Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-09-28
II asked Miss Kline. and she woulttn't
". She's terrible close mouthed, you

=
II know" nodded Mrs. Peters sage
~. when Is the meeting to be?'
''Tomorrow afternoon. here, to my
house," said Mrs. Wixon. land | hope
you'll both come, All the other men,
bers will be here and Cornelia too"
We'll come" said the other women.
moving along the road.
"Goodby"' said the president Of the
Give 1t Up society as she painted up
the graveled walk.
us that Cornelia ahead?" asked Mrs.
Peters. peering nearsightedly up the
Soad.
YES" replied Luella Barton grimly.
''She's just going in her gate"
"Cornelia's terrible dressy,' sighed
Mrs. Peters. II always liked Cornelia
Rowland. but always thought she
was fond of Clothes
1--WE 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
II 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"
II suppose that's why he spends so
much time down to the postofice." re-
marked Luella maliciously as she
stalked into her front yard aud closed
the gate with 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. !
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 TWEEN
ty.five in all. Without exception they
! were Shabbily attired. Some were
even SIovenly in their dress. while
| many were neatly but poorly dressed:
but. representing. as they did. pros.
perous farming community. d 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
window.
There were a shifting of chairs and a
buzZins 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 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 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 it's president. was
seated beside her in a huge Boston
| rocker.
They all rocked silently for q 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 rustic of protest
| among the members: then they settled
themselves expectantly.
! I'VE are gathered here this after
noon. continued the president grave
~. ITO consider the action of one Of
our members in breaking the tenth
rule"
There was 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"
! u guess Id 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 obiection?'
wheezed Mrs. Wixon. looking appre
! hensively about the room
There was no answer. and Mrs Wix.
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 look Of new determina-
ton. She famed herself with black
silk fan for few moments before she
began, and then she closed it with a
! little click.
Il am a member of the Give 1t Up
society,"" she said earnestly. II 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.
Il amt never broke rule" repeated
Cornelia energeticaIly. Now. the
Give 1t Up society was formed for the
nl1rnnSo of ~ VIM for th4, ra,., a.<...>