The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-08-19

thanks OF Miss Finser. who remained
at the door during the time the booth
was opened
All the men gathered together in
+ the store that evening about 8 O'Clock
to hear the result. though there was
no interest taken in any contest but
/ that Of woman suffrage.
After a short wait. the clerk Of the
1 polling booth. who was the storekeep D
er himself. began TO read the re-
| suits When he came TO the question,
Shall women be allowed to voter
every one listened intently: Yes. Il;
no. 3i"
For few moments there we're as-
tonishment and surprise at the one
/ SIDED vote. then a grin appeared on
| few Of the faces present; that grin
was contagious all right; it spread,
! and spread rapidly. winding Up in a
/ minute or two In a loud roar Of hearty
| laughter, while the storekeeper hur.
riedly fastened the door before any
of the would-be female voters should
hear the racket
Wien the Laughter had subsided a
little, some one ho.lered out. Who's
the ane?" At least 20 voices an.
swe=ed 4 ann" and then there was
another roar Of laughter.
None Of US seemed very anxious
70 find out who the one was; II we
were positive about that we would
be positive about the a.
While everyone was Joking. smok-
Ing and drinking. a sharp rap was
heard at the door; some one near un-
barred it, and, heavens above! who
should wafk In, close the door and
stand with her back to It, but Miss
Finser herself
We all shrunk as her piercing
glance seemed TO go clean through
us.
What's the result?" Her sharp
voice cleared the smoke out OF the
room. Nobody seemed anxious 70
tell. She turned to the storekeeper.
What is the result?"
One for; 81 against"
Then turning TO the company she
eyed us all over with supreme con.
tempt ] was wishing | was home.
She spoke; no one else could.
The poor women of this village
have my dear sympathy; only one
man in 1t. Those thirty-four are the
most contemplate and small creatures
| have ever heard tell OF or met"
With a disdainful look she went
out and Bill Sutton got up from be-
hind the margarine counter.
IL wish all you fellows could come
home with me tonight and share
what / am going to get" he said,
Bile voter. all right"
We all went home. and / guess all
acted somewhat similar to the way
! dit when we got there.
We'll" said my wife. did we VIM"
Maria. I'm disgusted; the men in
this village are a contemplate and
small set OF creatures; after all the
work that was done TO win, the vote
was "a TO l against -ou."
She stared at me in great surprise.
John, were you that one?"
Gathering all the dignity and look
ing as stern as | could with the aid
Of the hard cider that was in me
looked her right in the eyes, saying:
Maria. during all the time you have
known me did you ever know me to
deceive your
We'll, no. John"
Then don't ask me that question
again; it hurt my feelings, and you
should know how voted"
The next evening was the NJ. w. /.
Society's weekly meeting night, and
/, for one. would like to have had
the privilege of being present. All
the voters were curious to know
what would happen.
We were wearing the same mys-
terious smile when we met, that is
worn by third degree members Of
secret societies. My wife got ready
to go to the meeting, saying to me
rs she went out:
II don't care much about the vot.
ing part, John. but am well satisfied
that you did all you could"
After she had gone | had another
fit of laughing like the one we had
result. Before | had fairly recover.
ed, Pete Bsrrows put his head in at
the doorway saying:
II thought I'd look in. as vas
passing by and let you see the only
man in the village"
We roared He closed the door
and went
In about one hour my wife re-
turned and il needed only one glance
at her to see that something had hap
rened. Taking off her hat and coat
she threw them to one side and sat
down, all flushed and excited.
II will never have any connection
with any women's society again. +
will make my society right here. at
home"
what was the matter. Maria?" r
asked. really and truly interested.
What is the matter?" she repeat.
cd "thnv a ra a cppraitad 5.rouJ NJieo