Show f r- r Story Of Day j rn A QUESTION OF BRAVERY If Ii you ask asic me said Alicia in the superior tone which I found sp so a annoy annoying Y- Y ring ing I think that women are bra el bramer than men I INo No I said shaking my head v vehemently There are brave women Ill I'll IllI I admit admit but taking the sex as a whole you will that find they be are are chicken chicken- c en- en heal hearted ted i iI A I I won wont won't t rind find anything of the sort she retorted I Take Take f for for- instance e. e an ordinary mouse I said and put i in it t an ordinary room and and and- S i i Oh h that's simply l a fem feminine nine p peculiarity she broke In l indignantly d 1 lt i isn't nt a question of bravery J I A Anything ing b but t I acquiesced acquiesced t r i J JAnd I And It its It's s justus just as foolish to think that bravery consists only tn In acts 9 s. s which I merit the Victoria cross she said war warmly I I Of co course I said You will get as many instances of bravery at the Bra Bra- side as as on the field of battle I 1 I i r She smiled l il T Possibly more she returned Im so glad that you ou have have c to come to e to agree with me regarding t the e bravery of women J y f I stared hard at her In astonishment i What do you mean mean I Inquired I haven't agreed agreed V ih IY on on that point 4 1 i I You said that hat at the fireside fireside- V I But I didn't mean I 1 began t Men are generally n not t. t ge generally e llY to be f found und there ther she r remarked caln calmly i I made a 4 J gesture of impatience Please be rational Alicia You know I spoke figuratively Oh Then Thin I suppose you really leally meant that there Is as mu much h bravery at atthe atthe atthe the clubs club as on on- on s t i 1 iI I might have haye said so I interrupted with quiet satisfaction ClUbs Cl bs had al always been been a red rag to her 1 She he tossed her erh head ad scornfully 9 Absurd I n never never ver knew a a clubman who c could fd be called caned tIt re she said with witheringly i r r r. i That was one for me md T but ut I bore the blo blow without f flinching f No But that doesn't doesn't alter the fact that some are brave Do you know an any any she a asked ked n nI i I I I k know ow one one Ali Alicia la He He fl ht I u v What V hathas has h he done she asked Impatiently Ml r r- r a. a a Nothing so N Nothing thing sq so far fai al' al ut he brave all 11 the sa same e There's Theres p nothing h he rould uld l at If he once once- made me up his mind t tc- tc toL r- r j i A foolhardy y Idiot she interrupted I Know tHe me r r i No not No not an an n Idiot though foolhardy if tf you like After all foolhardiness is IS first cousin to bravery The kinship may be even nearer I Very likly he would turn a arid and d run at the first Sign of danger she said raid and her hei eyes flashed Evidently the conversation was annoying her The man I mean wouldn't I said quietly He is brave as as a lion Hop I dont don't see how you can say that when he hasn't pr proved ved it sh she returned But I can say it Alicia You see I know his er er i er-i inmost th thought She laughed rather too tote boisterously for genuine merriment Oh my dear G Gerald that will do she cried Please dont don't say any more Youre You're too f funny Fancy one sane man man are are you sane sane George stating George stating calmly that he ho Knows the Inmost thoughts of another man J JIt It r requires quires a consid considerable rable effort to imagine anything of the kind I said said you But But you said that you knew the Inmost thoughts of this brave man who is isa a a member of a club and and and- v J I. I I Yes I do I interrupted interrupt d. d with a smile But he Isn t another man you you see She gazed at nn me and id her large eyes were full of mystification mYstification Suddenly however a light dawned on her Ger Gerald ld you vou dont mean dont mean mean- Ind Indeed ed I p do t ts t's l sd s td s l I You consider yourself consider 1 i yourself a brave man r Most certainly Alicia Why not J L. L Because She broke off to hum softly See the conquering hero comes but but as I showed no signs of oZ annoyance annoyance she soon grew tired And pray what is the Inmost t thought that convinces yo you that you are brave she asked I paused I It isn't exactly a thought I said presently Its a a. determination I have mind fo to made mad up my propose to a woman She tried to look disgusted but could not help showing that she W s Interest Interested Inter Inter- est ested d. d v vIf i If Ie it requires bravery braver for that most men are brave and brave and some ara regular heroes she said said- cont contemptuously l I r was no not finished d I returned The woman I l' l lam Iam am am going to propose to has never by word or sign showed that she he cared a a. str straw w for tor me On the contrary she has shown me that she thinks think very little of me She has laughed at me me whenever I have allowed a a. note b of tenderness to creep into my voice She has has P V I Spare me please pease Gerald she h Interrupted She must be a terrible terrible- She IS the first lady In th the land I said gravely She is the essence essence of ot charm of goodness of of- of I would rather a hundred tm j s be sti ck by h hey her r th than n be kissed by any any other woman I Really neally And And And- i I You will admit that it requires bravery to propose to to such a woman 1 J Well foolhardiness rell What If she refuses you you I I shall refuse to accept accept her refusal I replied She looked at a. a me thoughtfully for a moment or two then a smile smile appeared her on face t tI 5 i 1 I I 1 Really Gerald you have converted me Ye Yes t you are a brave man J and I think that you you deserve a a 11 reward for foi valor on the field of love She p paused used and then glancing at me with a coquettish smile added I r am yours I 1 gasped 5 You Yo mean mean J t tI i iI I shall marry you she replied calmly Then she stamped stamp d her foot Why dont don't you kiss me Gerald When a man has had ad the Victoria cross conferred on him he doesn't generally signalize the event by turning coward I hastened to show her that my bravery bravE was more than equal to the test But how how did did you know that I meant you you I asked presently presently- Know w Why y my dear boy Ive I've known ino for months that you loved me And besides besides- She broke off suddenly and then en continued with a smile Your description of ot me was unmistakable When I ventured to o point out that her cheek In taking the description to herself was considerable she replied that a brave woman had no scruples about that sort of thing thing- At least she ad added e softly when she Is talking t to Ui the man she lo loses loes es |