The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-10-25

and anger in the look that followed
Luella's gaunt form into the front
door. Then Mary Peters trotted along
home.
eyes," said Mrs. Wixon. busting
about her small parlor Hospitality the
following afternoon; we're all here
except Cornelia Rowland herself.
expect she'll be here presently"
There was a murmur of approval
among the assembled ladies who com
| prised the members of the Give 1t Up
society. Seated about the stuffy lit
tie room they numbered about TWEEN
ty-f1ve in all Without exception they
were shabbily attired. Some were
even slovenly in their dress. while
many were neatly but poorly dressed;
but. representing. as they did. a pros
porous farming community. stranger
would have been surprised at the lack
Of taste or beauty in their garments.
Even the younger women wore thread
bare gowns.
Here comes Cornelia." whispered
Mrs. Peters from her seat in the front
window.
There were shifting of chairs and a
buzzing undertone as the harsh bell
changed through the house.
Then Mrs Wixon. with grave impor-
lance depleted on her round face. ush-
cred into the room the erring member
of the Give 1t Up society.
Cornelia Rowland was small and
thin. with q straight back and trim
figure. She had meek brown eyes and
soft brown hair parted over her smooth
brow. Her skin was faded. with a few
lines here and there. She wore a spot
lessly clean white muslin dress. with a
white ribbon belt. and her feet were
shod with old fashioned black prunella
CATERS. She wore no hat
She nodded seriously to the assem-
bled women and took a chair which
Mrs. Nixon indicated. AS she seated
herself she found that she was con-
fronting the members of the society,
while Mrs. Wixon. as its president. was
seated beside her in huge Boston
rocker.
They all rocked silently for q few
seconds; then Mrs. Wixon got upon
her feet and adjusted a pair of steel
bowed spectacles upon her nose. The
women were looking at Cornelia Row.
lands fresh attire and whispering
among themselves.
"Silence!" commanded Mrs. Wixon
sharply. There was rustic of protest
among the members: then they settled
themselves expectantly
I'VE are gathered here this after
noon," continued the president grave
ly. Ito consider the action of one of
our members in breaking the tenth
rule"
There was a murmur of approval.
II will give In a few words the
hist'ry Of the Give 1t Up society. and
then the members can agree upon
whether Cornelia RowIands behavior
is becoming to member
Il guess I'd like to speak a few
words for myself" said Cornelia Row
land. arising with unexpected spirit
and fixing her mild eyes upon Mrs.
Wixon's heated countenance.
Anybody got any objectionY'
wheezed Mrs. Wixon. looking appre-
hensively about the room.
There was no answer. and Mrs Wiz
on lurched into her chair, leaving the
floor to Cornelia Rowland.
The latter faced the assembled wo-
men. There was an obstinate line
about her pleasant mouth. and her soft
eyes wore a look of new determine
ton. She famed herself with a black
silk fan for few moments before she
began, and then she closed 1t with a
little click.
Il am a member of the Give 1t Up
society" she said earnestly. Il can
recite all the rules forward and back
ward. and I've lived up to all of 'em
forward and backward. | amt never
broke rule"
There was a gasp OF horror from the
women.
~ amt never broke rule" repeated
Cornelia energetically. Now, the
Give 1t Up society was formed for the
purpose Of paying for the new organ.
Nobody asked the ladies Of the church
to give up wearing any respectable
clothes and going around looking like
ragpickers' wives In order that the
First NJ. <. church should have new
organ" Cornelia fixed an accusing
eye upon Mrs. Wixon's startled coun-
tenance. THAT organ could have been
paid for If 1t was needed In the regu-
lar way by fairs and suppers and the
like. But no: somebody with the idea
of getting martyrs crown organized
this society. with the result that Up
per Village has got the reputation Of
having the shabblest looking lot Of
women In Suffolk county"
There was a shrinking of feet un-
der chairs and a concealirg of worn
sleeves.
81 want to know If the members of
the choir belong to this society?"
NO" piped Mrs. Peters, with new
ly awakened sense of injury. Catch
them fine ladies a-wearing any old
clothes for the Lords sake!"
81 don't believe In churches abby
ing organs and things they can't at
ford. When they can raise the money
for a new organ or such without
throwing the whole congregation into
the poorhouse. it's time to have it. In
the meantime the Lord will harken to
the old melodeon until the church can
afford an organ. But the Methodist
church has bought the organ. The
choir wanted 1t. and the minister want
ed 1t. and the congregation wanted It,
and now they've got 1t. and we're
working hand and foot and eyelash
a-trying to pay for it~ Cornelia's
voice took on a dramatic quality. and
the women listened eagerly.
1--WE said we'd pay for it. and we will
do what we promised. and say to all
Of you that while you're wearing these
terrible old garments you might as
well be clean and tidy about it and
But that amt explaining about the
pink geraniums in your hat" inter-
/ rupted Luella Barton sourly.
THAT'S so. If you ladies will follow
me to my house will explain about
the pink flowers replied CorneIia
amiably.
There was some protest at this sud-
den adjournment Of the meeting, but
presently they all trailed down the
road toward the small brown house
where Cornelia Rowland lived by her
self. Cornelia led the way with head
erect and white skirts billowing in the
breeze.
She led the way into the house and
through the hall To tho sunny 1ittipo