San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-05

WOMAN'S SLAVERY
Not that he blamed them. He saw
that the world is arrayed against
women. And futilely. For he be
lieved that women would be NOR,
agreeable-even more delightful
when freed of their slaveries-theil
slavery to dress, slavery 10 money
to appearances TO their numberles;
and incredible vanities. Why they
were sickeningly vain even of theil
children. -
So it was useless to goad girls tC
| effort; let them patter along on tht
surface of things. Awaken any deeper
craving and you only made them dis
contented; only untitled them for the
colorless inferiority that they, on be
coming women, would complacently
embrace.
He didn't consider women lower thar
men in intellect. But the world made
slide for them; even their love Of
beauty was used as a weapon against
their spirits-shops Haunting their del.
icate lures-beauty parlors offering
their absurd promises. And women al
% or % would willingly mount that
slide and go shooting 10 mental, spir.
itual and finally to physical stagna.
ton. Even the best Of them.
Nora Lee, knowing these views, was
a bit exultant to command Godfrey
Bells attention.
He was waiting in a classroom and
turned with a quick shrug as Nora
Lee entered. he shook her hand, ask
ing, with a note of eagerness she had
never heard in his voice: Il won.
dered il you were coming. Have you
had a pleasant Christmas?' Then,
with a businesslike hurry, as though
his excited manner abashed him: Il
have something TO interest you. / trust
you will be pleased
NORA LEE an PRINT,
He went W to his desk and brought
out a small magazine devoted TO the
cause and opinions Of women. He
opened it at certain page and of
fered it to Nora Lee, his face suffused
with color.
She glanced at the article with the
extrsvagant sensation of one who is
seeing heaven in a dream. An ecstatic
smile slowly parted her lips. The ar
ticle was entitled Are Women Infe-
rior:" 1t was signed Nora Lee Mead
ows.7
She glanced swiftly down the page.
No doubt about it-those sentences
were hers. She laughed aloud.
4 few months previous Godfrey Bell
had given her book by an English
critic belittling the intelligence of
women. This had so inflamed her hot.
young antagonisms, so famed her sex
hostility that is often rampant at IS,
that Nora Lee wrote a caustic an
swer.
She submitted il as her weekly
theme in English, and for days wait
ed in a burning unrest for some glow
ing tribute on the scholarly refuta-
ton. She felt that she had entrenched
women in their rights. There would
never again be pig beaded English
man to spoil good white paper with
such witless sophistry.
Weeks passed. Mr.. Bell made no
comment whatever. She was out
rageously piqued. She remembered
now that she had secretly accused
him Of siding with the English au-
thor and therefore detesting so bril-
liant a setback as she had given.
"A MEDICATION"
Bell noticed the momentary scowI
this recollection brought 10 her face.
Then you're displeased, Miss Mead
ows: You think I've taken a great
liberty:7
Her look bathed him with dewy.
tremulous Smiles: "Oh. no! Indeed 1
don't"
He gave a sudden laugh. at was
quite a gem. / couldn't resist send
ing il. knew this magazine would
eat il up. / thought you'd consider
II quite a vindication.n
An older girl seeing the boyish
anxiety in Godfrey Bells face would
have felt her vanity soar; or her pity
twinge. She would have known her
power and eIulted, even though it
was but power to hurt.
He sat stopping forward on the edge
OF a pupils desk-a nervous, esthetic
fellow with slender wrists and rather
disconcerting, cynical lines carved
from his nose to his mouth. His
mouth that was often arched with
scorn was now drawn tightly in a
violence Of suppressed emotion.
But Nora Lee was entranccd with
the sheer wonder Of the printed page
the marvellous beauty Of black let
ters on white paper and her name so
largely blszoned.
She looked at Mr.. Bell and
thought: The old duck! The dear old
duck" It jumped to the tip Of her
tongue to say: You're nothing but
a love! You're quite heavenly"
"A CENT A WORD"
But a laugh restrained her. 81
don't know just how ] can thank
you. il was ever so kind Of you.
You know, Mr.. Bell, / was awfully
hurt that you never took any notice
Of that theme. But now j sec"
She grabbed up her purse. you
won't mind if / leave? I'm in a great
hurry 10 get home. May j come
again about the course: This is really
awfuliy important.
II possible his lips clenched more
Erimly. He walked loosely as
though his muscles had snapped, To
the desk. I've forgotten an inter
esting detail. You've earned rea
money. Miss Meadows. They pas
a cent a word-not quite in Kiplingl
class yet but who knows
The check was for 81. She wal
moved TO kiss Godfrey Bell for she hat
large, maternal feelings for all mel
other than Dane. Fortunately sh'
merely Offered her hand. She didu'