The daily Alaskan., 1916-09-16
Their Engagement
 Was Not Broken
By F. A. MITCHEL

Dora Attertnry 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 Balllnrer. a young man equally brilliant and whose speciality was bi- olOgy. They had been engaged some time when the professor received a note from his fanCee asking to be re leased from her engagement for the reason that she had decided to study a profession and she considered a profession for a woman incompatible with married life. Professor Ballinger called upon her.
 q think it best" he said. that l should release you"
 There was a slight contraction of Doras 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, I presume, that a professional woman has no business to be marrled?"
 My reason lies deeper than that" replied the professor. unconscIousIy falling into a tone used in IecturinC to his classes. You are aware, I pre- sume. that there are cases of efTem- macy in men. Some psychologists hold that this occurs from environment do not admit thIs. consider 1t the result of birth accident Such men are born elemiuate-that Is, they partake mentally Of the nature Of the opposite sex"
 q cannot sec" interrupted Dora. what that has to do with the matter between us.
 Be patient. and you will see. The correSpondiug accident to this in wo- men, viragtDity. renders a woman as much of a freak of nature as a man who Is born efreniUate. Niragints take up mems occupations uaturany"-
 DO you mean tN assert that all wo- men who enter the field Of law, medi- cine, business. are viraEiutsT
 No, but ! mean that viraCints natu. rally turn to mcn's occupations"
 The views promulgated by her iance were evidently not acceptable to Miss Atterbury, In her features was ex- pressed opposition to his theory. min gIed with pain at foreseelng that be was about to apply it to herself.
 'I do not agree with you tn referring these things to birth accident" she said. "I know a young man whose only Co~-' trn as a child was bis sis ter. T ry eTcmmatc.
 Tn th.. Use possibly his efTeminaCy came from environment but I doubt 1t. In the case of women who possess traits of men We have analogous cases in certain birds. After a certain age the female assumes the Dlumace Of the male and will destroy the eggs Of her species. This cannot result from en- vironment because environment could not alter her plumggc."
 Miss At,e~hury dd not at all Ike this result of her announcement Of the breaking Of her engagement and the reason she had given for breaking lt She began 10 look troubled
 The upshOt of all this" she said. 'l presume. Is that I am a freak Of na. turc"
 That does not necessarily follow" replied the professor imperrurhahly.
 "Nol necessarily. but it is evident from you have said that you con slider mo such"
 My views are not the views Of all psychologists. and not an women who adopt meu's pursuits are viraCoes, though believe that most of them are"
 You have not answered my Ques don."
 What question:"
 "Wrerher or not you regard me as 8 freak"
 You dii not ask such a question You said that you presumed the up shot of my theory was that you were 8 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 a profession Is the result Of birth accl- 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 ab sOrbed in thought.
 Could you love such a woman freak" she asked presently.
 Men love their opposites. No man can feel toward another man as to- ward woman"
 Tt seems impossible" replied Dora, with quivering lip. ito pin you down to anything. If am one Of these hOr- rid freaks you sreak of. how is it that you could have loved me thus farT'
 You forget that heretofore have not so considered you" But you do nOw?"