Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1918-09-27
REBELLION
BY SUSAN E. cLAeErT.


"You rail against convention" the
= man al the wheel said. "but you have
not told me whit you would offer In
its place. There Is no need for you TO
: 20 into the byways and hedges In
search OF the creature man. | can
name four who would deem II a priv
llege To spend the rest OF their lives
In your company and know that you
have sent them to the corners OF the
earth. Ralston Is IN japan, Howard
and Lawrence are driving ambuances
In France. Chapman is with Pershlng
In Mexico. Why did you do III"
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 II the subject OF their talk
had not been a vital one TO her.
III tell you that not one of them
has asked me to marry him, would you
believe meT'
Certainly not" His reply was en-
phatic
$50 | supposed. Neither Will you be-
lleve 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 a pleas
ant companion. n good comrade. | am
their coniidant but our friendship has
never crossed the dividing line between
pleasant friendllness and the deeper
feeling. That cannot arouse admira-
ton, love, has cut deep.
"That fact Is burned into my con-
sclousness and resent the attitude of |
the world toward the woman who
would strive for her happiness by seek
ing II for herself. II is a mnn-made
world, with man-made customs and,
perforce, she who finds no favor In
his sight must bow to the inevitable
and accept the fnte thrust upon her.
Convention forblds 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 II she venture over that line
of demarkntionT
"Well, what are you going to do
about III" he asked with evident
amusement az he brought the car to
a stnndstlll to allow a heavily loaded
wagon TO pass on the narrow road.
"What would you suggest that will
take the place of the od-establlshed
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
sionnte warmth. Because / am
thought of love, of companlonship, the
feel of a warm little body within my :
arms? Or, If not passed by, must l
lake what Is offered when, unoffered,
there Is better which might be mine
4 could but overcome the reluctance,
,ntailed by convention and my woman
hood. TO ask for it?'
"There is n possibility, you know.
hat you may meet with rebuff. Have
'ou thought of that?"
She drew In her breath sharply. II :,
AVE right to happiness" she an p
wered stubbornly. "If II will not
ONE In the accepted way l viii fight G
or IL. II will be hard, but must" C
Until now he had not taken her seri-
usly, but there was a strain in her
ace, In her figure, In her clasped c
ands that made him feel her earnest
ess. He had known her for many II
ears. had been constant visitor in n
er home and thought he knew her
very within and caprice, but this in
snsty, underlying her usual cool
readiness, took him unawares. He
as frankly uncomfortable. @
you told me there were four" she 81
Md presently, breaking the silence
lat had fallen between them. "They i.'
ere not lovers, but If they had been -
" choice would not have been made ~,
'om among them. They were good
lncers, perfect escorts desirable as Ca
,mrades. but nothing more" OF
How can you say that when you
low what they are doing?" he asked
avely. "Do weaklings 20 to the bat
efield7' &c
mo. But there was a lack hard to
plain. What they are doing will de-
lop traits that would have forever CO.
In dormant but for the horrors of
Is awful war. But when they left
ey we're not the men 10 whom | '"'
,ald give my hearts blood and think
thing OF the giving" She turned to &C
N suddenly. "What is your defini-
m OF a manr Is
He looked at her thoughtfully.
bout the same as yours. think.
rec, integrity, honesty of purpose. r
ntleness. consideration for others,
frying out OF the right as he sees II
matter at what cost to himself"
She nodded. THAT is what want"
e said tensely, "a man, not the pre-
Use of one"
'You have found such onef"
yes"