The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-12-04
Best Laid
Plans
BY CONSTANCE scUDDER
Copyright, 1919 by tho Mcclure News.
paper syndicate)

Diana Wilson wasn't born with
so ordinary ever happened to Diana.
Every one has SILVER spoons nowadays.
Diana's had been gold, with plat
mum monogram.
II II had been good form at the
time TO incrust baby spoons with dia-
monds, Mrs. Wilson would have seen
TO It that II had them. too, In suffi-
cient number and OF the first water.
Mrs. J. Henshaw Wilson had more
money than brains; but TO do the lady
justice we must suggest the thought
that even Solomon would have been
hard put TO II. had his wisdom been
forced to stand the same comparison.
At any rate she possessed gray mat-
ter In sufficient quantity TO enable her
TO have her own way about things, as
rule. This story has to do with one
great exception. And, of course, like
everything else in our national and
private life that is out OF whack just
now, II can be traced directly TO the
late war.
Diana had been an obedient child
always. She had done just the proper
thing at the proper time and In the
manner In which she was hidden to
| do II.
In her second year "out" the society
world threw into the discard the mad
pursuit OF pleasure and turned fever
ishly TO the rolling OF bandnges. the
frying of "ham and" and personal SUI
pervlslon of the morals OF our army
and navy. Diana chose the canteen
as her medium OF serving.
Mrs. Wilson did not force Diana to
give up the canteen idea, for two rea-
sons. First, some OF "our very best
people" were going into It. Second.
she was very busy Just at that time
planning for the prelude to the great
event In her daughters life. Mrs. VIII
son had married for money. 1t had
been high step up the social ladder
for her. She meant to use the ad-
vantage she had gained to boost her
offspring yet one rung higher.
Senator Brendon was the star to
which Mrs. Wilson had hItched her
wagon, and Diana's beauty and
wealth constituted the motive power
which were to land her In the posi-
tiOn coveted for her by her mother. '
Just as Mrs. Wilson's absorption in
her plans blinded her to the risks In
allowing Diana to become interested
IN canteen work, so Diana's interest
in the work kept her from realizing
that the engagement was being
forced upon her.
Senator Brendon was a mlddle-aged
bachelor, large, stupid man who
got by on his family name and O
pompous manner. He had money
but not enough. and was gallant ad'
mlrer of the weaker SEX" For him
competent women, women who dis
played executive ability outside Their
own homes did not exist. Mrs. VII
son assured him that Diana had nc
such talents.
To Diana the honor and glory oI
being a senator's wife made strong
appeal. But II was all an indefinite
something that couldn't come
to pass until the horrible war was
over. Meanwhile there were innumer
able "ham ands" to be prepared fol
Unsuitable young American appetites
Diana, bustllng around In immaculate
apron and cap. was thoroughly happy
The senator rarely appeared In per
son; he was too busy In Washington
| III lalt Iaff
overwhelmed with fiattery and gal
lnntry.
II did occur to the prospective
: bride 10 wonder little that the won
en- with whom she was working dali!
were not more profuse In their con
gratulatlons upon the announcement
OF the engagement; but Diana pos
sessed no exaggerated idea Of her owl
importance-and OF course everybod.
was stepped through and through witt
; the one idea.
Mrs. Bardlng-S,.ott. who belonged II
, the first numeral column OF New
york's four hundred. was working
alongside Diana In the canteen on
day. She watched the girl for Will
and then spoke, in her usual abrup
way. "Child. are you at all intereste'
| In susfragef"
"Why. I never thought much abou
H." answered Diana abstractedly.
"Would you like TO come with m
. TO a meeting this afternoonf"
, An invitation from Mrs. Bardinp
: Scott was similar TO that of n queer
One did not decline. When Diana an
, nounced TO her maternal parent a
, luncheon that Mrs. BardIng- Scot
would call for her that afternoon
they were to attend meeting In con
pany-Mrs. Wilson was so oyerjoye
4 that she quite forgot to ask what tn
. meeting was about.
, But at that meeting the goose O
|