The Lamar register., 1915-06-23
PATRICIA'S INFLUENCE
copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa
per Syndicate)
BY JUNE oAHAN.

know that next Sunday is Mothers
dAyT"
Patricia indicated that she did by
q series OF affirmative mods.
ministers all over the country are
going to preach Mothers day ser
mons, and most OF them are going to
put in a word for woman suffrage"
Patricia nodded again, comprehend
ingly.
81 have seen everyone OF our min
listers but the Rev. Mr.. Hubert Stone
II happens that ! do not know him.
1t also happens that he seems not to
be greatly In favor OF this movement.
and, therefore. must be approached In
the most diplomatic manner by the
most tactful and attractive person
possible.
Patricia placed a hand over Mrs.
Chase's mouth playfully. Don't-you
smbarrass me-"
''Never mind about that, Patricia.
will you do itP VIII you go to him
personally and ask him to speak q
good word for woman suffrage in his
Mothers day talk2 Now. that isn't
din cult, is itY"
Patricia frowned. "Tn try to do the
best / can. And do know him
slightly" she admitted.
When she called to see him at the
attractive, uncovered rectory she
had misgivings as to the successful
outcome OF her errand.
Miss Way. this Is indeed q pleas
ure," her host began, as he entered.
wait and see If It is," Patricia
managed to say.
Doctor Stone raised his eyebrows
In mock surprise. "Why2 What il
itf- he asked. Going to be marriedH"
Patricia shook her head. Indeed
not. l have come to ask you to say
something nice for-for-for mothers
In your Mothers day Sermon" she be-
gan
"Ths minister laughed. And. pray,
what else would | do. Miss Wayr"
Whether he knew what she meant to
say or not she could not tell
q mean that ! want you to say .
good word for woman suffrage, the
biggest movement in the world today.
You will have such O wonderful op-
portunity to help us-you. with your
broad influence and on such an suspi-
cfous occasion" He let her continue
without interrupting her. You know
that in practice woman suffrage
makes for Righteousness: you know
that the woman workers OF your par
ish-and OF every parish-need this
instrument, the ballot. to extend their
power. Now. don't your" she asked
Il know one thing. anyway" he
said. looking at her keenly. And that
is that you are pretty well up in your
lines"
Patricia looked crestfallen for a mo
ment
oh" the rector FASTENED to assure
her. II don't mean that you seem not
in earnest / simply mean that you
speak well. more convincingly and So
riously than thought you could on
this subject"
Then you have thought about It,
too?" Patricia asked.
81 have already written my sermon.
have planned Just what to say" he
said. smiling systematically.
And"
And you Just wait and see, Miss
Patricia Way. / would not be a good
minister II / could be so easily per.
suaded as to what to put in my ser
mons. / must always have time to
think deeply over subjects l put be-
fore my congregation. Don't you see
that I am right?''
Patricia had risen and was ready
to go. IAN right That will do" She
shrugged her shoulders prettily. 1T
will have to, | fancy"
You're not displeased?" he asked
"Oh-no," she said quickly.
But she was triHe piqued to think
that he would not promise to do this
for her. That is, she was specifically
wounded. Seriously, as she thought 1t
over. she know he was right: she real
lied that she admired his attitude.
On Sunday she sat through the
choral part of the service and was
impatient for sermon hour. She lis
tened carefully to every word OF the
splendid sermon Doctor Stone
preached for the mothers OF the world.
And no stronger appeal to the men
voters of a parish ever went forth
from a pulpit than flowed forth from
the lips of Doctor Stone that day
Patricia was one OF the last mem.
beers of the congregation to greet the