Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-04-16
THE LADY SUPERVISOR,

|
about my lame knee, daughter. Yes, that's 1t
And now my crutch ana cane Lucky every
man doesn't have to make such parade az
this 10 going to town meetings-eh, 1octore
I'm thinking tbered be falling Oh In voters. y
"Y0u know I'd take your place In minute
father. If / could" said Miss Wentworth
roguishly, handing him his cruuch; "but the
law doesn't admit women and idiots to the
women, no; as to the idiots, I'm not so
sure" responded her father. humorously; 'iCs
my private opinion. doctor, s. round number OF
Lnose cIept In az our last town election. See
mittee."
"The fact Is, Mr.. Wentworth, the sch oos miss
you.n said DR.. Rodman, slowly drawing on his
gloves. There isn't man In the village cap
able OF Killing your place"
ELECT woman, tnen,' retorted the squire.
quickly do something Our present educa-
"Elect your daughter, for instance" said the
doctor, with a sportive glance at the comely
woman In the doorway shes shes the only lady
would not take It."
"veTy -, true But why shouldn't LII
much delicacy. No lady OF refinement would
consent to be thrust into so public a posi-
tion."
by the means?" interposed the squire. "Pooh.
pooh call that narrow, doctor. But what
are we waiting for? am all ready
retns to which the horse responded merely by
a knowing wink. That his master should really
be In haste to leave Miss Wentworth was ul-
precedented and transcribed belief.
What do you say, Zflpha? am 1 narrow
oattles?"
worsted women may be very good, suppose.
and help Them"
''Of course they may and do help in many
ways" said the doctor, amiably. mot by
n
part should lose all regard for lady who
would accept such masculine position. II
there Is anything utterly abhor,"' he added.
with energy, sit "a strong minded woman"
Behold how distinguished men differ said
Miss Wentworth, mtschievouSly. "ktng Solo
mon. now, liked them. Do you remember his
enthusiastic description OF model woman?
Here's part Of IT. She consdereth field and
cuyeth IL; with the fruit OF her hands she plant
eth vineyard"
Solomon lived In heatheniSh day. before
women were exalted to their true sphere"
laughed DR.. Rodman, driving away at last re.
Miss wentworth turned back to the parlor,
smiling. sac was not particularly interested
In the topic, but there was something amusing
deep pre- judlces he had. Well, she didn't mind:
she understood dealing with them. And as she
snoothed her wind blown crinps at the glass,
she smiled again In a satisfied way. To have
the power of pleasing the fastidlous doctor was
q matter for self Reorganization, she thought
She wondered, though. what he saw In her 60
fancy. Others did not wonder. 1t would have
been a greater marvel. indeed, IL DR.. ROiman
had not fancied this sweet voiced, regal woman,
whom be had come 10 know so intimately.
1t vas nearly year now since she had been
summoned from her teachers desk In New York
to the bedside OF her dying mother, and In his
capacity OF physician he had met her almost
daily then, and afterward. during her fathers
tedious Illness that ensued. Seeing her thus
in her home life. he could not fail to De charmed
by her gracious. womanly ways-for spite of
his thirty-nve years OF bachelorhood, he was
not an unSuScepttble man-and he had become
warmly attached to her. OF course she was
quite aware OF this. What woman of twenty
eight, with her wits about her, would not have
Quently? Yet she had perversely evaded an
uneQuivocal declaration. 1t was pleasant TO be
conscious OF the Doctors preference, but she
was in no haste to be assured OF it. This was
the state OF affairs between them on that orr mt
afternoon when DR.. Rodman had called quite
nlislly to take her invalid father TO the March
meeting.
Giving q deAterous twist to the blue neck
tie so becoming to her fair complexion, Miss
wentworth turned from the glass and sat
down to read one OF Agassiz' lectures. she
was fond OF the natural sciences, and rather
learned In that direction, having taught them
constantly Tor the past sever years. just as
she was deeply interested In the glacial theory
there came sharp ringingof the door bell, and
simultaneously from the k1Jcnen the swish Of
mop, which indicated that The maid Cumena
was yet splashing In Mondays slough. MISS
wentworth answered the bell herself. Two
exceedingly smiling gentlemen stood upon the
piazza. and at the sight of her one cauckled
outright. This was Mr.. Kinks, the town
register.
We've called Miss Wentworth begun he
and Judge kenJoD,ln breath-''we've called"
And there they broke DOWN, each courteouaiy
geSticulatiDg 10 the other 70 proceed.
Miss Wentworth perceived they had called.
and wondering they Should seem SO anu .ed
atout It. asked thsln IL.
The fact Is. we've come on a novel mission, >
q a rn
mere TO congratulate you on yoer recent cleo
"Yes. mum; we've elected you Supervisor of
schools. mum p.lt III Mr.. Kinks, shaking With
suppressed laughter. 1t was a unaninoIs
vote Not a o,sseht;ng voice. Tremendous
hCEOr TO LADY, mum, really"
Elected me supervisors cried Miss Went
vulsed the little register.
Yes, you're formally elected, Miss Went
worth. and we shall be profoundly grateful If
| you'll serve" said Judge Kenton, seating him.
| self opposite her. 'Iou can see what popular
vote 1t was Why. the people we're so bent upon
! notified OF the election before the meeting adj
| iourned. They wouldn't have given you a
chance to decline, If your father and DR.. Rod
wouldn't be fair"
why didn's they appoint DR.. Rodmans'
Is he hasn't the time to devote.'
You, then, Judge Kenton?"
haven't the time. either. Besides hon
eStly Delieve we shouldn't succeed as we'll In the
schools as you would. YOU'RE fresh from teach
Ing; we've forgotten the ropes"
Ion, can't serve, Judge Kenton, l haven t
the courage. Do elect some gentleman"
I'VE can't agree upon one, mum. You're the
popular en- cnolce' said the register, With the
eoaxlng air OF shopkeeper anxious to drive a
bargain. YOU'D better take the place. Miss
| Wentworth. Now dol"
Don't tempt me out OF my sphere she
cried, playfully selling needle and thread.
DON'T you men say It's woman's mission to
| sew on buttons? You can't deny it."
"Cleyeriy turned; but We can't excuse YOU on
| that plea, Miss Zilpha," smiled the iudge.
"Thlnk OF your superior education my child.
| and your experience In teaching. Can't you De
| pubic spirited enough to give us the benefit
| OF these?"
| Miss Wentworth began to waver.
| But the notoriety, Judge Kenton, | should
| shrink from it,
| Nonsense, Zilpha; girl OF your sense must
| DE more progressive. Don't shrink from doing
| us favor. beg. We men will pledge our
| selves to help you IL we can In any way
| Miss wentworth drew In her breath. Should
| she do this distasteful thing? Ought she TO do
| Ii? once having undertaken the task, she adj
| an Inward conviction that she could perform it
wen; Out was IL her duty to undertake it? And
| theIe was DIR: Rodman. Must she render her
sen an OBJECT or aversion TO him? He had ex-
pressed the deepest repugnance to this very
| step she was Considering
Nnat Is my fathers wish, Judge Kepfon?
Dio you talk with him on the Sublecte'