The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-14
THE EVENING STORY
In the Cause Of Suffrage.
(By Jane osborn.)


When Dorothy Wait found her way
to the second floor of a certain old
brownstone house in High street, in
answer to an advertisement in the
secretary. of good family, she was too
impatient to notice the sign in gold
letters on the door,
you understand typewrfting?" the
woman at the mahogany desk asked
her. peering over the top of her gold
trimmed eyeglasses. And you could
take charge of correspondence and
simple acco UNITS ?" slns continued
yes" answered Dorothy, furtively
glancing at the dull green hangings
and tasteful and expensive furnishings
of the room, wondering the while what
sort of business could be carried on in
such unbusinssslike surroundings.
'Of course you wouldn't mind max
ing tea for the members % Miss Tinker
asked again-for indeed it was no less
than the distinguished clubwoman,
Bernadine Tinker, with whom Dorothy
was talking.
"And you could begin work tomor-
row?" went on Miss Tinker.
Yes, indeed answered the young
woman eagerly, for. she was in need of
the work.
Hmm" meditated the distin-
guished woman, land how are you on
the suffrage?''
lite1y.
ION the suffrage, woman suffrage"
said the other hastily.
"Oh,'' exclaimed Dorothy. 81 think
it is very nice. That is. I don't know
much about it, but"
Miss Tinker removed her glasses
altogether ana scrutinized the young
applicant.
1T think / could find out about it,
if you want me to- said Dorothy.
YES" said Miss Tinker with affect
ed WEAKNESS. "Of course we couldn't
employ any one but suffragist- You
had better post yourself on the sub
ject. OF course, If you understood the
subject you would be a suffragist''
Accordingly, the next day at nine
o'clock Dorothy Wait, with a very con-
fused idea OF a half dozen suffrage
pamphlets she had been instructed to
read, began her work as secretary of
the most advanced and altogether pro-
gressive suffrage club in the town.
When it came time to brew the after
noon cup of tea for Miss Tinker and
Miss Walker, and the others, Dorothy
looked in vain for knife to cut the
lemon.
''I can't cut it with a pen or a hat
pin she thought, helplessly, and
then she asked Miss Tinker for ad-
vice
''Just 60 and ask them at the Blue
Pencil club. I am sure one of the
men up there will have Il knife. Men
always carry knives"
Dorothy's eyes looked protestation.
Shall I just walk right in?" she
asked. Wont they think it strange ?''
"Strangei" echoed Miss Tinker.
paper men. They are really very
obliging."
Dorothy timidly went up to the
door of the Blue Pencil club. which
occupied the floor above the Suffrage
club.
There was young man-Robert
Bayne, it happened to be-comfort-
ably sprawling. book in hand. before
the fire in the club sitting room. He
jumped to his feet as the unexpected
guest pushed open the door.
Dorothy was aDoIogetic and en-
barrassed and ebfushed a little as she
took the knife the young man ofrered
her; and he. in turn. was also en-
barrassed and laughed at her confu-
sion, not unkindly.
"You needn't bring it back again.
he said. 'I'll come for it when 1 want
it, And after she had left, he won
women wanted the suffrage and
thought idly. too, that the sort OF
timid blue eyes he had JUS seen didn't
exactly agree with his idea of a thor
oughgOing Suffragist.
When Robert .Bayne called for his
knife the next day he looked with in
creasing wonder at the gentle blue
eyes and the delicate cure of the
"Are you really a suffragist?" he
asked bluntly.
ooh, yes, indeed" said Dorothy, re-
Numbering Miss Tinker's instructions.
understands the subject. Won't you
take some of our pamphlets?" she
asked as she handed him an assort-
ment of brilliantly printed pamphlets.
Robert carefully put the pamphlets
in his pockets. and fingered several
minutes. When he did go and had
closed the door on the alluring smile
of the little suffrage secretary he had
forgotten to take his knife with him.
OF course, Robert Bayne had to call
the next day. for his knife, and after
that he found. on his frequent visits
to the Blue Pencil club, some sort of
excuse to stop at the suffrage rooms
below. The result of it all was that
vious, though neither Dorothy nor Rob-
ert had spoken of it to the other, that
there was really a remarkable bond of
sympathy between them, and except
for the question of woman'S suffrage,
which they never discussed, Robert
was sure they were two of the most
agreeable and compan!onable people in
the world.
tc the Blue Pencil club stopped, and,
poor Dorothy without really knowing
why, found herself very weary of the
long hours she spent at the Suffrage
club rooms.
One day Robert did come back to
the Blue Pencil club and, just as he
was trying to pass by the rooms on
the second floor without going in, he
Dorothy on the stairs.
Ct suppose" he began, when he had
her into her Office, that it |
did seem rather abrupt for me to leave |
without saying, anything about" He |
looked at DorothY's gentle eyes and |
caught the CULVER that passed over the |
pretty lips You did miss me a little, |
Dorothy. didn't you. for all your suf-
frage and mass meetings and tea par
ties?"
s'Of course. I wondered" said Doro-
thy, 81 thought We were friends"
Dorothy, Pm in love with you,' he |
quickly. ''Taere's no use
allzing about it, I suppose. should |