The Holbrook news., 1910-02-18
Her Real
 MartyrdOnn
AA1AAA1A-

Unuer the naples back or the HaZ- lit house the Ladies' Aid Society was
 holding a business meeting. The group numbered a bare two dozen. Time had been when the houses at Mecca Summit could hardly hold the members.
 No one ever asked for an explana- tion of the change except the new min isters. and they did not inquire long.
 Its only the unwilling workers and givers who have dropped by the wayside." the president of the society often remarked. resignedly; but there were those-among whom was Mehit- able Winthrop-that held to another opinion.
 The subject under discussion at this business meeting was the annual Fourth of July dinner given in the church vestry. and largely attended by the summer people down at the lake.
 The president, Mrs. Cox, sat in an armchair facing the group of ladies. It was difficult to remember the time when Mrs. Cox had not been presi- dent. She was a tall, thin woman, colorless and wiry. bundle of nerves under good control. but not in perfect repair. Mrs. Cox was the most ca pablo woman in the church, at least so every one believed-including Mrs. Cox herself,
 What would we do without herr" sighed little Mrs. Boltwood, thank fully. to Miss Mehitable; but her th2nkfulness was of the same variety which she felt when her youngest child came down with the measles at exactly the right age.
 Miss Mehitable, flaming herself. ap- peared not to hear. and there was no time for the other to repeat her re- mark. The president was speaking. and when Mrs. Cox spoke every one listened. It was understood at the Summit that Mrs. Cox had no superior as chairman of meeting.
 "Who will donate chickens?" she asked.
 For an instant no one spoke. Then with an air of impatient martyrdom Mrs. Cox made note on the paper she held in her hand, and said, "I will give three" She drew her lips down at the corners and added, with a low but significant emphasis, And if it proves necessary I can give more. al- though I had hoped to sell of enough hens next month to get a new hat" Mrs. Cox glanced over the head of Mrs. Boitwood. adorned as it was with pretty fiower-trimmed gray chip.
 Mrs. Boltwood turned scarlet. "I T will give two" She raised her voice rebelliously, with a sound of tears just under the surface Its the first all-over new hat I've had in four years" she whispered to Miss Mehitable; and I can't afford to give two hens"
 Irene Hazlitt sat next to Mrs Bolt wood Mrs. Haziitt was a young ma tron wbo had lived only o.e year at the Summit, and was possessed of ex- cellent ideas. which she had been call ed upon to use in connection with the Ladies Aid. She spoke out with a fearlessness stupefying to the faith full members: Not a single chicken will I donate to a twenty-cent dinner. Sliced ham is good enough and much cheaper. I will give ham. but not chicken"
 Twenty-two ladies secretly agreed with Irene Hazlitt. The twenty-fourth, In the armchair. drew down the cor ners of her mouth and made another note on her paper.
 We always have had chickens" Mrs. Cox looked fixedly at her paper And always before they have been cheerfuIly donated"
 Irene Hazlitt. despite her common sense. felt vaguely and uncomfortably dlsgraced. She bit her lips and look ed at Miss Mehitable, but the latter was staring at the grass in deep thought Miss Mehitable had bestow- ed much thought and few words on the condition of the aid society dur ing the past year.
 The president waited an instant, en- veloped in a peculiarly chilling atmos- phere, which deepened every ones | sense of Irene's disgrace. and then added. ''I will make up the deficiency Il will give four instead of three"
 Every one save Miss Mehitable nov ed uneasily and glanced at Mrs. Cox's l head In their minds eye they saw the old hat adorning the second pew from the front the remainder of the | summer, and knew also that every | person between the Summit and Pat | chunk City would know why, for | Mrs. Cox invariably allowed her left 1 hand-and her neighbors also-to l