
sisters"
81 presume you will pick out the
homeliest girls you can find"
Imogene was ruffied. 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 eankerworm 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 a semicircle, proceeded to lay down
the causes that had rendered woman
subordinate to man. She opened will
woman's primeval condition as a seryi
tor to fighting man and was proceed
ing to trace her career in eastern ma
down on a patch Of water revealed be
tween the trees. A yacht that ha,
been luffed up into the wind was NOV
ing slowly toward the landing near by
The girls. turning, saw the yacht an
a dozen young fellows, not cOuntin
Jack Fearing, the owner, on her decl
each man made more handsome by
becoming yachting costume.
Imogene frowned; the girls locke
pleased. But 1t must be remembers
that they were novices and had NJ
yet been trained to consider man the
enemy. The fellows secured the yacl
to the landing and advanced to I'll
lecturer and her class, each man wit
cap in his hand and all resemblir
rather slaves to the women than W
mems masters.
1--WE have come" said Fearing, m
to interfere with your course of 4
struction, but to invite you to take
cruise with us when the present lie
ture is concluded"
THANK you for your invitation" 7
piled Imogene, "but it is declined. Ma
beg that you will depart?"
Most assuredly, since you wish II
replied Fearing. Your comman'
shall be obeyed'
He led his men back to the landin
They all got aboard. Embossed Il
painter and. raising q lib. withdre
for a few hundred yards from Il
shore, where they dropped anchor
How obedientv'
what handsome fellowsv'
Surely, Miss Danforth, these your
men seem ready to serve us instead
to Cypress u.s."
These were some Of the remar
made by the young ladies', limoges
disdained to reply. Instead she
sumed her lecture. But she might
well have lectured to the trees, for
was evident that the girls minds we
on the yacht, and under the circul
stances mans tyranny did not inter-
them Seeing this, Imogene broug
her discourse to a close and, looki
down on the anchored vessel herse
wondered what the men meant by
naming where they were.
81 think" said one young lady, 81
they're showing their obedience"
"Nonsensew exclaimed Imogene.
Perhaps" said a little miss will
soft voice, they're going in for wat
full waiting"
you've hit the nail on the head,
sle," said Imogene.
"There are just as many of them
there are of u.s." remarked anotl
Young lady. ''If we were TO pair
there would be fellow for each gil
"Gwendolenr' said Imogene stern
"If you and the others harbor 81
thoughts our school will be brol
upl'
How long, Miss Imogene." asl
Susie, will we have to Withstand
watchful waitingf"
81 don't know. Why do you askr
because" was the meek reply, "
afraid / can't stand 1t very long"
"Girls," said Imogene, lin order
help you to get your minds of this {
temptible effort to break up our sci
/ will call your attention to the
possibility Of our going on a cru
Is there one among you who VIC
do an improper act?"
sNos" cried every girl at once.
Every well. We could not go '
them without a chaperon, and
haven't chaperon."