The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-12-10
BLACK OXEN :: By Gertrude Atherton

was, as ever, apparently uncon-
scious of glances yelled and open,
but Clayering laid a bet with
himself that before the end Of the
encore politely demanded she
knew what every woman in the
room had on.
The violinist retired. Cocktails
were passed. There was a surge
toward the head Of the room.
Philosophy
Clavering had dropped into 4
chair beside the wife Of De Witt
Turner, eminent novelist, who,
however, called herself in print
and out, Suzan Forbes. She was
one of the founders Of the Lucy
Stone League, stern advocates of
the inalienable individuality OF
women. Whether you had one
adored husband or many, never
should that individuality (presum-
ably derived from the male pa
remit be sunk in any mans.
When Suzan's husband took his
little family travelling the. as
tonished hotel register read: De
Witt Turner, Susan Forbes, child
and nurse. Sometimes explana-
lions were wearisome; and when
travelling in Europe they found it
expedient to bow to prejudice.
Several of the Lucy Stoners, how.
ever, had renouuced Europe for
the present. reactionary gov
eminent refusing to issue sepa-
rate. passports. You took your
husbands name at the altar.
didn't you? You are legally mar
ried? You are? Then you're no
more miss than mister. You 20
to Europe as respectable mar
ried woman or you stay at home.
So they stayed. But they would
win in the end. They always did.
AS for the husbands, they were
amenable. Whether they really
approved Of feministics ia extenso.
or were merely good-natured and
indulgent after the fashion Of
American husbands, they were at
some pains to conceal All the
bright young married women who
were doing things. " however,
were not Lucy Stoners, advanced
as they might be in thought.
They were mildly sympathetic,
but rather liked the matronly and
possessive prefix And after all,
what did it matter? There were
enough tiresOne barriers to scale,
Heaven knew. This was the age
Of woman. but man, heretofore
predominant by right Of brute
strength and halIowed custom,
was cultivating subtlety. and il
feminized while they mascuIinized
there would be the devil to pay
before long.
Miss Forbes was a tiny creature
wholly feminine in appearance,
and in spite Of her public activi-
ties. her really brilliant and in
itiative mind, was VIGOROUSLY de-
pendent upon her big burly hus-
band for guidance and advice in
all practical matters. When they
took q holiday the younger Of
his children gave him the
least trouble. for she had a
nurse: he dared not give his
wife her ticket in a crowd
lest she lose 1t, far less trust
her to relieve his Burdened mind
sof any Of the cetafIs Of travel:
nor even to order meal. Never.
theiess, he invariably, and with
complete gravity, introduced he-
and alluded to her as Suza.l
Forbes (she even tabued the
Missl and he sent a cheque to the
league when 1t was founded. His
novels had quality of delicate
irony, but he avowed that his
motto was live and let live.
Miss Forbes was not pretty, but
she, had an expressive original
little face and her manners were
charming. Janet OgIethorpe was
boor beside her. It was doubt
full II she had ever been ag-
gressive in manner or rude in
her life; although she never hest
tated to give utterarce to the
EXTREMIST of her opinions or to
maintain them to the bitter end
when she sometimes sped home
to have Mysteries on her hus-
bands broad chest). She was one
OF Clavering's favorites and the
heroine of the comedy he so far
rejected.
She lit cigarette as the music
finished and pinched it into
holder nearly as long as her face.
But even smoking never interfer.
ed with her pleasant, rather de-
predatory, smile.
cit must be-. wonderful to be
an authentic beauty" she said
wistfully, glancing at the solid
phalsnx Of black backs and sleek
heads at the ether end of the
room. And she's ravishing, Of
course The men are sleepless
about her already. Do assure ms