News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1915-06-30

In the drawing room of the Spen
GERS hung the portrait of an exquisite
ly beautiful girl with powdered hail
and panniered skirt She was the
famous ancestress of little Mrs. Spen
Ger, and, when Mistress Barbara
Stuart, had saved two continental of
fcers from being captured by hel
presence of mind and ready wit. One
was her brother, the other cousin
whom General Washington had sent
to Burlington with a message to Gen
eral Wayne.
The temptation being too great to
brook resistance, they stopped to see
Mistress Barbara, and while she was
preparing refreshments a 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 huge tray
| heaped with delicacies, she spread
them before the tories, talking mer-
rily, her quick tongue ever ready with
witty remark. When they were all
busily engaged eating the tempting
viands 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
bank, and when he married dainty
Barbara Stuart everyone speculated
as to the wisdom of his choice, for
she was a butterfly creature who
never gave second glance at the Sc
rious side of life. One day Barbara as
tonished everyone by joining the
Soresis club, much against the will of
John, who believed that 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-
sehted 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 a discourse
on the suffrage question worthy of
many listeners
This was too much for John. His
wife addressing a motley Fourth of
July crowd and for the cause of equal
suffrage! She was forgetting her dig
nifty, and he must call 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-
handing her the paper.
Exactly what you have read there"
she calmly answered.
81 forbid you to deliver that adj
dress tomorrow, Barbara, so you had
better phone the mayor that you are
indisposed"
It'll 10 nothing Of the sort. John.
For long time l hive been waiting
'or an opportunity to address a mixed
crowd. There are few things l think
he men ought to know. l want to in
ute you to accompany me tomorrow;
tut of course, if you disapprove, you
must forego that pleasure"
Johns face became the hue of a
,oiled lobster, and he stormed and
umed, walking the floor like a Gagged
,east while Barbara perused the paper
otally oblivious of his presence Fin
lily he went upstairs with a parting
ommand that she remain at home the
ext day.
John was awakened by the explo-
ion of cannon-crackers, for which the
I0dll DOy HeAI uOOT spent HIS Wethiy |
llowance to properly usher in the
lor'ous Fourth.
He found Barbara at the break
1t table already attired for the
troat.
81 had to have breakfast earlier
his morning, dear" she smilingly
aid, for we women resolved to be
D the platform before the crowd as
embed and to begin the program on
lie second of the time appointed
do you mean to say that you are
that you are doing
, without my appreciation"
Il am thoroughly cognizant of that
lct, my dear John. Do you recall
hat day this is? Our forefathers de-
AIRED independence 1877 years ago,
nd Barbara Stuart helped capture the
lemies of liberty. I mean to do all
my power to help the women rise ]
Dove the medieval tyranny of men.
ood-by, John. So sorry you will not
me to hear me-"