Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-11
Evening Story.
A PLUM PIE AND A PARSONAGE.
BY Martha McCulloch- Williams.

/ S~sss SAAAs~~S~~~s
Copyright, 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press.)
MAN has his will. but woman has
her way" Harleth quoted with
elaborate mock difference, his hand
on his heart. as he bowed himself
away from Mrs. Austell.
She sent two looks after him,
though others were crowding round
her. In her way she was q person.
age, at least when she let herself be
persuaded to give one Of her intimate
talks on life and things, In some
body's parlor. Critical folk said she
could die with happy consciousness;
that she must have advocated the
since she had q habit OF believing
claiming her belief OF the time.
Just now she was ardent for suf-
fragc. Militancy seemed to her the
finest thing in the world, fame Of
pure martyr enthusiasm which was
bound to tighten the world. Yet
that pestilent Harleth had dared to
laugh Of her eulogies Of window
breaking instead OF being converted
to them. It was intolerable. She
must somehow punish him, even II
she had to 80 to the length Of cap
tiyating him. He deserved no less
Then, too, might it not be possible
thus to win him over to the cause?
Mentally she took stock Of herself
She was still very beautiful, II bit
full-blown; she had fortune, position,
the prestige OF family And though
she had openly vowed herself to the
cause. II she could win 1t 80 eloquent
an advocate by the sacrifice OF her
liberty, it was clearly her duty to do
II Votes for women might look diff
ferently to him through the vista Of
a. wedding ring. And 1t should be q
yellow wedding. On that she decided
instantly with girl ushers and twenty
bridesmaids at least. The parson
would have to be masculine. He
must at least be bishop; and the
odious masculine injustice kept wom-
ep from that high dignity. Yet, on
the whole, she was quite reconciled
to the bishop-he would give the
NEED accent OF contrast and so en-
nance the distinction Of 1t all.
Certainly q strategist or diplomat
her by petticoats She had come to
suburb, to stay but day and night.
Yet she so managed matters that she
appeared to be constrained against
her will to stay there week. Every
day Of the week brought her some
touch with Harleth Every day, also,
I'm manner, deepened her determine
tion to snatch him brand from the
burning OF his unbelief. Too wise,
too feminine. to thrust herself upon
him too willy to bore him with her
beliefs, she showed herself simply
womanly charming, and 10 much so
.Harleth. wondered no little how she
could possibly want to be anything
more.
A seasoned celibate, he was in some
ways even wiser and wilier than she.
r. others he was q child, lamb
ready for the sacrifice. But he did
not know he was ready. It Is doubt
ful II he would ever have found out
Iii time but for the other woman.
The other woman was, on the face
Of things, an antagonist Mrs. Austell
had no need olfear, being pale, plump,
shortish, quite undtstinguished as to
feature, with swapping blue eyes, and
a temper Of her own.
fHarleth liked the temper better than
anything else about her. They were
cousins. distant ones, and he had
tryrannized over her from the day Of
pigtails. But In one way she had q
gift-she could cook as few women
can Moreover, she was proud, not
ashamed OF the gift, and delighted
To exercise It,
William Harleth dined with her
once a week, whenever he was at
home. In between he had a way Of
dropping in for f1ve-minute calls
which ended commonly IN some plum
behring's Of her pantry, or at least her
cake box Being thus cook, heaven
horn, she was essential to all the
functions in honor OF Mrs. Austell
Not in any paid capacity--she had
money enough to live as she chose.
II pleased her greatly to help out
friends and neighbours.
In return for her cakes, they could
do no less than invite her to every.
thing. More than half the time she
sfayed away, or rather went home
after seeing everything was as good
as it could be made. But to one at.
ternoon company rather early in the
game she stayed What she saw de-
termined her to do several things
She ordered in haste, from the city,
two frocks quite eclipsing anything
in Highview. Next she waved her
hair, and after that she took her
grandmother's silver and jewelry out
OF the bank, filed her house with
flowers lights and people, and gave
al final party for the advocate Of
suffrage. "a blow OUT was her own
phrase for it, she being Of the sort
that speaks straight as 1t thinks All
this meant, Of course, that she would
be very busy
Mrs. Austell was charmed at the
thought OF coming The other
woman's name was Vanmere, her
home a true colonial house. full OF
antiques. Moreover, Edith Vanmere
herself had appeared very receptive.
It would be only q less triumph for
the cause to convert her than to
take Harleth captive for life.
1T annoyed her q triie to find that
Miss vanmere laid heavy commands