Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-01-28

Nhe emitted 10 II by long service In the
club"
Mrs. Parsons las served il ten years. .
/ began, As though from long and full
knowledge
And Mrs Beckett twelve" she retort-
ed. passing on to SOW her good seed else
where, For few minutes confusion
reghed; women whispered aud scratched
ballots and went out and in at the door.
he two candidates aried 10 look uncon-
cerned. but were pale and distraught
while their faithful bench women passed
Up and down the aisles, advising the COM
Tetent and urging the weak voters At
last the gavel fell again.
Have all voted who desire tog" began
The president. If so, the telers may &c
tire
Amid profound silence the taree tellers
went into an antc-room and, emptying
their boxes On a table. proceeded to
count. Fifteen minutes later they re
entered and their faces were eagerly
scanned by every woman for some tell
tale expression. The result was made
known as follows:
Whole number of votes east 203
Necessary to choice ........l02
Mrs. Beckett .......95
Mrs. Parsons. .......S0
Scattering. 60. .-..2S
"lhere being no ma iority for any one
candidate. tho house viii proceed to an
Other ballot" said the president
The Beckett forces were elated. Only
seven more votes and their candidate
would be elected.
Madam President" shouted woman
in the back of the room. Il nominate for
president of this club, Jane Morton
Smith"
The president bit her lip. Mrs Morton
Smith was her bitter enemy.
DO | understand that Mrs Morton
Smith will allow her name to be used 2"
She inquired Jelly.
Certainly" answered the woman who
had nominated her.
During the balloting Il deputation from
the Beckett workers swa1ned around
Mrs. Morton Smith, pleading that she
Withdraw her name. But she was not 50
easily disposed Of. Already represen-
tatiye of the Parsons forces had con
WINGED her that she held the key of the
situation, and at their earnest request she
decided to remain in the contest for one
more ballot,
For the first time a trenor Of nisoiv.
ing ran through the Beckett forces
While the tellers were counting the votes
for the second ballot they exchanged
anxious whispers, and as the chief teller
rose to announce the result one Of The
more emotional members OF the faction
giggled Historically, Meanwhile, the
Parsons forces waited for the report from
= EagA- go I.,I F..A - - Il
Whole number of votes cast POI
Necessary 10 a choice. ..........l 0l
Mrs. Beckett 81
Mrs. Parsons. .......S7
Mrs. Morton Smith 20
And again there was no choice.
At this point the seesaw of politics
tipped to a new angle, and the dark
horse" candidate rose slowly from her
chair. a ripple of excitement ran
through the assembly, as in Il voice
tremulous with feeling she extended her
thanks to her friends for the high honor
they had conferred upon her. Then. after
that the honor was unsought.
Mrs. Morton Smith concluded:
Fellow members, / withdraw my name
and ask all my friends to vote for Mrs.
Parsons:
There was a tremendous outburst of
enthusiasm at the end Of these remarks,
Mrs. Parsons smilingly acknowledged the
congratulations of score of friends.
The Beckett faction sat silent and pale.
but with logged determination in their
faces. Then the Parsons forces literally
fell upon each others necks. while the
Beckett party crowded together in the
feverish desperation of those who see
the destruction of their last hope.
The third ballot was called for and
again the Beckett icutenants went forth
valiantly to gather in the scattering
votes. But enthusiasm was on the Yyane.
1t was getting toward 5 o'clock. and the
club members wanted to 90 home The
tellers withdrew in silence and soon re-
ported:
Whole number of votes cast 100
Necessary to a choice .......... 100
Mrs. Beckett. 90
Mrs. Parsons ..... lO3
Mrs. Parsons is declared elected" said
the president, and she could not suppress
a note of triumph. for everybody knew
She had been bitterly opposed to Mrs.
Beckett.
A loud clapping Of hands resounded
through the room and the Parsons forces
waved their handkercbiefs. while the sue
cessful candidate rose aud bowed snil-
incly right and left. But Mrs Beckett
was nowhere to be seen.
Five minutes later when I was speed
ing down the long corridor in sudden re-
membrance of my babies and my chaotic
house, ! saw a group of sympathetic
ladies flaming and administering con
ISOLATION to the sobbing defeated candi-
date
Its a shame." muttered one as | hur-
ried by: and all because shes got more
money"
Yes, and Mrs. Beckett had bought
such lovely new gown On pu5po-, for
the installation"
CHAPTER VI
When woman is once thoroughly in
oculated with the baci]I Of the club fever
there is no helm for her until the sttacl,