The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Morning Glory Club, by George A. Kyle This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: The Morning Glory Club Author: George A. Kyle Illustrator: Arthur O. Scott Release Date: September 30, 2012 [EBook #40899] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MORNING GLORY CLUB *** Produced by Emmy, Hathi Trust (for the Frontispiece, title and final page) and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) Cover-title page Barbara Wallace From a painting by A. O. Scott border top The Morning Glory Club By George A. Kyle With a frontispiece in colours By Arthur O. Scott Emblem Boston L.C. Page and Company MDCCCCVII border bottom Copyright, 1907 By L. C. Page & Company (INCORPORATED) All rights reserved Entered at Stationers' Hall, London First impression, February, 1907 COLONIAL PRESS Electrotyped and Printed by C. H. Simonds & Co. Boston, U. S. A. Contents CHAPTER PAGE I. The Wheels Begin to Move 1 II. A Man and a Woman 33 III. A Male Gossip 43 IV. The "Glories" Meet Again 50 V. The Stouts at Home 60 VI. Barbara and Will 70 VII. Classics and Women 75 VIII. A Woman's Way 87 IX. Men Talk Too 92 X. A Rehearsal 103 XI. The Narrow Way 116 XII. Girl Talk 124 XIII. Jingle Bells 129 XIV. More Talk 134 XV. Two Letters 144 XVI. Advertising 148 XVII. More Advertising 157 XVIII. The "Big Show" 164 XIX. The Day After 171 XX. A Sermon 186 XXI. An Angel of Mercy 201 XXII. Many Minds Change 212 XXIII. Coals of Fire 224 XXIV. A Wedding and a Sermon 235 XXV. Good Cheer—Good Will 244 The Morning Glory Club Chapter I The Wheels Begin to Move "Ezra, this is a morning long to be remembered," said Mrs. Tweedie, as she looked up from the undulating top of a huge cake which, with the skill of a professional plasterer, she was bedaubing with a dark brown paste. "I hope so, my dear," her husband replied, smilingly, as he put his paper aside. "Sometime this house may bear a tablet of bronze," continued Mrs. Tweedie, "on which, in effect, will be graven that here was founded by the women of Manville an organization that startled the community." "My only regret is that I shall not be here to see it—I mean the tablet, of course," said Ezra. "We shall prove," Mrs. Tweedie went on with her eyes fixed dreamily on a distant corner of the kitchen, "we shall prove that the accusation which you made in anger one week ago to-night, that 'women are the cause of all of the trouble in the world,' is false! False as the affection of men!" Ezra's smile faded to a look that suggested a complication of homesickness and mal de mer. The incident to which Mrs. Tweedie referred was not their first quarrel. The first had taken place years before, and ever since Ezra had been different. "My dear," he replied, weakly, attempting not to let his feelings show in his voice, "you always accomplish whatever you attempt." "And why, Ezra, why do I succeed?" (Mrs. Tweedie was given to boasting when alone with her little, ladylike husband.) "Because," she continued, replying to her own question, "I possess and use that rare virtue called tact." "True, my dear, very true," Ezra acknowledged, meekly. "I have known always that you had enough for two." He might have added truthfully that, had it not been for her remarkable tact, and the fact that one of her relatives had indiscreetly died intestate during their courtship, he would not have married her. The income which "dear cousin John's" carelessness and the statutes gave them was small; only Mrs. Tweedie's tact made it possible for her family of four to exist in the sham style which they affected. Despite her tact, their credit was constantly stretched and perilously near to the C.O.D. point; in fact, the feelings of all the tradesmen of Manville were correctly described when the milkman vowed that the Tweedies would be supplied from the bottom of the can until they [1] [2] [3] had settled for the top. Considered from every point of view the Tweedies were strange people. The idea of a club for women was not new to the world, but to the New England town of Manville it was as new as the newest baby. The germ had taken up its abode in Mrs. Tweedie's head a week before, and since its arrival had buzzed so furiously that she was conscious of nothing else. Two hours after her conversation with Ezra, Mrs. Tweedie was ready to meet the ladies whom she had invited to take part in the materialization of her idea. When the door-bell rang announcing the first arrival, she hastened to the parlour and assumed a becoming attitude, while Ezra, who impersonated Dora, their maid, when she was otherwise occupied, went to the door. "Mrs. Flint, my dear," Ezra announced a moment later, as he bowed the lady named into the parlour, and then vanished. Mrs. Tweedie was very fond of Mrs. Flint, her beloved pastor's wife, and greeted her with as much cordiality as it was possible for her to display. The chief reason for her fondness was the fact that Mrs. Flint belonged to one of the oldest families in the State. Her blood was as blue as the bluest blue, and her ancestry could be traced back into a delightful abyss of years. Mrs. Tweedie had a profound respect for such things—she had ancestors herself. "Tell me," said Mrs. Flint, after they had chatted about little nothings for five minutes, "how have you succeeded? Was your club idea well received?" "Oh, yes, indeed," replied Mrs. Tweedie. "And did many promise to come?" "Every one on whom I called was delighted, and promised to be here this morning," said Mrs. Tweedie, proudly. "Very encouraging, I'm