Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-21
Hunting a Husband
By MARY DOUGLAS

The Surprise
CHATTER XCNI

A WHOLE month has gone by. One
4 day has been very like another.
With the crisp snow underfoot and
the sparkling air above.
Now I do not linger over my. notes
in Professor Goes poetry class. I hurry
out. And the Professor gathers his
papers together, slowly. very slowly.
So / am crossing Campus by the time
he leaves Minister Hall.
Sometimes long to laugh. For I
see that he avoids me now. He could
never marry little stenographer For
is that not what / am? Often when
| see the way in which he looks past
me. l would like to say, And. I would
not marry you--you with your snobbish
ideals and your petty meannesses'
And SO we smile. And bow briefly
And pass.
Today as l reached home. after class
Aunt Emily met me at the door.
Sara, your Cousin would like to
speak to you in the library"
Why this portentious tone of Aunt
Emily's? What had I done? hur-
ried through my mind Perhaps it
was just my ideas, Cousin Sam wished
to reprove me about? I felt again like
the little girl, who was to be severely
reprimanded" in the library.
There was something the matter.
saw it Immediately. Cousin Sam with
his hands clasped behind him, paced the
length of the library rug
i closed the door softly. I leaned
against its heavy wood for support.
"Well?" l asked.
Cousin Sam looked UP.
sit down. Sara. sit down." I did.
Still the restless pacing You know
Mother has not been WE'LL" he began.
lis not well now, in fact. The cares
of housekeeping are burdensome to her.
Burdensome." he repeated, "as they
would not be to younger shoulders
You may not realize what an addition to
our household you have been these last
few months. Your foresight, your
thoughtfulness, I may say your young
life has meant much to Mother. Per-
haps you have come to understand that
Mother is the largest interest In my life
outside of my work.
"Oh, yes" I murmured family.
I'm short, Sara" Cousin Sam ended,
II have come to the conclusion that our
marriage would simplify things very
much indeed"
He paused He stood with legs apart
on the rug looking at me through his
shining glasses. l was little fright
ened. This address was far more dry
as-dust than usual.
But whom are we to marry?"
asked
Il thought made that clear" said
Cousin Sam. leach other!"
Each other" repeated stupidly
But but you don't love me-"
THAT Is, Sara, "a little irrelevant
am afraid you have those ideas frcn
! your reading, which is not
But, Cousin Sam" I answered, 81
don't want to marry you. Besides yor
couldn't stand me, II you knew me a:
l really am" I hurried on. 1--WE beer
awfully quiet and lady-like and all tllat
! in South Minister. But I'm not really
like that at ALL"
Let me repeat, quiet Irrelevant. sait
| Cousin Sam, nervously polishing tht
shining glasses. Besides. Sara, you are
not 2 young girl, you are a woman o.
| twenty-five"
II know that" said rather huHily
but it's my age" Cousin Sam looket
hurt. Dear Cousin Sam l went on
"you just think you would like me. BIZ
instead. why don't you get a good house
keeper? She would take the cares O
housekeeping from Aunt Emly"'
Cousin Sam looked queer a moment
Then he said, Yes, that Isl possible
solution; but think you would maxi
a very good Professors wife"
"Really. / wouldn't do at ALL" l said
So / went out, closing the door softl.
| behind me.
Somehow l want to laugh at It all
And yet want to cry. How could sucl
a thing have happened?
neciaian