The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1910-10-09

Last Sunday spoke to her about it,
and she said nothing and did nothing.
Today she wore 'em again, and now
we've got to take some action. That
bunch of flowers never cost less than
so cents.'
How do you know?" asked LueIla.
81 went into Miss Kline's millinery
store and asked to see pink geranium
flowers, and she showed me a bunch
! just like Cornelia's. and it was 80
cents"
Did Cornelia buy hers there?" ask
ed the other women eagerly.
81 asked Miss Kline, and she wouldn't
say. She's terrible close mouthed, you
know
st know" nodded Mrs. Peters sage
ly. When is the meeting to be"
Tomorrow afternoon, here. to my
house." said Mrs. Wixon, land 1 hope
you'll both come. All the other mem
bers will be here and CorneIia too"
"We'n come" said the other women,
moving along the road.
"Goodbyv' said the president Of the
Give 1t Up society as she painted up
the graveled walk.
'Is that Cornelia ahead ?" asked Mrs.
Peters, peering nearsightedly up, the
road.
Yes" replied LuelIa Barton grimly.
''She's just going in her gate
''Cornelia's terrible dressy," sighed
| 10
Rowland but | always thought she
was fond of Clothes
"Pve seen other people that's fond OF
Clothes" shifted Miss Barton. with a
furtive glance at her friend.
! Il suppose you mean me- retorted
| Mrs Peters. with an offended laugh.
81 don't care if do like to look nice.
My husband says I've looked so shah
by the last year that he's ashamed to
| be seen with me on the street.
81 suppose that's why he spends so
much time down to the postoffice," re-
| marked Luella maliciously as she
stalked into her front yard and closed
! the gate with a vicious snap.
Mrs. Peters did not reply. Her blue
| eyes grew watery, and her thin little
nose turned deep pink, but she did
not weep There were suppressed woe
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, bustling
hor ,foV TO blu tho
following afternoon: we're all here
except Cornelia Rowland herself. |
expect she'll be here presently"
There was murmur of approval
among the assembled ladies who COM
prised the members sof the Give 1t Up
society. Seated about the stuffy lit
tie room they numbered about TWEEN
ty-five 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
buzzing undertone as the harsh bell
changed through the house.
Then Mrs. Wixon. with grave impor
lance depicted 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 a straight back and trim
figure She had meek brown eyes and
soft brown hair parted over her smooth
brow. Her skin was faded. with few
lines here and there She wore 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,
w INT MIS- ~ lAOl, do It's pISS1uChls was
seated beside her in huge Boston
rocker.
They all rocked silently for a 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.
"Silencep' 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
IL. ITO consider the action Of one of
our members in breaking the tenth
rule"
There was murmur of approval
81 win give in a few words the
hist'ry of the Give 1t Up society, and
then the members can agree upon
whether Cornelia Rowland's behavior
is becoming to member.
81 guess I'd like to speak few
words frv. ,9,xcaIf esai5 (yorpoI;a De-,