The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1926-12-30
Strong for Self
Support
a~-@.----s-----s=-a@..~-
BY JANE OSBORN

ticipated eagerly.
Eyes, saw your father" admitted
Peter, somewhat morosely. His OBJ
lection was certainly original"
Amy and Peter sat tete-a-tete at
a little tea room in a city side street
where they had met to talk things
over after Peters call on Mr.. Mellon,
Amy's father, the purpose Of which
was the formal request for the hand
of his daughter.
''Then he didn't say 1t would be
all right7" asked Amy.
"He didn't say In SO many words
that couldn't ever marry you, but
he did say you couldn't marry me or
any one else-I was glad he said that
until you had shown yourself cap
able of supporting yourself. never
heard of such a thing. Never asked
me what | was earning, though I'd
have been glad enough to show him
my weekly check and my bank book.
Had them ready to show him II he
asked. But-well, / never heard OF
a father naming such an objection"
"Of course it's unusual" excused
Amy, "but you know father has rather
advanced ideas about some things. He
thinks every woman should be edu-
Gated to earn her own way. | suppose
1t is because, as lawyer, he has often
known of women, used to lnxuries,
who when their husbands died or left
them or something haven't been able
to do anything TO earn living. It's
terrible to be a dependent-especially
when you're married-and maybe have
children"
'Well, / told him I'd planned to take
out a big life insurance. And III put
my savings In government bonds"
81 know, but father says that he's
known of cases where every sort OF
security was swept away The only
sort Of real security, he says, is know
ing how to earn your own living. And
somehow / just don't seem to be able
to do it, Peter" said Amy, looking
across the table with fearful eyes, Il
think | must be stupid. You know !
tried nursing, and honestly couldn't
stand It, And / never finished high
school SO l couldn't get into normal
college to learn to be teacher. Then
! took a business course-but | just
can't stand shorthand. Oh, dear,
Peter. ! couldn't begin to tell you the
things I'VE thought of-and tried and
failed at. But I'll try. Peter"
That night Peter told his mother Of
his interview with Amys father and
mother listened at first with amaze
ment and then with amusement. She
made no comment, however, save to
say that Amy was dear girl and 1t
would be a shame for her to have to
go to work just to humOr the within OF
her father. That evening she tele-
phoned to Mr.. Mellon and asked him
If he would dine with her at her house
the following evening. Since their
children had become such good friends
she thought they, too, ought to renew
their old acquaintance.
Mrs. Drew arranged to have her
son Peter dine at his club the follow
ing evening and gave orders to her
cook for the best possible dinner u
was after they had finished and had
gone to the cozy little drawing room to
drink their coffee that Mrs. Drew first
mentioned Peter and Amy.
'sYou know, Bert" said Mrs Drew,
my son is really quite in love with
your daughter Amy. | believe he
wants to marry her. But / really can
not let him consider it--at least, not
now. You see, believe that no man
ought to think of marrying unless he Is
perfectly able to keep house for him
self I've known of several cases
where young men were left widowers
with children. They have had to send
| their children to boarding schools and
homes because they haven't been able
to keep house and take care Of the
children themselves. So I've said for
some time now that l should never
allow my Peter to marry until he had
taken a course in domestic science and
baby tending And Peter simply won't
do it. All right, say. then you must
remain a bachelor or marry without
my consent"
'Tm sure. Alice, that is most abb
surd theory of yours. Amy is in the
best of health-she wouldn't leave
Peter q widower, and besides Peter
could afford to get governess and a
hcusekeeper-but it's so absurd to talk
about such thing"
mot absurd at ALL" persisted Mrs.
Drew.
There was protracted pause, dur
ing which each waited to see what the
other would say next. Then Bert Mel
lon began to chuckle.
"Alice." he said. Il believe you've
been kidding ms But don't let's talk
about Amy and Peter. guess 1t will
be all right about them. I'll give in if
you will. But what l want to talk
about is ourselves. Alice, I've been
alone now for six years-and your"
twelve years. supplied Alice Drew.
And you know | wanted to marry
you when | was boy-or If you
didn't know 1t was because was too
/ che RI folI voff Ruf I'm n0f foo Shv