“Would you have me marry Uala without my father’s consent?”
“Yes, by all means. You do not seem to realize that you are teaching deception to Uala, and, you know, deceit among this people is a thing unknown. Can you be the first to teach them, by example, that there are such things as deceit, untruth and dishonesty?”
“No, Mabel. No, you know that I don’t,” exclaimed Etta. “Do have some mercy on me. You forget how I am placed.”
“No, I do not forget,” answered Mabel, “but you do not belong to your father. You are not a slave. Your heart, your mind, your will, are yours and yours alone. When a father attempts to govern the love in his daughter’s heart he undertakes that which he has no right to; for nature has placed the feeling of love strong in the breast of every woman, and whoever tries to thwart that love, should realize that they are responsible for whatever of deceit, wrong doing and shame that may follow. Half of the blighted, unhappy women of the world are made so, either by the interference of others, in their love affairs, or by their own weakness in not daring to marry a man if his so-called social position is not equal to their own, or whose purse is not long enough to satisfy their soaring ambition. If women married those they loved and none else, as is done here, we should have no scandals in high life to shock us, as is now constantly the case. Oh, stop this deceit, Etta, it is unworthy of you! Be a true woman. There is no virtue more to be admired in woman than sincerity, and if you love Uala, as you say——”
“Oh, Mabel! can you doubt my love?” broke in Etta. “I love him with my whole heart, but I did not realize how false my conduct was, until now that you have shown me how wrong I have been. I will tell papa everything at once, and if he disapproves, as I know only too well that he will, I shall do as you say, hold fast to my resolution, as I know I shall always love Uala, and should be wretchedly unhappy without him.”
“I am glad, Etta dear, that you have come to so womanly a decision.”
“Do you suppose Mabel, that your father would approve of your marriage with Ahleka if he know of it?”
“Yes,” answered Mabel, “I am quite sure he would. It was from his dear lips that I learned to think on the subject of marriage as I do.”
After they had had their bath, Etta went directly to her father to tell him of her love for Uala. It was a hard task, but she now saw her duty and was determined to do it. After throwing her arms about his neck, and kissing him, she dropped in a graceful little heap upon the mat at his feet, and began: “Papa, do you love me very much?”
“What a question, why child, you are all in the world I have left to love. Of course I love you.”