The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-05
The Eue,,i,,e Story
Young Mr.. Gay.

especially TO MS 1elOW clerks IN Tue
village bank. young Mr.. Cay they
called him, and as he was the least
young and the least gay of them all
there was hardly a day on which
some sort OF fun was not made Of
him.
But Mr.. Gay was not illnatured; on
the contrary. he was patient and never
became angry with the constant jests.
And yet he often wondered why he
happened to have been born a Gay. The
Young Mr.. Gay was easily explained,
because his father before him had been
in the bank, and after he had passed.
away the name of the Junior member
of the family had become SO well estab-
lished with the young prefixed that
the man himself firmly believed that II
he lived to be four score and ten he
would still be known as Young MIR.
Gay.
At less than half that age. Young Mr..
Gay had occasion to take active in
terest in a village political question,
and when election day came and he
felt his pet appropriation almost a
sure success he was standing about the
polling booths with other villagers and
the usual election day crowds.
Young Mr.. Gay almost deserved his
name today. boys?" laughed q fellow
bank clerk.
Does him good to get out and hus-
tie for the good of his village said
another.
A third man stepped into the group
| and put a hand on Robert Gays
shoulder. With the other hand he
pointed across the street to q small
| window in which hung a yellow ban
ner. IT Young Mr.. Gay feels SO good.
| maybe he has the nerve to go across
| the street. there, and tell those fair
ladies' that it is unlawful for them to
have their club open today. They are
within 100 feet Of the polls"
What Of it" asked Mr.. Gay. "Ia
it a political organization
Woman Suffrage club-see the
banner-Thirteenth assembly district!
Read it!''
Mr.. Gay did read the words. Him.
self. he had never been interested In
whether or not women had the right
+, to vote. He had no women folks of
! his own and the few friends he had
were not interested in the question.
who wants the club closed ?" he
asked, looking about.
"All of us, but-well, it's a rather
delicate thing to have to do. And
Iyet women can vote on these particular
questions today-questtOns Of appro-
priations. school matters. etc, and
there is no reason why those women
cannot be- electfoneering inside those
rooms. DO you seer" The man was
I growing a little excited. 1t
| why don't you go-ybn seem TO
have the courage Of your Convictions ~
asked Mr. Gay. seriously
! "Oh-you'd do It so much better
and you don't know any OF the mein-
bera.' re
do go. Cay" urged another.
! And finally. without the least idea
| that he was doing what was right, but
because he was coerced into going.
| Young Mr.. Gay crossed the street and
entered the little clubroom.
A charmingly appointed room lay
before him. He could hear voices be
hind a large screen at the far end
Presently well-dressed, handsome
woman stepped out.
who IL in charge here ~ asked Mr.
EGay.
The woman seemed to hesitate foI
! an instant. Then she smiled delight
fully and said, IT believe am-since
I'm the president OF the club"
'well-ah-that is, believe you
are violating the law by having these
rooms open today within 100 feet OF
the polls Mr.. Gay managed to STAN
mer.
4 The smile faded from the face OF
the woman and the conversation be-
hind the screen ceased. 1t was ar
awkward moment for Robert Gay.
I'm sure we didn't know it, the
woman began earnestly and without a
/ particle OF anger. "If that is the
case-why. Of course. we'll close. II
- she looked around her at the
dainty tea tables. at the percolators
steaming and emitting the fragrant
whiffs of brewing coffee-"it is toe
bad we didn't know it before we made
preparations. You see, we are oper
every day as a tea room. and we pre-
Ipared extra things today because we
thought q number of the men whit
were in the village to vote might wan
a cup Of coffee and some of our home
l 10 An{r 11~~A
of course. II we're trying to get {
voice In the making of laws W,
mustn't begin by breaking them
must we?'' She smiled again ant
Young Mr.. Gay smiled in return.
"Perhaps-that Is, If you will jus
remove your banner from the window
can induce the men across the stree
who have made the protest to with
draw 1t. I'm very sorry. L"
"Oh," said the woman graciously
that would be SO nice-but don't ge
yourself into trouble over it,
Robert Gay assured her that h,
would not. and as he bowed himsel
out he had feeling Of regret at leav
ing.
u When he returned to the littl,
group Of men, a lawyer had JOINED
! them and he had been explaining
; during the absence OF Mr.. Gay, tina
no law could close those clubrooms
that it was not yet recognized by tn,
, state as a political organization.
4 IT really should apologize" Rober
'lGay said when he had heard the de
cision.
/ "Oh. never mind. Gay. It won
hurt them" his fellow clerk said.
ii But on the following afternoon a
1880 Robert Gay entered the littl
tearoom and was disappointed not t,
4 flnd the president of the club there
: The little maid said that she expected
|. Miss Tracy at any moment and Of
: fered Mr.. Gay q cup OF tea
y Mr.. Gay did not like tea. but he or
, dered small pot OF it, together will
some muflns-and he never wa