The producers news., 1918-11-15
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WOMAN'S VICTORY I
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BY KITTY PARSONS.

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Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
"If you love me, you wouldn't want
to go to war! / don't see it at all.
You're married, and even if I'm not
dependent on you, I don't want you to
go-you'lI be drafted if they need you
badly enough. I can't understand the
way you feel at all-you just can't
care about me, that's all !s The words
came in rush and the girl who had
spoken was trembling with excitement
and on the verge of tears.
'sYou're right, dear, you don't I'M
derstand," agreed her husband. "You
know perfectly well that I do care
about you, but there's a special call
for men in my line Of work just now,
and I feel more like a Stacker every
day stay away. Can't you see how
feel Dorothy?"
"No, I can't just see it, but If you
want to go you needn't stay on my ac-
count. I thought mans wife usually
came first, but guess I'm wrong. By
all means, go, If you want to leave
mel"
you're talking nonsense, Dorothy F!
And of course you know If you put up
that sort Of an argument, won't go
at least, not until I'm needed more
than I am now. I wish you did not
feel as you do" he went on, with an
attempt ut cheerfulness, ''but it can't
be helped, suppose. I'm off for town
now-it's late, too. Good-by."
Dorothy caught her breath in a sob
as she watched him disappear down
the path. It was the first time in two
years that they had been married that
Tom had gone off without kissing her
good-by.
1t was with a sense of defeat rather
than victory that Dorothy went about
her household duties that morning.
Just as she was starting for the
bridge club that afternoon, the door
bell rang and Polly Anderson breezed
in. Polly was the newest bride in
their set.
"Oh, Dot" she cried, "Im so thrilled
can hardly speak! Bob's got COM
mission as first lieutenant and I'm
SO proud of him don't know what to
do! Isn't 1t wonderful"
Dorothy forgot all about the bridge
club and sat down.
''But he'll be sent away, won't hep
she queried vaguely.
"Of course, stupid! You didn't sup
pose he'd stay here, did you? No. in
deed! He's going South week from
today for a while and I suppose he
will be sent abroad from there-ever
SO many of them are"
"How terrible! I'm so very sorry
for you, dear!''
swell, you needn't be! I'm so full
of pride over Bob and love for my
country thrown in, that there simply
isn't room for any other feeling. Don't
waste any sympathy on me!'
"But, Polly, you don't want him to
go-you sound as if you really did,
Polly held her proud little head
higher than ever and winked back a
tear.
"1f a woman really loves her hus-
band" she began steadily, "she does
not actually want to get rid of him.
But when his country calls and he
hears the call himself she knows he
| must go. If he were deaf to that call
and she is true American woman
she could never feel really proud of
him again. You understand how it is,
Dorothy - you must feel the same
| yourself about Tom. Every true wom-
an does"
Dorothy sat very still, but when
Polly rose to go, she kissed her with
a new respect in her manner. She
had quite forgotten the bridge club.
When Tom came home a trifie ear
lier than usual, he found his wife
seated before fire in the living room
busily winding yarn.
"Why, Dot, what are you doing?
"Starting a sweater for you to take
away with you," she returned
promptly.
Then, at his look of amazement,
she ran to him, and seiZing the lapels
Of his coat, almost fiercely, looked UP
into his face appealingly.
sT've been all wrong, Tom," she told
him. "I didn't understand how it was.
Of course you've got to go-I didn't
realize how men felt about this thing
or women, either, for that matter
But now I see it all, just as plain as
day, and I want you to go as soon as
you're ready-Tn help you every Dit
can, tool"
Tom stared at her for a moment
Then he caught her In his arms and
held her so close that she could scarce
ly breathe.
81 can't leave you, darling-I simply
can't!'' he whispered, and waited for
the expected acquiescence. But Doro-
thy pushed him away and looked
straight into his eyes again.
eyes, you can, DEAR" she said with
q new f1rmness. 81 wouldn't have you