sure," murmured Mrs. Flint, as she glanced about the room and noticed that there was dust on the family Bible. Mrs. Tweedie knew it was there. She also knew that Mrs. Flint knew, and was annoyed. "I have heard that your son William has returned," observed Mrs. Tweedie, hoping to divert Mrs. Flint's mind from the dusty Bible to a subject that could not be wholly agreeable to the minister's wife, if the rumours which had reached Mrs. Tweedie were founded on fact. "Yes, college life is so trying for a young man at William's critical age. He seems to have broken down completely," sadly replied the fond mamma of one hundred and eighty pounds of beef, bone, and deviltry. "Indeed! I am very sorry to hear of his condition, but rejoiced to know that I have been incorrectly informed concerning his reason for leaving college," said Mrs. Tweedie. "You must be very happy with him at home again after such a long absence." "Yes," replied Mrs. Flint, telling one of those weak little lies that we all indulge in when it seems to be really necessary. Mrs. Tweedie's feminine instinct told her the truth, and she generously dropped William for something more closely related to the club idea. "Oh, I have invited Mrs. Stout to join. What do you think of her?" she asked, suddenly. "She does not attend our church—of course that would make no difference, but—" The minister's wife hesitated, and raised her eyes significantly. "Her grammar is shocking—she speaks so plainly," said Mrs. Tweedie, her nose in air. "And her manners and dress are—" "Extraordinary," prompted Mrs. Flint. "The very word." "She has, probably, admirable qualities, but—" "No doubt, except—there's the bell!" And then Mrs. Tweedie added in a whisper, "I would not have this repeated for worlds." Just then Mrs. Stout entered the room unannounced. "My dear Mrs. Stout, good morning," said Mrs. Tweedie. "We were just this moment speaking of you." "Was you now?" smilingly responded Mrs. Stout, as she sat down in the largest chair in the room and began fanning herself with a photograph that she took from a table. "How d'y do, Mis' Flint. I ain't set eyes on you since our Fast Day union meetin'. How's the parson? I heard he was feelin' kinder streaked." "Quite well, thank you," replied Mrs. Flint, rather coldly. Mrs. Stout was the wife of Peter Stout, grocer, and the mother of three boys. Though her grammar, manners, and dress did not reach to Mrs. Tweedie's lofty ideals, she had many friends in Manville among those who did not pretend [4] [5] [6] [7] to be more than they were. Her family—of course she had a father and mother, but her grandfathers and grandmothers —no one had ever taken the pains to draw the likeness of a tree and write on its naked branches the names of her ancestors. Despite the lack of grandfathers and grandmothers, she had a large measure of common sense, and a big heart. "We don't seem to be crowded here," remarked Mrs. Stout, after a moment's pause. "Anybody else comin'?" "We hope so, but it is early yet, you know, only half-past ten," explained Mrs. Tweedie. "Early? Good land!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout. "I've been up these five hours and done all my work. Oh, there was somethin' I wanted to ask perticler. Is Lizzie Sawyer goin' to join?" "Yes," replied Mrs. Tweedie, and wondered what was coming next. "Well," said Mrs. Stout, confidentially, "the reason I wanted to know was that she and I don't get along very well together, but there, I guess we can manage somehow to keep from clashin'." Mrs. Tweedie saw rough weather ahead, and proceeded to pour oil upon the waters before the storm broke. "Miss Sawyer was one of the first asked to join," she replied. "She is an exceptionally well-educated woman, and has signified her willingness to read several papers on vital topics before the club when we are ready for such work." "Papers? Newspapers?" Mrs. Stout asked, with a puzzled look. "No, indeed! Papers—essays on—on—" Mrs. Tweedie tried to reduce her language to Mrs. Stout's mental level in vain. "Oh, how stoopid I am!" Mrs. Stout interrupted, thereby unconsciously rescuing Mrs. Tweedie from her difficulty, "I understand now. I s'pose she'll try to tell us a lot about religion, and—" "Pardon me," said Mrs. Tweedie, quickly, "I think not. Would it be wise to discuss religion at our meetings? I am sure that the other sex never tolerate it in their organizations." "I s'pose you mean the men?" queried Mrs. Stout. "I do." "Well, that's true enough, I guess, but it ain't because they don't think it's wise. It's because men don't naturally hanker after religion. There's my husband, a good 'nough man, but I can't get him to go to meetin' to save me, though he will go fishin' spite of all I can say or do." "Really!" gasped Mrs. Flint. "Does he really fish on the Sabbath?" "He certainly does," replied Mrs. Stout, "jest as reg'lar as he eats his vi't'ls." Mrs. Tweedie and Mrs. Flint were horribly shocked, and to their cultured minds perhaps "vi't'ls" was quite as shocking as Sabbath fishing. "And what else are we goin' to do besides havin' papers read?" continued Mrs. Stout. "We hope," replied Mrs. Tweedie, "to spend our time in the study and discussion of subjects which will be uplifting, that will make ourselves, and aid us in helping others, to be stronger, morally and intellectually." "You don't mean it!" said Mrs. Stout, with mock gravity. "And when we ain't doin' that I s'pose we'll be talkin' about other folks and their businesses." "I trust not," replied Mrs. Tweedie, much distressed. "Of course, some