Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1892-03-12
A QUAKER LADY.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.

There had evidently been no word
mentioned among this party of the I'M
fortunate contretemps of the night be-
fore, however. To them it was one of
those little social fdur pas which it is
best to simply ignore.
Phebe wondered If Mrs. Morris had re-
peated to Mr.. Standish her appeal to her
cousin, at the end of the nights ~festivi,
ties, when he opened his book again at a
marked page, and ~prefacing it with
ladies, / would like you to listen, for "A
moment, to what a great man believes
you capable of, and when the necessity
for solving some troubled problem, comes
up in the social world, take heart and do
your part courageously." He read:
Women have in all times played a
part, and in modern days a very notable
one, in determining social arrangements.
They act directly and indirectly. Direct
ly they take a large share, il not the
larger share, in that ceremonial govern
ment which supplants the political and
ecclesiastical government; and as support
ers of that other government, especially
the ecclesiastical, their direct aid is by no
means unimportant. Indirectly, they
act by modifying the opinions and senti-
ments of men. First. in education, when
the expression of maternal thoughts and
feelings affects the thoughts and feelings
of boys, and afterwards, in domestic and
social intercourse, during which the fem
mime sentiments sway mems public acts,
both consciously and unconsciously."
He closed the book and met Phebe's
earnest gaze.
SIS that John Bright asked some one
of the ladies.
mo-" he replied, Herbert Spencer;
and"
''Oh, please, Mr.. Standish," cried one
of the girls, interrupting him, with a pet
fish little shrug of the shoulders. Her
bert Spencer is all very well in his place;
but just now, this morning, when we are
full of planning u stage-ride, don't you
think Jerry Spencer is more apropos!
That man actually has the conscience to
say he'cannot give us but four horses to-
morrow, when we want eight, and en-
gagged eight. Now, what are we going
to do" And the speaker looked the pic.
ture of girlish despair.
According to Herbert Spencer" said
Mrs. Van Worst, with a smile, 1--WE wo-
men ought to be able TO modify and ed
ucate' this stage-driver to a change of
opinion and sentiment on the subject.
Come; let's 20 zee what a union of
strength there can be in a multitude of
women's voices" and the lady went down
toward the stables, followed by a troop
Of interested and indignant ladies.
"Shall you accompany the party to the
Mountain Home tomorrow, Miss Flow
orr" asked Mr.. Standish, forgetting that
she never rode with them on their Sun
day jaunts.
They We're alone in the summer-house
now, the rest of the party having disap-
peared toward the stables. and they
seemed almost alone on the grounds.
The lawn was deserted, save by a few
nursery-maids wheeling some invalid
babies in their coaches, and most of the
busy gossip-mongers on the piazza had
gone inside to listen to the morning con
cert in the parlor. II was a warm Au-
gust day, with first faint hints of autumn
scents and fragrances on the air, the
sweet, pungent, balmy odor of falling
leaves and fading flowers, the aroma of
memory, the remembrance of a beautiful
summer past: Just as spring-time is full
Of the fresh aroma of hope, the promise
Of a loveliness to come.
''Shall you go with them tomorrow"
he repeated. Phebe had not replied: she
had fallen into a ~reverie. Her last few
hours at La Mer were numbered now;
summer was gone, and she would follow
It's departure soon; in less than a weeks
time h would be at her desk in school,
at work once more. She was thinking
how swiftly this vacation had flown, for,
despite the disappointment she had ex-
perienced in the discovery that society's
gay glitter was not all pure, unalloyed
gold, it had been the happiest ummer
h her life. Already the ron of the
past was permeating her thoughts, and
she sighed as she answered, hearing his
words now for the first time:
''Going with them? Oh, no; il will be
my last day at La Mer, you know, and
besides, | would rather go to the little
church down in the valley tomorrow"
She had been a regular attendant. each
Sunday, at the little school-house in the
hollow, where service was held; h and
Mrs. Morris and Mr.. Standish being the
only persons from the gay hotel during
the season who went. She sighed again
as she spoke.
docs that sigh imply a regret at leav-
ing La Mer-and-the warm friends you
have made here:' he continued, studying
the girls face intently.
She looked up quickly from the flowers
she was idly twisting in her hands, and
her color rose as she replied, a little hotly:
II am afraid. Mr.. Standish, that have
not made many warm friends at La Mer;
my strict Quaker ideas Of right and
wrong, and my plain speech, l suspect,
have not been found ingratiating quail
ties. My departure will not be regretted;
but what you hear" She stopped alb
ruptly, then added, more calmly, II
would like you to know that all l have
said and done TO offend has been from
the purest and best of motives, and
And nothing you have said or done,
my dear child, interrupted MIR. Standish,
earnestly, II am quite sure can have
aught but good results: and nothing l
shall hear, believe me, Miss Flower, can
alter the high respect and admiration l
feel for you as the courageous champion
Of all that is good and true and noble in
woman"
Phebe blushed and looked happy at this
warm eulogy, and she felt sure Mrs. Nor
rs had told him "A great deal.
Mrs. Morris called me Donna Quix-
ote,'" she said looking up at him with q
smile.
Donna Quixote fought imaginary
evils: your battle is against real and great
ones" he returned. But, Miss Flower,
believe me, a woman's power against
evil of all kinds Is unreasonable. In
politics. religion, or social questions, her
word Is a weapon, a seed, a defense, or "A
protection. No need for the ballot or the
sword in a woman's hand; her earnest
voice, low and still and small though it
| be, is yet loud and great; it will touch
| spots invulnerable, and, as Spencer has
| declared, neve more powerfully than
when the expression of her maternal
thoughts and feelings affects the thoughts
and feeling of boys-embryo men,"
Phebe's face glowed, as she replied,
| with enthusiasm: 'Oh! i hope mine may
reach the hearts and souls of my boys! l
| feel that l have more than their minds
to train and teach now; / shall return to
| school, next week, with newer, stronger
desire and determination to do my wo-
mans work."
Mr.. otandisn turned ms eyes from the
| girls radiant face, and gazed of on to
the lake. which lay glistening in the
| bright sunshine. What was there in this
strange, new pang he suddenly felt in his
| heart. at the Thought that this girl vas