Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-01-24
ONE: WOMAN'S WAY
TIE STORY ORA GIRLS FIGHT FOR SUCCESS
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as if you had dreamed of doing
something all your life; then, just
as you saw the commencement of the
fullillment, I-some one-came along
and shattered il"
saw that he did not understand
me, that he was still cynical as to my
plans; my ability to make them come
true. There was long silence. Ana
then:
"Of course you do not care for me.
Did you, 1 would be worth more
than your plans to YOU
Some impulse prompted me to try
TO make him see my point OF view
once more, although 1 was aware L
You could help me SO with them;
advice and help from some one
He rose and walked impatiently
up and down the room.
81 don't believe in what you pro-
pose to do. 1 don't believe in wo-
men working among men-unless II
is necessary -
"The bloom from the peach" in
terrupted, trying to smile, and fall
ing miserably.
Eyes! that's just it. The bloom
from tne peach"
yet, 1 have been practically
working woman for three years.
Lloyd and -"
was charitable work, and the condi-
tions demanded it perhaps. This WORK
you are doing now is ridiculous tor
woman of your edUcation--and at
fractions. How can you choose to
work in a stuffy office instead of haV-
ing a home, especially as you do not
deny that you care for me, L can
not conceive"
THE Office isn't stufy, as you
know. 1t is a very airy, comfortable
office, indeed. l don't know that /
ever shall make you understand all
that L understand them all myself.
But l want to do thiS-help myself
and other women who desire TO be
economically independent by. making
of myself just what will help me
most in carrying out my plan. 1 can
only do this if [ have experience. The
only way L can get experience is the
way L am now doing. Then l am
young, healthy, and have not TO
worry over the high cost of living.
That in Il way leaves me with an
open mind and makes me independent
as far as following up my ideas go;
at the same time l am making money
to use in the future. For my. plan
no more than l shall have ready to
use by the time l myself am fit
Lloyd had seated himself during
my long speech. He Strengthened
in his chair suddenly:
"You can't throw me over fol, a
chimercal plan, Olive. l can't be-
licve you intend to. Is there some
mo one, Lloyd" Then: 81 cant
take up the old useless life again. Ii
is impossible. | have no ties save
mother; nothing to prevent"
ut is your own fault that you
yes, [ know. But" stopped
helplessly. What was the use? We
had gone over and over the question
so many times. l had almost agreed
to do as he wanted me, only to have
q surge of feeling show ma it was
impossible to give up my dreams of
hclpfulneSs without constant regret.
And l realized that woman, q wife,
whose thoughts turned to something
py wife; neither would she make her
husband happy. II don't want to be
unkind, Lloyd" l went on after q
time. IL want to save myself and
to come. We wouldn't get along, be-
cause l should always be pulling
away in my thoughts. l can't
change my way of thinking about
things, you know. And you--you
| never would change yours" Ii |
said that last, expecting him to con-
tradict me, / was disappointed:
"No, Olive, 1 never should"
You see, Lloyd, the war affected
me very deeply. [ was so intimate
ly connected with it through my
work and-fathers death. 1t af-
fected an my standards Of life.
Three years ago L should have mar
ried you. and we would have been
reasonab bly, happy I am sure. But
now this wish to help has become
part of my very life: And it doesn't
impress you at all"
StODDed SudQonlV. What was
the use? There was a long silence,
Then
more of me than of your quiXotic
ideas, let me know" And putting
my hand to his lips he left me.
I threw myself on the couch and
cried bitterly. In spite of my, dreams
l was but a girl. L longed for love,
for comprehension, as do other
girls; but [ knew that Lloyd and
never could be, happy as long as
he held such ideas of women. and
their place in the world. And L also
knew he never would change.
(To be continued.)