The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-10-14

pink uOWeTS IOT 0pT bonnet ana mas
wore 'em TO church two sundays.
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 thai
50 centsr'
How do you know" asked Luella.
81 went into Miss IIline's millinery
store and asked TO see pink geranun
flowers. and she showed me a bunch
just like Corneia's, and it was 30
cents"
"Did Cornclia buy hers there7" ask
ed the other women eagerly.
II asked Miss Kline, and she wouldn't
say. She's terrible close mouthed, you
know." .. ...... "r. n
II know" nodded Mrs. Peters sage.
ly. "When is the meeting TO beT
Tomorrow afternoon, here, to my
house." said Mrs. Wixon. "and l hope
you'll both come All the other mem
bers will be here and Cornelia too"
wen come" said the other women.
moving along the road. f.H. ..I...
"Goodbyr said the president of the
Give 1t Up society as she painted up
the graveled walk. H.EL
ais that COrnelia ahead p asked Mrs.
Peters, peering nearsightedly up the
road. a.-.. .. -.-r.T
YES" replied Luella Barton grimly.
"She's just going in her gate."r5 .r.U
''Cornelias terrible dressy,' sighed
Mrs. Peters. III always liked CoTnelia
Rowland, but l always thought she
was fond of clothes .r.r aEt no u.1
live seen other people that's fond Of
clothes" shifted Miss Barton. with, a
furtive glance at her friend.
81 suppose you mean me-" retorted
Mrs. Peters, with an offended laugh.
az 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 postotiiee," re
marked Luella maliciouslyj as she
stalked into her front yard and closed
the gate with vicious snap. iia
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. .''' .'H
"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 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-fve 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, 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 a 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 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 We're
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
/ Stdlcu DeSIue ueI III HuBe bOSlOll
rocker.
They all rocked silently for a few
| seconds then Mrs. Wixon got upon
her feet and adjusted 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 a rustic of protest
among the members; then they settled
themselves expectantly.
1--WE are gathered here this after
noon," continued the president grave
ly, "to consider the action of one OF
our members in breaking the tenth
rule"
There was a murmur Of approval.
II will give in 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 a member"