The Red Cloud chief., 1911-12-14

and drew into the shadow OF beach.
plum tree and stared amaxedly.
II this was a meeting Of the Moth
crs' Club--it was informal indeed!
Scattered over the sands or playing
In the water were score Of children
In bathing suits. happy looking, sun
burned healthy looking boys and girls
Farther up the beach In the shade OF
several wind.blown cedars. q dozen
women we're engaged in spreading a
picnic meal. They. too. were garbed
most Informally In bathing dresses Of
every description and they were gay
and laughing and thinking OF every
thing else except Mrs. Hibberd Hec
tor when she walked into their midst,
charmingly gowned. smiling tolerant
ly. yet with an air Of offended dignity
pervading her whole bearing. Never
before had this high oficial Of the
State Union of Mothers clubs been
so received when she honored an or
ganization with her presence
Mrs. Armstrong;" she asked sweet
ly.
From the group Of startled women
there came a tall. well-proportioned
young woman. with calm self.pos
sesscd manner and steady gray eyes
that searched Mrs. Hibberd iector's
handsome countenance with puzzled
inquiry In their depths. She wore her
bathing dress with unconscious grace
and she held out q slender. suntanned
hand to the visitor.
How do you dol" she asked courte.
ously.
Il am Mrs. Hibberd Hector" ex
planned that lady. Il rather expected
II different sort Of reception. yor
know. dear Mrs Armstrong. More for
NAL. you know!"
"Of course you would have received
II. Mrs Hector" said Mrs. Armstrong
quietly. III we had expected you to-
day. assure you We have made ev.
cry preparation for tomorrow"
Tomorrow" repeated Mrs. Hib-
herd Hector. feeling for her notebook
and adjusting her lorgnette. I'm sure
the date was for today-the twenty
eighth--dear me. I can't tell whether
this Is an eight or nine-sc provok
ing!" She peered nearsightedly al
her own hieroglyphics.
Your date was for the twenty.ninth
Il am 80 sorry you have been incon
venienced, Mrs. Hector: but II 10 not
too late for US to arrange the meeting
for this afternoon. There are some
details Of the entertainment that will
be lacking but our welcome will be
Just az cordial and we shall enjoy
your talk. Let me present the mem.
bers Of the Mothers club"
Mrs. Hibberd Hector graciously
shook hands with the members Of the
Mothers club and remembered the
names. too. They were Q hearty
healthy, handsome looking lot Of
women. too. she admitted to herself
and they looked 40 II they had al.
ready solved some Of the problems
over which she still knitted her
brows. When It was suggested thai
they all return to bennington and
hold the meeting as planned. and Al
worthy OF their honored guest, Mrs.
Hibberd Hector vetoed the idea and
offered to talk TO them there on the
beach after the luncheon was served.
II was an unusual occasion for
Mrs. Hibberd Hector and she gradu.
ally unbent TO meet these simple
hearted, well hammered women on
their own ground. She was persuad-
ed to don an extra bathing dress that
had heen brought along and she. too,
sported in the rising tide and became
Intimately acquainted with more chill
dren In an hour than she had ever
done In her life before Mrs. Hibberd
Hector submitted to being ducked un'
der the water: Mrs. Hector played
duck.on-a.rock and learned to skip
6at stones on the water.
All this happened after the tooth
some picnic meal where there were
clans and green corn roasted then
andstherc and all sorts Of good things
prepared by these women who knew
how to be mothers In so many differ
ent ways that Mrs. Hibberd Hector'i
theories were all knocked askew
After the meal mad been disposed ol
and oil OF them. mothers and chill
dren and honored guest. had dis
ported In the water. they emerged q
dripping company and seated them
selves on the beach.
Nov, Mrs. Hector" said the presi
dent. with an arm around each Of hel
two children. III you will pardon thu
extreme informality of the meeting
We would be honored to have you ad
dress US"
There was gentle hand clappinl
and they all looked at the honoret
guest. who had quite forgotten to re
move her bathing cap. From unde,
its rim there peereG small brown
curl. escaped from Its confinement
Mrs Hibberd Hector looked arount
at the audience assembled to hea
her. at their quiet, wellbehaved chill
dren. all watching her expectantly
gravely. and suddenly her subject
How 10 Hold Your Child's Love-" up
peared unavaillng before these womel
who had already discovered the secret
| All nj ouco N LITTLE tWO.yea r-old Oiv