The Coolidge examiner., 1932-07-22
Change Of
Heart
By JANE OSBORN
nNTADGE dear !"
ANl"Walter."


After separation of four
months Madge had written to Wal
ter and told him that she would be
glad to have him call that Saturday.
Il wanted to tell you, Walter
dear" she said, permitting him to
take her hands gently in his as
they sat down together on the
bench under the arbor, that I've
changed my mind entirely-abOut
what a girl ought to do. | didn't
let you know because l wanted to
surprise you, L"
But Madge, dear" said the
young man, you were perhaps en-
tirely right. I've been thinking
things over myself. l realize that
conditions are not what they were
when our mothers were young. My
cousin has been spending the sum-
mer with us-Martha Stone-l
know you'd like her and | have told
her all about you. She believes as
you do-that in these days a girl
has the right 10 choose-whether
she wants to devote herself TO do
mestic matters or follow some ca
reer that she's really better suited
for"
Madge looked up amazed but the
young man continued, The fact is,
Madge-dear-tha Martha some
how put the matter so understood
it. Martha has wonderful ideas-I
know you and she will be great
friends. She herself says that If
she ever marries she will continue
her music teachings"
Madge just sat and looked at
Walter and felt the gentle pressure
of his hand on hers without a bit
Of the thrill that she had expected
Six months ago when they saw
each other for the last time they
had come to a serious disagree
ment. They were making plans for
an autumn wedding, and Madge
had declared that she never intend
ed to do any sort Of housework
She had got her appointment as
high school teacher and she liked
the work. Walter had protested
Walter who was ordinarily quite
mild of manner had actually be-
come quite angry. The engage
ment had not been actually broken,
but Madge had gone Off to visit an
aunt and they had arranged between
themselves not even to write for
six months. They would think
matters over In the meantime.
So Madge had gone to visit her
aunt. Still wearing her engage
ment ring, she met nephew of
her aunt's husband-Tom Bradford
and before many weeks had
passed she had told Tom of her
anxieties.
81 don't blame your Walter In the
least" Tom had said. "Pd never
want to marry girl who wouldn't
take an interest In her own home.
If a girl didn't care enough for
me to be willing to do that
wouldn't think she cared enough
for me to marry me-"
After that Madge registered In
school of domestic science and be-
fore another week had passed she
was deeply interested In dietetics,
cooking, household administration
and was taking course In dress
making besides.
And here she was-Madge with
Walter-waiting to tell him her
great surprlse-and Walter was In
no mood to listen to her.
$50 you see we really have my
cousin Martha to thank" Walter
was saying. "She showed me how
absurd it would be for you-when
you might be earning several thou.
sand dollars a year even to start
with-to be wasting your time on
housework.
"She even suggested taking apart
ments-then we would both be
quite free and we could get meals
out and not bother keeping any
maid. Martha has wonderful ideas
you certainly must meet her.
Now you must tell me what you
wanted to tell me about" said
Walter.
Madge had slipped the ring from
her finger that she had worn faith
fully for six months of her absence.
I've been thinking things over,
Walter. | really do think great
deal of you. But l was thinking
that perhaps after all we oughtn't
to be married. We might not have
disagreed the way we did unless
we were a little unsuited-"
Walter released the hand he had
been holding-very gently, without
apparently any emotion. well, of
course" he said, ''it is better to find
that out now than later. My cousin
Martha has such good ideas about
marriage. She says she thinks most
of the divorces nowadays are due
to the fact that peoples don't real
ly-" Walter went on but Madge