The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1917-03-30

By SUSAN e. CLAGETT.

its place. There Is no need for you to
90 into the byways and hedges In
search of the creature man. l can
name four who would deem it a priv
ilege to spend the rest Of their lives
In your company and l know that you
have sent them to the corners of the
earth. Ralston is in Japan, Howard
and Lawrence are driving ambulances
in France, Chapman Is with Pershlng
In Mexico Why did you do it?"
Sophia Isham looked at her COM
panion with somber eyes. She could
not SMILE although the note of amuse-
ment in his voice would have been
contagious If the subject of their talk
had not been vital one to her.
"If / tell you that not one of them
has asked me to marry him, would you
believe me?"
"Certainly notw His reply was en-
phatic.
$50 supposed Neither will you be-
lieve me when l tell you that | have
never been asked in marriage, humiliat-
ing as Is the admission. But it is true,
nevertheless. Men find in me pleas
ant companion, a good comrade l am
their confidant, but our friendship has
never crossed the dividing line between
pleasant friendliness and the deeper
feeling. That l cannot arouse admira-
ton, love, has cut deep.
"That fact is burned into my con-
seriousness and resent the attitude Of
the world toward the woman who
would strive for her happiness by seek
| ing it for herself. 1t is a man-made
world, with man-made customs and,
perforce, she who finds no favor In
his sight must bow to the inevitable
and accept the fate thrust upon her.
! Convention forbids the least little step
across the boundary of his dominion,
even though she may see happiness
reckoning to her from the farthest cor
ner. Why should she be looked upon
askance If she venture over that Inns
Of demarkation?"
"Well, what are you going ~ do
about it?" he asked with evident
amusement as he brought the car to
a standstill to allow a heavily loaded
wagon to pass on the narrow road.
"What would you suggest that will
take the place of the old-established
order of things? You are so essen.
tally feminine that I cannot imagine
you taking the initiative In such mat
ters."
"Why not?" she retorted with pas
sionate warmth. Because I am
passed by must l forever give up the
thought of love, of companionship, the
feel Of warm little body within my
arms? Or, If not passed by, must
take what is offered when.. unoffered,
there is a better which might be mine
If l could but overcome the reluctance,
entailed by convention and my woman
hood, to ask for it?'
"There is a possibility, you know,
that you may meet with rebuff. Have
you thought of that?"
She drew In her breath sharply. II
have a right to happiness" she an
swered stubbornly. 'If 1t will not
come in the accepted way l will fight
for it. 1t will be hard, but I must"
Until now he had not taken her seri-
ously, but there was a strain in her
face, in her figure, In her clasped
hands that made him feel her earnest
ness. He had known her for many
years, had been a constant visitor In
her home and thought he knew her
every whim and caprice, but this in
tensity, underlying her usual cool
friendliness, took him unawares. He
was frankly uncomfortable.
"You told me there were four" she
said presently. breaking the silence
that had fallen between them. "They
were not lovers, but If they had been
my choice would not have been made
from among them. They were good
dancers, perfect escorts, desirable as
comrades, but nothing more"
"How can you say that when you
know what they are doing?" he asked
gravely. do weaklings go to the bat
tlefield?"
mo. But there was lack hard tC
explain. What they are doing will de-
velop traits that would have forever
lain dormant but for the horrors OF
this awful war. But when they left
they were not the men to whom
would give my hearts blood and think
nothing Of the giving" She turned tt
him suddenly. what is your defni
ton of a MANI"
He looked at her thoughtfully
About the same as yours, | think
+ Force, integrity, honesty Of purpose
q gentleness, consideration for others, I
n carrying out of the right as he sees 1
r. no matter at what cost to himself"
v She nodded. "That is what I want,
she said tensely "A man, not the pre-
tense Of one."
- "You have found such a onew
r "Yes."
"You have told him that you care?
: Not yet, but / will l must" TIL
ID answer came haltIngly. "I-I-oh
~ Don't you known" She threw out he
c. hands with little despairIng gesture
II think will die Of shame, but don
is you know that 1t Is your" She ende
m in whisper.
h. For an instant the silence was pre-