Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-24

women of Conrad began to show theiE
power, as they had already been conc
slant influence for years.
Dorothy suddenly assumed place.
she once would never have dared to
take. The women in all the other
churches, recognizing her ability, came
to her and insisted that she take the
presidency Of the Woman's Christian
Temperance union. that had been or
ganized short time before She did
so at first with fear and trembling,
then with a brave, joyous confidence
that amazed her and her husband, but
the Lord was leading her. !.
The time passed, and the election
day drew near. Night after night be-
fore that eventful day when the people,
of the state were to vote on the ques-,
ton of saloon or no saloon in their
commonwealth the woman's union held
street prayer meetings in front of t
saloons. Dorothy worked and prayen
inc.sssantly. Her great beauty, spirit
ualized by her suffering, had wonder
full influence Many young ranchman
went away from those prayer meetings
vowing to vote for the amendment.
The saloon men would come to the
doors of their places and eye the
groups Of kneeling mothers and wives
in sullen amazement. They had cause
to fear for their unholy traffis when
the women Of the state were thus on
their knees, calling on God and heaven
to help the cause of "home and native
land"
The afternoon Of that election day
Malcom was suddenly called out to
1.-THE Forks to see Philip Barton. He
had been steadily failing during those
two years, and Mrs. Barton sent for
Kirk in haste, and he went supposing
it might be for the last time.
1t was after dark before he came
back to Conrad. Philip Barton had
died that afternoon, unconscious at last.
Of the prayer that Malcolm had offered
by the side of his heartbroken mother.
"God of mercy" cried Malcolm as he
entered the street that night, grant
that this days work in our state has
killed the power Of this enemy that has
killed this boy and broken this moth
er's lifeY'
The election was over, but no one
could predict the result. AS Malcolm
came up the street it was crowded with
men and women. The Christian Tenn
perance union had been at work all
day. It had served free lunch to all
the voters and now was holding pray~
er meeting In front of Valmers place.
The crowd filed the wide street and
overlooked the broad sidewalks. Free.
whisky had flowed all day. The crowd
was full Of men who had been drink
ing, and they were now in a condition
to quarrel
Dorothy was kneeling in the center
Of the women. Malcom forced his way
up to the edge of the sidewalk in front
of the saloon. He had never loved his
wife as he loved her now. Her face
was glorifled by the Spirits work With
in. He was conscious Of an unusual
disturbance behind him, coming from
| the saloon. There We're shouts and
| oaths and pistol shot. But still he
continued to gaze at Dorothy, who as
calmly as If in her own room kneeled
there while the confusion in front Of
the saloon increased. And never again
in all his life will Malcolm Kirk feel
the satanic venom he felt that night in
the rum power which on that eventful
day faced the prayers and the homes
Of the women Of Kansas.
Ito be Continued.)