about their own town's paper!"

Sheila smiled. She had a pretty accurate conception of the place that
Shadyville must occupy on Charlotte's horizon--and on Alice North's.
But she only remarked soothingly, "I can tell you all about Alice
North. I've read nearly everything she's written, and a number of
magazine articles about her, too. I'll get you up a good story about
her--the sort of story she won't object to either." Then her
enthusiasm swept her from the subject of newspaper values to the true
value of Mrs. North:

"Oh, Ted, isn't it splendid for a woman to have a talent like that--a
talent that's made her famous at thirty!"

But there was no responsive enthusiasm in Ted's face, no leap of light
in the eyes that met the fire of hers. "I suppose so," he conceded
grudgingly, "yes, I suppose it is. But I don't care for that sort of
woman myself--at least for that sort of married woman."

"But why, Ted? Why? Her work doesn't interfere with her loving her
husband!"

"It interferes with her making a home for him. And _that's_ a woman's
work--making a home."

"But, Ted, maybe he doesn't want a home--or maybe they have a
housekeeper."

Ted shrugged: "Oh, if it suits him to live in a hotel, or at the mercy
of a hired housekeeper, it's all right. But in that case, he's missing
the best thing a man ever gets--I mean the kind of home a woman's
_love_ makes!"

At those words Sheila would have surrendered the argument--so easily
was she swayed by a touch upon her heart. But Ted was not through with
the subject. His masculine self-respect was aroused against this woman
who was succeeding outside the sphere of strictly feminine occupation,
and he was determined to show her, in her worst light, to Sheila.

"Has she any children?" he demanded belligerently.

"No--at least, I think not."

"Now you see that I'm right!" he exulted.

But the moment for yielding had passed with Sheila. "I see nothing of
the sort," she replied with a flare of temper. "Her having
children--or not having them--has no bearing whatever on the matter."

"Oh, yes, it has! You mark my words--she hasn't had any children
because she's wanted to spend all her time advancing herself--building
up a tawdry little fame for herself! I tell you, Sheila, talent's a
bad thing for a woman--a bad thing!"

"But, Ted--_I_ write."

He stared at her in naive surprise. Then his face softened into
indulgent laughter. "Why, kitty, so you do! I