The Red Cloud chief., 1911-12-14
Mrs. Hector's Reception
BY JOHN CHARLTON

On the way down TO bennington on
the morning train Mrs. Hibberd Hec.
tor refreshed her over.taxed memory
by reference to q notebook. A
prominent Official Of the State Union
Of Mothers' Clubs she was booked to
address the Mothers club Of Lean
lngton at three O'Clock and q brief
talk with her secretary on the eve OF
departure had left her with a very
haxy idea Of the days programme.
The notebook bore pencil marks
that primarily must have held some
coherent meaning to the scribbler--
Mrs. Hibberd Hector. herself--but
now that excellent lady could not
make head or tail Of the frantic
scrawls. Occasionally she jerked out
head merely to discover that It bore
NO relation to any other head or tall
on the page and finally In despair she
turned the book upside down and
found that her hieroglyphics really
had some meaning after all.
"Fahncy!" she beamed through her
lorgnette at the page. Nov. let me
sect 10 arranged that shall take
luncheon with Mrs. Armstrong-good
old name. too. wonder II shes re.
lated to the Chesley Armstrong;
Then am to address the club men,
bers at three o'clock. hold a reception
from four to Ave and take the stx'ten
train home. A busy day! Now. for
the names Of the committee 80 that
shall have no difficulty in remember
ing them when ! am introduced; II
makes better feeling"
Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Conrad 0tod'
dard. Mrs. Daniel Boucher. Mrs. Case
Wayland." she repeated over and over
again until the brakeman Jared the
door open and announced Leaning
toni"
II was q sleepy. sunshiny June day
and down the crooked length OF
bennington street the merchants sat
before their shops and talked about
the weather and the fishing and the
tides. The summer -boarder season
had not yet opened and business was
dull There was one stuffy looking
stage at the railroad station and Mrs
Hibberd Hector had glanced once
within it's musty depths and with .
shrug Of her shoulders decided to
walk down the long hill into the VII
lage.
Her dignity was offended that the
Mothers club had not sent some sort
Of an equlpage to meet her train and
then It suddenly and unplea sanity oc.
Cured to her that she had neglected
to send word naming her train. She
picked up the skirt Of her summer
silk. opened her parasol and after In.
Quiring the way she walked down to
cloudless sky. and so reached a large.
white house set in the midst Of green
lawns, very cool and pleasant and
comfortable looking. She rang the
bell and then waited with growing
impatience while the minutes passed.
No one answered her summons.
As she sank exhausted into a porch
chair a double-seated carriage drove
into the yard and the sole occupant.
evidently q farm hand. looked curl.
ously at her. He drew up before the
door. "You looking for Mrs. Arm.
strong?" he asked
"Yes." replied Mrs. Hibberd Hec.
tor shortly.
well. she amt to home. She's
! gone down to the Point with the chill.
dren--the Mothers club 10 having .
picnic down there"
Mrs Hibberd Hector thought rap.
idly; It was possible that the club
had changed its plan and was to en-.
tertain her at the Point-that would
be very pleasant indeed on this ideal
day. With O sudden return OF enthu.
siasm in the days project she beamed
upon the man.
II wonder II you couldn't drive me
down to the Pointi" she said sweetly.
Mrs. Armstrong expects me. but
didn't send word what train ] would
take, 90 there was no one to receive
me have to return to town on the
six.ten train"
"Yes, ma'am." he said willingly
and helped her into the vehicle.
As they drove through shady woods
fragrant with sassafTas and a hun
dred other elusive odors. Mrs Hibberd
Hector settled back In her seat and
once more referred TO her notebook
She had chosen for the subject Of hel
address. topic that was near her
enthusiastic heart Mrs. Hibbard Hec
tor had never been mother but she
knew Just how children should be
trained 10 get the best out of them
and to insure their getting the bes,
out Of life. "How to hold your child's
love-" was to be her subject and Mrs
Hector had carefully and conscien
tiously studied over the matter oi
preventing thescountry children from
nocking TO the cities. and she was
quite ready to tell the Mothers clut
Of bennington all about It,
l Suddenly the road emerged from
the wood and dipped down into hol
low between the bluffs where there
was a white sandy beach and the bay