Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-02-18
CHAPTER IX.-(Continued.)

The familiar waiting room at the sta
ton wore a festive atmosphere that
morning, as the groups of smiling, mid
dle-aged women gathered and saluted
each other. The air fairly quivered with
expectant longing as the crowd of dele
gates greeted each other cheerily, or babe
affectionate farewells to the friends who
were seeing them off. An occasional hus-
band was there, carrying parcels and
wraps and flowers, attentive and even
lover like; but it must be confessed that
most of US We're departing in single
blessedness. / thought of Joe in his
office downtown, innocently supposing
me safe at home. if he took the trouble
to think of me at all. My conscience
assert ed itself at the last moment, and
/ was at the point of telephoning him;
but the special train was called, and there
was a consequent hustle of bag-and-
wrap gathering, and a grand rush for the
train. Even then | stood irresolute, when
Miss Morrison seized my bag and my arm
with a Jolly Come on; you'll be lett, and
that brilliant paper would not be read. y
And in two minutes | was scrambling
into the car and hunting for my seat
with the rest of the eager, smiling crowd.
1t was lovely June day and the ride
across the rolling farm lands OF Illinois
and Iowa was a delightful change from
the hurry and hustle of Chicago. To be
an ordinary traveller in the usual express
train is one thing, while to be passen-
ger in special train. where ones fellows
are agreeable. even distinguished, women
women of culture and refinement on
pleasure bent7-is quite another, as /
discovered before uightfall The visits
between occupants OF different cars, the
gatherings in the observation car attached
to the rear and monopoizcd in the ordi-
nary train by the meu. even the eau
cuses" held in the deserted smoking
compartments of orr slecpns, put am
other phase on the limitations of ordi-
nary travel.
On through great fields OF moving
grain past vineyards Of tender green,
whose waving tcndrils seemed to toss
good wishes after lis, through peach and
apple orchards and across the ragged
edges of peaceful hamlets and struggling
villages, with heeting pictures OF COM
Portable farmhouses and great barns and
herds Of sleek. handsome cattle, all
stamped with prosperity. we flew, a
laughing, chattering, care-free lot OF
women: care free because we had left
all the duties of home behind and delib-
erately made up our minds to be gay.
But before night I was called into the
drawing room which Mrs. Parsons oc-
cupied alone. and discovered that chatter
and laughter had not entirely eclipsed the
purposes of our leaders In short | made
81. as.,I ttaf ha
Bienniak without its electioneering tea
lures would be an anomaly. Before my
berth was made up that night | knew
not only who were to be candidates for
the chief Offices in the National Fedora
ton. but also for whom | was expected
to cast my vote. And it had been init
mated TO me that a delegate may not
have mind Of her own in such matters,
but is expected, if she be a nice, popular
and well-regulated delegate, to vote as
the leaders in her state should dictate.
/ learned, too, that Mrs. Parsons was
looked up to as a state leader, and that.
privately. she would not be ayerse to ac-
cepting prominent office herself; and,
quite in confidence, | was made TO under
stand that va. to,SvaFS isr that end.
Why not, SINCE it WAS through, her III
tluence shat / was represelftihgNthe great
influential Nota Bene, of which she was
the illustIious president?
Amid so much that was absorbing and
delightful, on a train that took us swift
ly through new and picturesque coun-
try, it is small wonder that | gave little
thought to my home; although occasion
ally through the day a vision of my
mothers tired, patient face OF the baby
appealing arms came to me. and | found
myself wondering what ,Joe's face would
be like when he should find that | had
delied him and gone away. But ] reso-
lutely put those thoughts away and gave
myself over to the INVESTIGATION of being
not unimportant member Of a body of
women delegates.
1t 6 O'Clock chr train stopped at a lit
tie junction in Iowa. and several of us
alighted. availing ourselves in quite mas
culine fashion of the opportunity 10 eX-
ercise in the open air. That was my
chance, and | sought out the little tele-
graph office with a sense of businesslike
efficiency. few minutes more and a
message was flying eastward:
Puddingstone, Ia.-To Joseph Her,
ming Chicago: l am off for Omaha
Back in two weeks Address Grand
Blank hotel JOHNNIE"
Then | climbed back into my car with
relieved conscience; Joe would be
furious, but he would have plenty OF
time to get over it before | arrived home
again
We reached Omaha in the morning. A
crowd Of blue ribbon badged women were
on the platform TO meet and welcome US
and in a short time we had been escorted
20 the Grand Blank and assigned to our
rooms in a breezy. off-hand fashion that
pat us. every one, at our ease.
4 great modern hotel given over to
women have YOU ever seen it? Hun
dreds of up-to-date. middle-aged women
in soft, swishing silks. everywhere; the
tradition that it Is not meet for ladies to
stand in the hotel Office, sit in window
seats or hang about news-stands and
telegraph offices set aside for the nonce
and soft rush of feminity in corridors