Mountain advocate., 1919-12-05

one has silver spoons nowadays.
had been gold, with plat
bnogram.
y1f II had been good form at the
/fire to incrust baby spoons with dia.
monds, Mrs. Wilson would have seen
to Il that II had them, too, in sufii-
cent number and Of the first water.
Mrs. J. Henshaw Wilson had more
money than brains; but to do the lady
we must suggest the thought
even Solomon would have been
put to 1t, had his wisdom been
Jed to stand the same comparison.
any rate she possessed gray mat
In sufficient quantity to enable her
Ihave her own way about things, as
"a 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 obedlent child
always. She hud 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
islily to the rolling of bandages, the
frying of "ham and" and personal SUI
pervislon 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 IL. 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 Brerdon was the stat to
which Mrs. Wilson had hitchod her
wagon, and Diana's beauty and
wealth constituted the motive power
which were to land her in The posi-
ton 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 can:een work, so Diana's Interest
In the work kept her from realizing
that the engagement was being
forced upon her.
Senator Brendon was a middle-ased
bachelor, a large, stupid man who
got by on his family name and
pompous manner. He had money
but not enough. and was gallant ad-
mirer of the weaker SEX" For him,
competent women, women who dis
played executive ability outside their
own homes. did not exist. Mrs. VIII
son assured him that Diana had no
such talents.
To Diana the honor and glory of
being a senator's wife made strong
appeal. But 1t was all an indefinite
thing-something that couldn't come
to pass until the horrible war WAS
over. Meanwhile there were innumer-
able "ham ands" to be prepared for
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.
Ills infrequent visits left Diana quite
overwhelmed with fiattery and gal
.antry.
II did occur 10 the prospective
bride to wonder little that the WON
en- with whom she was working daily
we're not more profuse in their con-
gratulations upon the announcement
Of the engagement; but Diana pos
sessed no exaggerated ldea>of her own
imbortance-and Of course everybody
was stepped through and through with
the Sne idea.
iifs. Barding-Scott, who belonged in
the first mineral column of New
York's four hundred, was working
alongside Diana In the canteen one
day. She watched the girl for while
and then spoke, In her usual abrupt
way, "Child, are You at all Interested
IN suffrage7"
"Why, ] never thought much about
H." answered Diana abstractedly.
"Would you like to come with me
20 meeting this afternoOnY
An invitation from Mrs. harding
Scott was similar to that Of a queen.
One did not decline. When Diana AN
nounced TO her maternal parent at
In, ,cheon that Mrs. Bardlng-Scott
would call for her that afternoon
they were to attend meeting In com
pany-Mrs. Wilson was so overJOyed
= she quite forgot to ask what the
Ing was about
at that meeting the goose OF
Wilson's plans was cooked a