Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-03-04
The Confessions Of A
@ A a Club Woman.
sURBRIpGE
XNXxNx1xNxNxSx&x] X1XNx1SISXNyNx
CHAPTER xII.-(Continued.)
BY AGNES sURBRIpGE.


yes" Mrs. Parsons replied, cor my
constituency will. Understand, please,
that it is Illinois who is making a de,
mand for recognition; not Mrs. Parsons"
"Oh, to be sure" the visitor answered
in a non committal voice, and went her
way.
Come IN here, Jackie" said Mrs. Par
sons to me. Il must have a confdante
or die. Tell me, have you heard any
thing about the nominating ballot?"
Only that Mrs. Smith declines the
election as president"
Declined Indeed, she declines moth
ingl" answered Mrs Parsons. "She in
tends to stand for reelection, and has all
the time"
But I protested, "she has said over
and over again she wouldn't take it; 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
sentiment 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 CIRCUMSTANCES Whatever. Out TO-
night Mrs. Blank Jones, chairman of the
nominating committee, comes to ask me
to take the second place on the ballot,
saying that Mrs Smith has at last con-
scented to serve another term Bosh!"
ut was months before / discovered that
Mrs. Persons herself had secretly aspired
to the first place.
"And you are going to be vice presi-
asked
Il am going to be candidate for the
vice presidency" she answered. "Accu-
racy is not one of your chief charms,
Jackie
Tin proud of you; I congratulate
you" / said.
Not yet, child We've some work to
do first" She eyed me narrowly. Il de-
pend upon you to do good bit of judi
cous electioneering in the next two days,
Jackie There are other candidates"
"Me?" l gasped. ooh, Mrs. Parsons, 1
I can't I've decided to go home to-
night"
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 follsw up your streak of
luck"
Joe has teleraphed," 1 confessed.
He threatens to leave me if I don't come
back at once. Really, L don't want him
to do that"
Now, don't be goose" she answered
lightly. 1--WE heard husbands talk be-
fore; you've future before you if 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, / propose
what the ward politicians would call a
straight deal. Having consented to be
made candidate for vice president, | do
not propose to be beaten You 90 to
work to get me elected on the floor, and
when l am in office I'll have you made
state chairman and put you on a leading
committee beside. That will put you on
the same level with the state president
and open every door you want opened
Come, Jackie, is it bargain?"
Once more the golden apple of tempta-
ton was too much for me. | did not
leave Mrs. Parsons room until after mid
night, 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 ac-
counts of the prospects of various candi-
dates, and although a certain serious
minded intellectual proportion gave them
selves faithfully to the literary pro-
gramme, the remainder of the delegates
g4o tod II
didates elected.
Finally, the last morning of the Bien-
NAL arrived, and every delegate gathered
III the big auditorium of the Grand Blank
theater at 9 o'clock, ready to cast her
vote. Who shall describe that meeting?
There were roll-calls and amendments
and reports and previous questions to
consider; there were elections from the
floor of frivolous onlookers, and nominal
ing speeches galore; there were tears
shed by iTate nominees and nominators,
ana there was the inopportune applica-
llon OF the handkerchief to the presiden,
tlal nose which caused the moving of
the previous motion" at the wrong mo-
ment, thereby losing the president one
Oh her pet measures. But finally, at pre-
dseiy 1890, the chairman of tellers came
III with her report. The house. which had
been feminine bediam wherein for fully
hve minutes it was impossible to hear
the presidential gavel, gradually fell into
something like order and settled itself
Tor the report
The old president was reelected but
Mrs Parsons name. did not follow it,
ne other candidate had won.
Nhen Mrs. Parsons, who had been sit
ing on the platform, heard this, she rose
win Impressive dignity and withdrew by
1he upper left entrance.
CHAPTER XIII.