The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1910-09-30
the graYeled walk.

| the egraveled walk.
'Is that Cornella aheadT asked Mrs
Peters, peering nearsightedly up the
road.
"Yes," replied Luela Barton grimly
"Shes Just going in her gate"
"Cornella's terrible dressy," sighed
Mrs. Peters. II always liked Cornelia
Rowland but / always thought she
was fond OF clothes
i've seen other people that's fond OF
clothes" shifted Miss Barton, with q
furtive glance at her friend.
'I suppose you mean me-" retorted
Mrs. Peters, with an offended laugh.
81 don't care If l 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"
'I suppose that's why he spends so
much time down to the postofIice," 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 a 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
"Yes," said Mrs. WiXon, bustling
about her small parlor Hospitality the
following afternoon; we're all here
except Cornelia Rowland herself. l
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 twen-
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, a 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-
tance 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 a 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 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-
the members of the society,
while Mrs. Wixon, as its president, was
seated beside her in a huge Boston
rocker.
They all rocked silently for a few
then Mrs. WixOn got upon
Ter feet and adjusted a pair of steel
bowed spectacles upon her nose. The
were looking at Cornelia Row
ands fresh attire and whispering
lmong themselves.
"Silencew commanded Mrs. Wixon |
harply. There was a rustic of protest |
lmong the members; then they settled |
themselves expectantly.
eve are gathered here this after
loon," continued the president grave
y, Ito consider the action of one Of
ur members in breaking the tenth
ule."