The Washington times., 1904-04-10

towards the distant mountain tops
Her dress was ragged and almost but
tonless. a mans old hat surmOunted her
rough hair; her shoulders dropped de-
pressingly, and her mouth was open.
She was named Ann in Christian bap-
tisrn, and had achieved the prefix Rap
id" later in life, from a faculty she
possessed for taking the longest pos
sfble time in which TO perform any
given task.
Margaret started and reused thor
oughIy at a sudden thought Ann-the
very person on whom to begin her mis-
sionary labOrs, Ann was Margaret's
particular protege. They had become
acquainted through the medium Of q
charitable organization which took up
Ann as a ease" at a critical period
of her career the previous winter. This
was when the wall of the tenth baby
broke upon an unfeeling world. and ~
the sound the shiftless, incompetent
father Of the ten seized his hat and fed
from the untidy little cabin, leaving
Ann and her brood to face life alone as
best they might.
Margaret had carefully accepted more
than her share of this public burden.
Among other enthusiasms, she cher
ished one for bringing sweetness and
light into the lives of the "other peo-
pie" Ann and the last baby now spent
two days of each week in Margarets
laundry albeit the wall Of the infant
was trying, and AIMS laundry work
was Of the same discouraged order as
her views OF life generally. Gradually.
however, a semblance of comfort had
grown upon the disOrderly cabin out
on the Flats. and Margaret regarded
both the cabin and the family with the
interest we ali feel in even our doubt
full experiments.
Ann called Margaret from the win
dow, please hurry with the clothes
and then come up here. want TO talk
with you"
Thus, admonished, Ann moved, and, in
the course OF time, appeared, wiping her
wet arms on her apron, with an express
sion of deep anxiety Her face cleared
when she found she was not 20 be repri-
manded for too great generosity with
the bluing or for scorching the table
linen last ironing day. Thus there was
nothing to mar the serenity of the &C
casion save the wall OF the baby from
below, when Margaret plunged into her
subject by asking:
Ann. did you ever vote2"
"Yes'm. I did, once" answered Ann.
Some man come round an told me II
I'd vote they'd give me ton o coal
next winter. and I went an done IT,;
but then I never see no coal So see
they amt nothin' in it, an I amt got
no call to bother with mems business
anyhow"
"Oh, but, Ami exclaimed Margaret
1T isn't mems business any more than
it is ours-in Colorado And you
shouldn't sell your right of citizenship
you shouldn't vote for pay!'
An what else is there to be votin'
for?'
'Why-lt is a right-a privilege
duty " began Margaret; then.
warned by AIMS puzzled face. she
paused, considering how she should best
bring her ideas within the narrow limit
OF her hearers comprehension. After
a moment she resumed:
You know. Ann, we are all interested
in the way our city and State are man
aged and our schools are run; an.
you are-or ought 20 be-" as Ann slowly.
tainly. Ann, you ought TO be on account
Of your children. Why. 1t makes all the
difference possible in their lives how
public affairs are ordered, and so you
should do everything you can TO help
put the best people in Office. Now. just
at present every woman in the city is
interested in the coming election, be-
cause a woman is candidate for Mayor,
and Of course we all want her to win. %
do you, Mis- Raynor?" Ann asked
blankIy.
Why of coursei Because she would
manage more wisely and look out more
for the interests Of women and chill
dren."
Il should think a man 'ud do it bet
ter. cause they're useG to it," remarked
Ann. narrow mindedIy.
But that Is just the reason why they
don't-they are too used 70 it. They
have grown careless and Indifferent.
and think more Of politics thIn Of good
government; 1 mean. more of getting
paying positions for their friends than
Of managing public affairs we'll"
A light dawned in AIMS dull eyes. rs
it them that sives the jobs TO the
scrub women at the city Han?" she
asked. They pay awful well Is it the
man Mayor does that?'
"Oh, Ann, 1 don't know, indeedr'
Margaret was losing patience with this
unprOmising material Il suppose almost
anybody might do that. What does il
matter? What We want IS the best
person for the office, and IN this case
II is Mrs. Davenport. and not Mr.. Tur-
ner. Not for worlds. Ann" she went
On impressively-"not for worlds would
counsel you to vote against your con
victions; every one should do as she
thinks right and best. Mrs. Davenport
would make this a model city. but the
important thing is for you 10 take an
interest and look into all these matters
for yourself" She paused as she no.