The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-04-26
REBELLION
BY SUSAN E. cLAeErT.
=:

"You rail against convention" the
man at the wheel said. but you have
not told me what you would offer IL
Its place. There is no need for you te
go into the byways and hedges IL
search of the creature man. car
name four who would deem it a priv.
ilege to spend the rest of their lives
in your company and know that yor
have sent them to the corners Of the
earth. Ralston Is in Japan, Howard
and Lawrence are driving ambulance
In France, Chapman is with Pershina
In Mexico. Why did you do it,"
Sophia 1sham 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 IL the subject Of their talh
had not been vital one to her.
IF l tell you that not one Of them
has asked me to marry him, would you
believe me?"
Certainly mott" His reply was EN-.
phatic.
$50 supposed. Neither will you be.
lieve me when / 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. am
their contidant, but our friendship has
never crossed the dividing line between
pleasant frieadliness and the deeper
feeling. That 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 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 ster
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
of demarkation?"
"Well. what are you going to dc
about it?" he asked with evident
amusement as he brought the car &c
standStill to allow n 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 cannot imagine
you taking the initiative in such mat
ters."
"Why not?" she retorted with pas
sionate warmth. Because I am
passed by must 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 n better which might be mine
If could but overcome the reluctance
entailed by convention and my woman.
hood. to ask for it?'
There is n possibility. you know
that you may meet with rebuff. Have
you thought of that:'
She drew in her breath sharply. u
have right to happiness" she an.
swered stubhornly. IF it will not
come in the accepted way will fight
for 1t. 1t will be hard. but l must"
Until now he had not taken her seri.
ously, but there was 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 constant visitor in
her home and thought he knew her
every within and caprice. but this in.
tensity. underlying her usual cool
friendliness. took him unawares. He
was frankly uncomfortable.
You told me there We're four" she
said presently. breaking the silence
that had fallen between them. "They
We're 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 bard TO
explain. What they are doing will de-
velop traits that would have forever
lain dormant but for the horrors IL
this awful war. But when they left
they were not the men to whom l
would give my hearts blood and think
nothing Of the giving" She turned 10
him suddenly. "What is your detini-
ton Of a man?'
He looked at her thoughtfully.
about the same as yours. think.
Force. integrity, honesty of purpose.
gentleness. consideration for others. a
carrying out of the right as he s'es it
40 matter at what cost to himself"
She nodded. THAT Is what l want"
she said tensely, "a man, not the pre-
tense Of one"
you have found such a one?"
"Yes."
"You have told him that you care?"
mot yet. but will. must" The
answer came haltingly. "I-I-oh!
Don't you know?" She threw out her
hands with little despairing gesture.
T. 4. =