The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-06-14
PATRICIh'S INFLUENCE
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BY JUNE GAHAN. zA'


Mrs. Chase began by asking ques-
ton. Such is the beginning of many
a woman's conversation. DO you |
know that next Sunday is Mothers
day."
Patricia Indicated that she did by
a 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 word for woman suffrage
Patricia nodded again, comprehend
ingly.
81 have seen everyone of our min
listers but the Rev. Mr. Hubert Stone.
1t 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 hand over Mrs.
Chase's mouth playfully. Don't-you
embarrass me-"
Never mind about that, Patricia,
will you do it? Will you go to him
personally and ask him to speak a
good word for woman suffrage in his
Mothers day talk? Now, that isn't
difficult, is it?"
Patricia frowned. "I'l try to do the
best l can. And-I do know him
! slightly" she admitted
When she called to see him at the
attractive, vine-covered rectory she
had misgivings as to the successful
outcome of her errand.
miss Way, this is indeed a 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. why? What is
it?' he asked Going to be married ~
Patricia shook her head Indeed
not. I have come to ask you to say
something nice for-for-for mothers
in your Mothers day sermon" she be
gan.
THE minister laughed. "And. pray
what else would l do, Miss Way?'
Whether he knew what she meant &c
say or not she could not tell
Il mean that / want you to say g
good word for woman suffrage, the
biggest movement in the world today
You will have such wonderful op
portunity to help us-you, with youl
broad influence and on such an auspi
cious 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 thi
instrument. the ballot, to extend thei
. power. Now, don't your" she asked
5 Il know one thing, anyway" h
Q said, looking at her keenly. And tina
is that you are pretty well up in you
5 lines"
Patricia looked crestfallen for me
| ment
"Oh,'' the rector fastened to assur
. her, 81 don't mean that you seem no
in earnest / simply mean that yo
4 speak well, more convincingly and 81
/ riously than l thought you could o
|. this subject"
"Then you have thought about i
i too?" Patricia asked.
e 81 have already written my sermon
# / have planned just what to say b
6. said, smiling enigmatically.
e and"
"And you just wait and see, Mis-
i Patricia Way. / would not be a goo
= minister If / could be so easily pc
suaded as to what to put in my Sc
a. mons. I must always have time
N think deeply over subjects l put b
g fore my congregation. Don't you sc
If that / am right?"
In Patricia had risen and vas read
le to go. "All right. That will DO" ST
= shrugged her shoulders prettily. g
= will have to, fancy"
n You're not displeased?" he aske
at "Oh-no," she said quickly.
But she was trif1e piqued to thin
ne that he would not promise to do tn
u for her. That is, she was superficial
u, wounded. Seriously, as she thought
y over, she know he was right; she res
Ie lied that she admired his attitude.
e. On Sunday she sat through Il
Id choral part of the service and w;
1T uptltiShl III SC1lltOl1 UOuI onC II
IN tened carefully to every word of Il
u splendid sermon Doctor Stol
preached for the mothers of the worl
And no stronger appeal to the ms
voters of a parish ever went for
he from a pulpit than flowed forth fro
he the lips of Doctor Stone that day.
ny Patricia was one of the last mel
bers of the congregation to greet t
ne minister on leaving the church. 81
as said little as he took her hand, b
her eyes told him much-told him
en- much that he dared to call upon b
and begin to WOO her.
!. $50 you see what you managed
al get me entangled in," Patricia to
ast Mrs. Chase some months later.
he ''You look happily entangled, F
ia tricia, DEAR said Mrs. Chase. "AI
oh, can remember that sermon no