The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1920-04-15

tHdt. IOu HOulU uoS5 q CUupa6 III
months OF absolute freedom every
year control Of much of your own
time, ample leisure to enjoy it. You
would give only your chances OF
actual marriage for perhaps five
years for poor Allan cannot live
longer than that at his present state
OF r~etrogression. and soma part Of
every day to seeing that Allan was
not neglected. II you bestow on him
half OF the interest and effort l have
known of your giving any one OF 4
dozen little. immigrant boys, his
mother has nothing to fear for him.
Mr.. De Guenther stopped. with i
grave little bow. and he and his wife
waited for the reply.
The Liberty Teacher sat silent.
her eyes on her slim hands. that were
roughened and Redeemed by constant
hurried washings TO get off the dirt
OF the library books. 1t was true-a
good deal of it. anyhow. And one
thing they had not said was true
also: her sunniness and accuracy and
strength, her stock in trade, were
wearing thin under the pressure OF
too long hours and too hard work and
too few personal interests. Her youth
was worn down. And-marriageo
What chance Of love and marriage
had she, a working girl alone, too
poor to see anything of the class OF
men she would be willing to marryo
She had not for years spent six hours
with a man of her own kind and
age. She had not even been special.
in love. that she could remember.
since She a grown up She did no,
feel much, now. as il she ever would
be. All that she had to give up in
taking this offer was her freedom.
such as it was-and those f%lutterinf;
perhapses that whisper such pleas
INT promises when you are younp.
But, then. she wouldn't be young so
very much longer. Should she
put it to herself crudely-should she
wait long, hard, closed in year in
the faith that she would learn to be
absolutely ~contented, or that some.
man she could love would come 70
the cheap boarding house, or the little
church she attended occasionally
when she was not too tired, fall in
love with her work dimmed looks at
sight, and-marry her? 1t had not
happened all these years while her
girlhood had been more attractive
and her personality more untired.
There was scarcely a chance in 100
for her of a kind lover husband ana
such dear picture books children as
she had seen Eva Atkinson CONVOY
ing. Well-her mind suddenly came
up against the remembrance, as
against a sober fact, that In her pas
sionate wishings of yesterday she had
net wished for a lover husband. nor
fer children. She had asked for a
husband who would give her money,
ard leisure to be rested and pretty
and a rose gardenl And here. ap-
paIently. was her wish uncarnily
fulfilled.
well. what are you going to do
about it," inquired the destinies with
their traditional indifference. we
can't wait all night"
She lifted her head and cast an al
most frightened look at the De Guen-
theirs, waiting courteously for her
decision. In reply to the look, Mr..
De Guenther began giving her de-
tails about the money, and the leas-
ure time. and the business terms Of
the contract generally. She listened
a~ttentfvely. All that-for a little
guardianship, a little kindness and
the giving up of a little piece OF life
nobody wanted and a few little hopes
and dreams!
Phyllis laughed. as she always did
when there were big black prob
lens to be solved.
After all. it's fairly usual" she
said. Il heard last week of a woman
who left money along with her pet
dog. very much the same way.
1Dtd you? Did you, dear?" asked
Mrs. Do Guenther, beaming. Then
you think you will do it?"
The Liberry Teacher rose, and
squared her straight young shoulders
under the worn net waist
IF Mrs. Harrington thinks I'll do
for the situation!" she said CALAMITY
and laughed again. ~,
1T feels partly like going into a
nunnery and partly like going into a
fairy story" she said to herself that
night as she wound her alarm. aRut
II wonder il anybody's remembered
to ask the consent of the groom!"
v. asg..
He looked like a young Crusader
on a tomb. That was Phyllis first
impression of Allan Harrington. He
~ 50 LE go MfN viz A 49, ~