Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-06

! men all more or less absorbed in causes"
| the best that American feminiuity could
produce? Was this the the way to bring
real advancement of womankind?
In that. moment l recalled the old days
| when Joe and the babies were my only in
terests In life, and felt a sudden longing to
| go back to them. Were they not worth
| the whole club movement to me? Was not
| my husbands love and the clinging affec-
| ton Of my two children, my one real
| chance for true happiness? What right
, had to be away from them? What right
had to cause my husband single moment
of unhappiness after all his goodness to
me? remembered, in flash. his unfail-
| ing kindness and generosity; his pride In
me. his sunny disposition; and my heart
went out to him.
"I'n go straight back" I muttered. ris.
| ing, "I'll pack my trunk and take the mid
night train east. And I'll confess how
wrong I've been and make 1t all up with
| joe"
Turning on the electric lights. set my
+, self eagerly to picking up my effects SO
| absorbed was IN what / was doing that
l did not hear the light tap at my door
until 1t was twice repeated. 1t was Mrs.
Parsons maid.
Mrs. Parsons would like you to come TO
her room directly was the message. She
! has news of importance"
| She who hesitates is lost hesitated, I'M
| willing to lose a moment from my prepa-
ration for the return journey had decided
| to make. Then l answered:
utes.''
| When I reached Mrs Parsons room a
! prominent leader from of the eastern
| cities was just bidding her good night.
Then that's settled she was saying In
| for vice president now, you'll be content-
ed?'
| yes" Mrs Parsons replied. cor my con-
! stituency will. Understand, please. that 1t
| is Illinois who is making demand Tor
recognition; not Mrs. Parsons"
| "Oh. to be sure" the visitor answered.
| in a noncommittal voice, and went her
/ way
| Come in here Jackie" said Mrs. Par
| sons to me. Il must have confidante or
die Tell me, have you heard anything
about the nominating ballot?'
| only that Mrs. Smith declines the cleo
ton as president"
Declines! Indeed. she declines moth
| ingr answered Mrs. Parsons. She in
tends to stand for reelection, and has all
| the time"
But" 1 protested, "she has said over
| and over again she wouldn't take 1T; has
| even told her interviewers So"
| "Oh! why will you be so innocent, little
| lamb?" retorted Mrs. Parsons. Don't you
| see that she was only testing the senti-
| ment of the crowd? Now she has but to
| yield to the universal demand that she
| accept the nomination again, which she
! will do. She told me last night on her
| solemn word of honor that she would not
| consider reelection under any circum-
| stances whatever. But tonight Mrs. Blank
| Jones, chairman of the nominating COM
|
| ond place on the ballot saying that Mrs.
| Smith has at last consented to serve an
other term Bosh!
cit was months before discovered that
Mrs. Parsons herself had secretly aspired
| to the first place)
And you are going to be vice presi-
! dent?" 1 asked.
Il am going to be a candidate for the
| vice presidency" she answered. "Accu-
racy is not one of your chief charms,
~, Of 7 rroft r1af
I said.
Not yet, child. We've some work to do
| first" She eyed me narrowly. Il depend
| on you to do good bit of judicious cleo
| pioneering in the next two days, Jackie.
| There are other candidates"
| "Me?" l gasped. "Oh, Mrs. Parsons, L
| can't! I've decided to go home tonight"
Go home? What are you thinking of?
| Indeed. you won't go home. The idea of
| running your prospects that way. Did you
see the evening paper? Well, go home
after that? No, indeed; you'll stay right
here and follow up your streak of luck"
Joe has telegraphed." confessed. He
| threatens to leave me If l don't come
back at once. Really, don't want him to
| do that"
Now, don't be a goose" she answered,
lightly. I've heard husbands talk be-
| fore; you've a future before you II you
| play your cards right. You're too bright
and too handsome woman to be a slave
to any man. Never mind Joe. He'll come
| back to you the minute you're home
| and proud enough he'll be when he
sees the honors you've won. Listen.
1 propose what the ward politicians would
| call a straight deal. Having consented to
be made a candidate for vice president. I
do not propose to be beaten. You go to
| work to get me elected on the floor, and
when I am in Office I'll have you made
state chairman and put you on a leading
committee besides. That will put you on
the same level with the state president and
open every door you want opened. Come,
| Jackie, Is 1t a bargain?
Once more the golden apple of temptation
was too much for me. L did not leave
Mrs. Parsons room until after midnight.
and then our campaign plans were well
laid.
Excitement ran high the next two days
over the coming election. Friends of the
| candidates buttonholed delegates and can
vassed for votes. Glaring headlines in the
newspapers preceded conflicting accounts
Of the prospects of various candidates, and
although certain serious minded inteliec-
tual proportion gave themselves faithfully
| to the literary program, the remainder OF
the delegates devoted themselves to get
ting their candidates elected.
Finally, the last morning of the Biennial
| arrived, and every delegate gathered in
| the big auditorium of the Grand Blank
| Theater at o'clock ready to cast her vote.
! Who shall describe that meeting? There
were roll calls and amendments and re-
| ports and previous questions to consider;
there were elections from the floor OF frivo-
| lous onlookers. and nominating speeches
| galore; there were tears shed by irate
| nominees and nominators, and there was
the inopportune application of the hand
| kerchief to the presidential nose which
| caused the moving of the previous mo-
| ton at the wrong moment, thereby los
| ing the president one of her pet measures.
But finally, at precisely 1890 the chairman
| of tellers came in with her report. The
| house, which had been a feminine bedlam
| wherein for fully five minutes ii was inn
possible to hear the presidential gavel.
| gradually fell into something like order
| and settled itself for the report.
The old president was reelected but
| Mrs Parsons name did not follow II. The
| other candidate had won.
| When Mrs. Parsons, who had been sit
ting on the platform, heard this. she rose
| with impressive dignity and withdrew by
the upper left entrance.
ITO he continued t0mOrrow