Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-05-09
Mrs. Hector's
Reception
By JOHN cHARLEToN

On the way down to bennington on
the morning train Mrs. Hibberd Hec-
tor refreshed her over-taxed memory
by reference to a notebook. AS a
prominent official of the State Union
of Mothers Clubs she was booked to
address the Mothers club of Lean
ington at three o'clock and brief
talk with her secretary on the eve of
departure had left her with very
hazy 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 tail
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 is arranged that shall take
luncheon with Mrs. Armstrong-good
old name, too. l wonder if she's re-
lated to the Chesley Armstrong;?
Then l am to address the club mem
bers at three o'clock, hold reception
from four to five and take the six-ten
train home. A busy day! Now, for
the names Of the committee so that
l shall have no difficulty in remember
ing them when l am introduced; it
makes better feeling"
Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Conrad Stod-
dard, Mrs. Daniel Boucher, Mrs. Case
Wayland." she repeated over and over
again until the brakeman Jared the
door open and announced Leaning
toni"
1t was a 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 Its musty depths and with a
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 equipage to meet her train and
then it suddenly and unpleasantly 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
the bay, blue and shimmering under a
cloudless sky, and so reached 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
Impotence while the minutes passed
No one answered her summons.
As she sank exhausted into a porch
chair double-seated carriage drove
into the yard and the sole occupant
evidently 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.
We'll, she amt to home. She's
gone down to the Point with the chill
dren-the Mothers club is having 8
picnic down there"
Mrs. Hibberd Hector thought rap
idly; it was possible that the club
had changed its plan and was to en-
terrain her at the Point-that would
be very pleasant indeed on this ideal
day. With sudden return of enthu
siasm in the days project she beamed
upon the man.
II wonder If you couldn't drive me
down to the Point?" she said sweetly
Mrs. Armstrong expects me, but ]
didn't send word what train l would
take, so there was no one to receive
me l have to return to town on the
SIXTEEN train"
Yes, ma'am," he said willingly
and helped her into the vehicle.
AS they drove through shady woods
fragrant with sassafras and 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 he1
address a topic that was near hel
enthusiastic heart. Mrs. Hubbard Hec
tor had never been mother but she
knew just how children should be
trained to get the best out Of then
and to insure their getting the best
! 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 Of
preventing the country children from
focking to the cities, and she was
quite ready to tell the Mothers clut
of bennington all about it.