The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-08-25
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
THE r OF
HER CONVICTIONS
By SUSAN q. CLAGETT.
copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper syndicate.)

THEY were discussing the barn
dance OF the evening before. At
least one Of the two was talking
ina most animated way. The other
said little, but there was a slight
frown between her eyes as she listen
ed u the gossip Of her friend.
It had been a leap-year dance and
Madeline Brook threw back her head
with o laugh as she said:
cit was a success, even to the diff
cult point Of a proposal. I heard one.
Who was the girl? I did not recog-
nize the voice. But I do know the
man. ! laughed with him about 1t
when / claimed my dance later on"
The face Of the girl on the piazza
step famed red and there was a catch
In her voice as she answered:
why shouldn't a woman ask that
question? Why should she always
wait for the question to be asked of
her by some one she can neyer are
fort why should she stand by and
see I. b love she longs for given, per-
haps. 10 another woman when a word
might turn the mans thoughts to-
ward herr Suggestion plays a ire
mendous part In life. The knowl-
edge that a woman cares keeps her
more or less before his mental vision
She is. in a way, forced upon his 40
t}se. ] remember an incident told me
ny uncle of his courtship. Aunt
Clai would not listen to him, ap-
parently gave him no thought. He
argued that II he could make her
think of him, give her something she
would not forget, things would come
right for him. So one night he kiss
ed her on the cheek. I knew she
would remember that he told me
She did, and in the end she married
him. 1t is the same with a man. A
real man, I mean. He may be sur
prtsed that the initiative has been
taken from him, but the girl will be
more. not less, in his thoughts, and
the chances are happiness will come
to them both"
Her friend looked at her in amaze
ment.
"since when, my dear Eleanor,
have you been a believer in the equal
rights lidea?"
II am no suffragist, Madeline. but
Iscannot see why, II a woman cares,
she must hide her feelings until 1t
pleases a man to give her the oppor-
tunity to express them. I believe
there would be more happy marriages
liza woman had the same right OF Sc
lection that custom gives a man."
@4And you would-?"'
NWould you what?" a pleasant
voice inquired.
The girl went white as her friend
arose and gave her hand to the man
who had come unseen across the
grass. "Such an amusing thing" she
laughed. Eleanor is advocating
equal rights"
"Why not? I have always thought
women should have more latitude"
He turned toward the girl. Keep
the courage Of your convictions. Miss
Eleanor. Don't let any one laugh you
out Of them"
II am inclined to think her cour-
age would desert her II she attempt
ed to put her convictions to the test"
Madeline remarked drily. Eleanor
IS old-fashioned. Up to now there
has never been anything strongmind-
edtabout her"
"The trend Of thought today is
surely against old-fashioned IDEAS"
the man replied genially, but never
theless / think Miss Isham possesses
the courage to go against convention
u she feels it right SO to do. 1t re-
Quires strength Of character to do the
unusual"
"High praise-but as you do not