Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-05-04
A PLUCKY GIRL.

ySNAo "VAS NoAAhA "AS SNSAsA oVAA
tied the staid citizens Of that part Of the
twentieth century town of Belleville by
awakening them from their lethargy with
a petition Of John A. Day, president Of
the Belleville Electric Street railway, to
extend his line, is confident that her efforts
will be crowned with success and that the
days Of imprisonment on account of mud
dy streets will soon be a thing Of the past.
Miss Althof Is the daughter Of a wealthy
iron manufacturer of Belleville and lives
In one Of the handsomest and most SUBJ
stantial residences of Swansea, a pretty
little suburb on the north side Of Belle
Vile. There are a number of wealthy peo-
pie living In Swansea, and, In addition to
this, several business houses Of no incon-
siderable consequence are located there.
Despite this, however, Swansea, instead Of
progressing, has almost refrigerated on
account of the fact that during periods of
Indictment weather 1t Is almost entirely
out of from communication with the sur
rounding world. Miss Althoff threw her
self. in the breach. Her pretty face and
charming grace had made her a general
favorite in society, and she received invi-
tations galore to various social functions
In Belleville. But as she was practically
hemmed In in her handsome domicile she
was compelled to decline a number Of
them. She tired of this and determined to
no longer wait upon any members OF the
male persuasion in Swansea to tax the
initiative in the matter.
She went to her fathers office, sat down
at his typewriter and soon prepared q
blank petition to President Day urgently
requesting him to assist them out of the
predicament from which they had suffered
so long and extend his railway tracks to
the suburb of Swansea. Miss Althoff de-
termined that she would brook no opposi-
ton in the matter of securing signatures
to the petition, and consequently when
her father entered the office and asked
what she was doing she informed him In
a firm manner Of her intentions. Mr..
Althoff was taken completely by surprise,
but when he recovered his equanimity he
concluded that his daughter had con-
ceived a clever idea and promised to lend
her all the assistance within his power.
Miss Althoff did not have the plain sail
Ing that she expected when she started
out. At her home she Is the idol of her
parents and has practically her own way.
Consequently while she expected that she
would possibly have some little trouble
she was not exactly prepared for the kind
that was served her. She had argued that
II she encountered any particular opposi-
ton she could easily bring her eloquence
and winning ways to bear on the tart
merchant that would presume to refuse
her request. Miss Althoff had frequently
used the same methods with a number Of
her offended admirers with splendid sue
cess.
The first business man that Miss Althof
approached possessed a gracious DISPOSE
ton, and he readily affixed his John Han
cock to her typewriter document. As the
young woman enthusiastically exploited a
number Of arguments that she had fixed
up for the occasion the business man sur
prised her by accepting every one Of them
and telling her that those were exactly his
sentiments. When Miss Althoff left his
office, she was all in a flutter, and visions
Of street cars running by her doors 1oated
rapidly before her eyes.
The next man that the fair promoter en-
countered was a gray haired Teuton of o
soul disposition. Miss Althoff floated into
his office in a happy vein, and as the first
signature had come so easy she concluded
to waive all arguments, thereby saving
considerable precious time.
"Will you please sign this petition to
Mr.. Day for a street railway to Swanseap"
she said abruptly, so great was her hurry.
~ will sign nuttings!" was the quick
reply Of the descendant of the fatherland.
""Vat you mean coming around my office
like that? You had better DO at home in
your mutter's kitchen. No, l will not sign
1t. Verstehen sie?"
The color in Miss Althoff's cheek came
and went. Here was a man in exact con-
tradiotion to the one she had just left.
And the people Of Swansea were not unan-
imous for a street railroadP Perish the
ideal And this man had had the telnerity
to tell her his opinion and, furthermore,
to talk to her in a gruff manner, a tone
she had never heard before.
After the first shock from her sudden
surprise had passed away Miss Althof re-
covered her equanimity, became indignant,
and the manner in which she ''got back"
at the vinegary Teuton almost swept him
of his feet.
"You do not have to sign the petitionl"
she snapped at him, with all the deter
mination with which her aroused spirit
was possessed. I'VE can easily get along
without you. We will have street cars in
Swansea whether you want them or not,
20 therei" Then Miss Althoff turned
around and started out Of his office.
The Teuton was staggered by the young
woman's spirit. The piercing remarks that
she had so Indignantly addressed to him
struck him in a tender place, and, grab
bing the petition out Of her hand, he af-
fixed his signature thereto in almost un-
seemly haste. Then he became profuse In
his apologies. Miss Althoff accepted them
and walked out.
This experience aroused the young WON.
an, and she started out, f1guratively speak
ing, for blood. One place In particular
she had been warned against. "Do not go
In there, " said a friend, who was solicitous
for her personal welfare. "Thatman 10 a
terror. and be just won't do a thing to
you" She did not heed the warming and
strobe into the office against which she
had been warned in such a determined
manner that II would have been danger
GUS for any one to have attempted to place
obstacles IN her path. "Will you sign this
petitionP" she inquired in q firm manner
when she reached the private Office Of the
head Of the concern.
"Why, certainly, replied the latter In a
pleasant manner.
Then IL was Miss Althoff's turn to be.
come surprised.
These were only a few Of Miss Althoff's
experiences in the new project in which
she had embarked. Her pleasant manner,
backed by the cause that she was repre-.
senting, generally secured her a favorable
audience with those whom she approached,
| and 1t was but q comparatively short time
until her petition was filled with sigma
lures. When she presented 1t to President
Day later, he received her In a courteous
manner and promised her that he would