The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-07-22

III III Az ia NHA
have become. 1 might be filling n higher
sphere, doing more good, thinking greater
thoughts, and aS%sociating with n better class
of people if were only-well-e1ndncipdt-
cd. shall be glad when vacation comes"
Vacation came, and with it the inter
state convention of emancipated women.
Violet was one of the first to enter Blnnks
Hall on Monday morning. 1t filled rapid
ly. and such a medley of striking people
Violet had never seen together before.
There were elegant women in long trained
dresses. and women with elaborate Golf
rures. and women with hair "shingled' and
parted on one side. And all seemed full
of business, and were gathered in little
"cliuues,' and first and foremost and
everywhere present was Mrs. Odessa Not
fingham Smith. She smiled n welcome to
Violet, and introduced her to Mrs. Jonas
Winters. novelist, and the Honorable Mrs.
Brown. Violet felt inclined to laugh at
the very odd attire of the latter, which
was a curious combination of masculinity
and ieminity but uncultured though she
was. according TO Mrs. o. n. s., her trimming
forbade her so to do. Size was somewhat
| surprised, therefore, to hear Mrs. OdessS
| Nottingham Smith remark, as the Hon. Mrs.
Brown moved away to speak to n new
conner:
"Wha is the necessity of any woman's
making such II guy of herself as Mrs.
| Brown does? She is really n ridiculous
figure. is she not, in that nondescriptsuit?"
Violet did not answer save to ask the
name of the lady who had Just entered.
she was u very sweet-faced woman, with
so KIND a smile and so gracious n manner
that Violet felt her heart 90 out toward
her involuntlrily. Mrs. Odessa Noting
ham Smith and Mrs. Jonas winters, nov
elist. both frowned and drew back with
sudden hateur rs their eyes fell ON the
new conner.
Really cried Mrs. Winters, a was NOT
aware she was coming. / wonder who in
vited her
mot l." responded Mrs. Odessa Noting
ham Smith, Il can assure you of that. She
probably came unlimited. 1t is like her
boldness.'
"How lovely she isr cried impolitic vi
olet "please tell me who she is.
Mrs. Odessa Nottingham Smith frowned
more forbiddingly han ever rs she turned
to answer Violet's query.
Chat she said with cold irony, lis Mrs.
Burton. 1t may be you have heard her
name in connection with n scandal which
was in every ones mouth a few years ago
1t may be you were too young to have
heard it. | assure you / did not ask her
to attend this meeting, and shall treat
her in n way that she will not be apt to
49,
come again.
When the meeting was called to order
and the preliminaries gone through with,
the object of the meeting was discussed,
and those who had papers to read were
called uron to send their names and the
titles Of their papers.
1t so happened that Violet was seated
next to Mrs. Burton, and that lady chanc-
cd to address her and they fell into pleas
~ az. NEaIaN una uhnpNaAI rrttl
her sweet voice and her gentle manners.
81 cannot associate her with anything
evil, . she said mentally, a believe she
is a good, true woman. | don't see why
those ladies felt it necessary to tell me she
had been n subject Of scandal, There are
precious few prominent people in the world
Who have not been more or less scandnliz-
in some way
Violet was invited by Mrs. Jonas Win
tiers, novelist, to dine with her party at the
hotel. Mrs. Odessa Nottingham Smith had
gone to the residence of a personal friend
in the city and was not one of the party
us II consequence she came under discus
sion.
How like n general she takes the lead"
some one present observed.
Yes, and who would have supposed she
would develop as she hasY' responded
Mrs. Jonas Winters, novelist. you know
before her marriage she was not considered
anybody. Her people were poor, and l am
told quite illiterate. Her marriage was n
fortunate thing for her. II enabled her to
step into a position she could never have
retained alone
The tone was kind. the words full of APP
probation Of Mrs. Smiths having made
such excellent use OF her opportunities. Yet
all the same Violet knew the motive that
prompted the remark was an unworthy
one. 1t was envy of Mrs. Smiths fore
most place in the association, and her pow
er of gcncralship and every woman pres
ent made II mental note OF the fact that
Mrs. Odessa Nottingham Smith sprang
from Il low family.
The nCNi day Violet CHANGED to he near
n knot OF ladies who were nearly all
'"Gngcrs 10 her. They were discussing a
paper which was 10 he read the following
morning by Mrs. Gordon, a woman Of
marked beauty and brilliancy, who had
occupied considerable time the previous
day, and Won much attention from the re
pcrterS who had been present by an elc-
quent impromptu speech.
at seems scarcely desirable that one per
son should m%onopolize so much time" re
marked II lady in bloomers near Violet.
at is quite probable Mrs. Gordon may
not be called upon for her paper observ-
ed Mrs. Jonas Winters quietly. She has
lone her share I think-we must give all
n chance. No doubt the paper is excellent,
hut we cannot hear all the good things at
one session.
81 scarcely sec how n woman, who de
votes so much time to toilets MS does the
Nlegrnt Mrs. Gordon can do Justice to an
elaborate paper observed Madam Bloom
cr with sarcasm. "If women talk and
write on emancipation, | like to see them
illustrate it in their lives
Violet looked for Mrs. Gordon's paper
with considerable interest, but it was "un-
tvoidably crowded OUT so the minutes
said, though several inferior ones could
have BEEN better spared, and many aim
less discussions might nave been omitted
with no dctriment to the proceedings. But
the wirc-pullers who had resolved that
Mrs. Gordon should not distinguish her
self further, succeeded in keeping her pa
per in the background.
Mrs. Burton, whose sweet IN lovable
character seemed to breath in every word
and act, was by the majority of the aides
present treated with cold disduin. Those
who had not heard the old scandal CON
nected with her life were informed that
one existed, and that the originators of
this association regretted the presence Of
any person of that kind, as they claimed
to be II blameless body"
but is not the life of this worsan be-
yond reproach now p queried one daring
d~issenter. Surely, whatever may nave
been her early errors and ~tollies, she can
not be aught but n noble woman and wear
the face she does besides | rave heard
her highly spoken Of by her neighbors."