The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1915-07-02

| In the drawing room of the Spen-
GERS hung the portrait Of an exquisite
ly beautiful girl with powdered hair
and panniered skirt. She was the
famous ancestress of little Mrs. Spen-
Ger, and, when Mistress Barbara
Stuart, had saved two continental Of
flcers from being captured by her
presence of mind and ready wit. One
was her brother, the other a cousin,
whom General Washington had sent
to Burlington with message to Cen
eral Wayne.
The temptation being too great to
brook resistance, they stopped to see
Mistress Barbara, and while she was
preparing refreshments company Of
tory foragers came to the house. Mis-
tress Barbara cordially invited the
unwelcome callers within the house,
knowing that it was less risky than
to keep them without. She ushered
the tories into the dining room, then
rushed to the kitchen and gave timely
warning to her brother and cousin,
telling them to remain perfectly quiet
until she came again. Returning to
the dining room with a huge tray
heaped with delicacies, she spread
them before the tories, talking mer-
rily, her quick tongue ever ready with
a witty remark. When they we're all
busily engaged eating the tempting
Yiands she softly closed the door and
shot the bolt in place. Commanding
her kinsmen to mount and ride away,
she followed them with her eyes until
they were lost to view; then she ran
to the nearest house and sent the men
to capture the tories, which they did.
John Spencer was a stolid, adaman-
tine man, who was vice president Of a
bank, and when he married dainty
Barbara Stuart everyone speculated
as to the wisdom. of his choice, for
she was butterfly creature who
never gave second glance at the Sc
rious side Of life. One day Barbara as
tonished everyone by joining the
Sorosis club, much against the will of
John, who believed that q woman's
realm was bounded by the four walls
of her home.
| In the meantime Barbara had de.
veloped into an ardent suffragist, Of
which John knew nothing until he
read an article in the paper saying:
Tomorrow being Independence day,
the Sorosis club has arranged an in
teresting program and the mayor will
preside. Mrs. John Spencer has con-
sented to speak on equal suffrage and
the Constitution, and judging by the
able manner In which she handled the
child-labor question at the last meet
ing, there promises to be discourse
on the suffrage question worthy Of
many listeners
This was too much for John. His
wife addressing motley Fourth of
July crowd and for the cause of equal
suffrage. She was forgetting her dig
nifty, and he must call a halt on these |
unfeminine actions or no telling where |
they would lead to.
Barbara was not at home when he
called up on the phone, SO he had to
nurse his ire until evening.
What does this mean?" he de-
manded, handing her the paper.
Exactly what you have read there"
she calmly answered
Il forbid you to deliver that ad-
dress tomorrow, Barbara, so you had
better phone the mayor that you are
indisposed."
'Ill do nothing Of the sort, John. |
For long time l have been waiting |
for an opportunity to address a mixed
crowd. There are few things / think |
the men ought to know. / want to in
vite you to accompany me tomorrow;
but of course, If you disapprove, you |
must forego that pleasure" /
Johns face became the hue Of a |
boiled lobster, and he stormed and
fumed, walking the floor like Gagged |
beast while Barbara perused the paper |
totally oblivious of his presence. Fin
ally he went upstairs with a parting |
command that she remain at home the |
next day.
John was awakened by the explo- |
sion of cannon-crackers, for which the |
small boy next door spent his weekly |
allowance to properly usher in the |
glorious Fourth.
He found Barbara at the break
fast table already attired for the
street,
ad to have breakfast earlier |
" 5rning, dear" she smilingly |
ss,, for we women resolved to be
oii ~sne platform before the crowd as
sembled and to begin the program on |
the second Of the time appointed"
do you mean to say that you are
going-knowing that you are doing |
SO without my approbation?'
II am thoroughly cognizant Of that |
fact, my dear John. Do you recall |
what day this is? Our forefathers de- |
clared independence 1877 years ago,
and Barbara Stuart helped capture the
enemies Of liberty. mean to do all |
in my power to help the women rise
above the medieval tyranny Of men.
Good-by. John. SO sorry you will not
come to hear me-"
For an hour he sat alone on the |
veranda and suIked; then noticing the
entire neighborhood moving toward |
the public square, he grabbed his hat