people are improperly interested in the affairs of others, but we hope that those so inclined will not become members of our club." "Well, I hope so, too," said Mrs. Stout, with a suspicious twinkle in her eyes. "But it's hard, dreadful hard, Mis' Tweedie, to get a crowd of women folks together without some one sayin' somethin' about somebody that they wouldn't have said if she was there." Mrs. Tweedie was as near to tears of mortification as a woman of her kind ever gets. She had never realized before how brutally truthful Mrs. Stout could be. "Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout, abruptly changing the subject, "is Miss Wallace, the schoolteacher that boards with you, goin' to belong?" "Yes," replied Mrs. Tweedie. "She is heartily in sympathy with us, but will not be able to attend many meetings because of her work." "I'm real glad that she's goin' to join, I like her," said Mrs. Stout, simply, and she meant it. Miss Wallace was likable, but not many in Manville had discovered her good qualities. "There's somebody else!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout, as she heard the bell which rang at that moment, and then added, quickly, "Excuse me, of course you don't go to the door [8] [9] [10] when you have a girl." A soft voice was heard asking for Mrs. Tweedie, and then the masculine tones of Dora inviting some one to come in. "Oh, is it you, Miss Sawyer?" said Mrs. Tweedie, all smiles, when the newcomer appeared in the doorway. "We are so glad that you could come. Of course, you know Mrs. Stout, and—" Miss Sawyer bowed stiffly. "Glad to see you," said Mrs. Stout, telling the lie that has been told oftener than any other. Miss Elizabeth Sawyer was a lady of—her age does not matter. She was tall and very slight, her hair was gray, and her eyes were the bulging, staring kind that always seemed about to jump from their sockets, caused in some degree, perhaps, by the black-rimmed eye-glasses secured by a heavy cord which she constantly wore. She had the reputation of being very intellectual. The very person, Mrs. Tweedie thought, to shine in a woman's club. When Miss Sawyer spied Mrs. Flint she rushed into her arms. She considered Mrs. Flint as near her equal mentally as it was possible for any woman in Manville to be. They sat down together, and cooed for several minutes in the most impolite manner possible, so Mrs. Tweedie thought, probably because she could not hear a word that they said. Mrs. Stout moved uneasily, and Mrs. Tweedie coughed several times, but with no effect. "Ain't it most time we was doin' somethin' about this club we came here to get up?" Mrs. Stout asked, impatiently, when she could contain herself no longer. "Yes," replied Mrs. Tweedie, "when the others are ready; and I was waiting—I had hoped that my daughter Fanny, she is to be one of us, you know, would be here by this time. I can't imagine—" Mrs. Tweedie was interrupted by the entrance of her son Thomas, the bad angel of the Tweedie household. "Ma," he blubbered, "Dora won't give me a piece of cake. Can't I have some, ma?" This exhibition of domestic turmoil made Mrs. Tweedie very angry, and it was with difficulty that she controlled herself. "Thomas, leave the room immediately," she commanded, sternly. "Am I goin' to have any cake?" the young man demanded when he saw that tears were of no avail. "Thomas, I insist upon your leaving the room at once," replied his mother, firmly. The ladies were watching breathlessly the contest between mother and son. "I won't go 'less I can have some cake," said the boy, defiantly. Mrs. Tweedie went to the door, and called for Dora. The silence that followed was so impressive that Thomas would have succumbed had it lasted a moment longer than it did. When Dora came Mrs. Tweedie, with much determination and latent anger, said: "Dora, assist Thomas from the room." Dora was delighted; here was an opportunity for revenge. Her hand went out quickly toward her prey, but Thomas dodged. "I won't go!" he screamed. "Thomas," said Mrs. Tweedie, sadly, "shall I call your father?" A broad grin spread over the boy's face, and Dora snickered. "I ain't 'fraid of him," he said, saucily. "Take him away instantly, Dora!" Mrs. Tweedie ordered, angrily. Dora was more successful in her next attempt to capture Thomas, though a vase was broken and two chairs were overturned while she was dragging him from the room. "Ladies," said Mrs. Tweedie, in a choking voice, as she removed her glasses and wiped them, "I cannot tell you how grieved I am to have our meeting interrupted—" A crash was heard at that moment, the sound coming from the direction of the kitchen. "I guess somebudy's dropped somethin'," suggested Mrs. Stout. Her surmise was correct. Dora had dropped Thomas, and dropped him hard. Mrs. Tweedie wiped her eyes, put on her glasses, and wondered how much damage had been done. "Thomas is a very impulsive child," she said, "I hope that you will overlook this rare breach in his customary commendable deportment. And now, had we not better make a start at least on the work for which we are gathered?" "I should say it was time," replied Mrs. Stout. "Up to now we've talked about everything from here to Halifax 'cept business." "The other sex," continued Mrs. Tweedie, after listening a moment to be sure that her domestic affairs were running smoothly, or, at least, noiselessly, "the other sex," she repeated, "have their lodges and clubs, why should not we band ourselves together in a similar manner, and become, in the community, a great power for good?" "Excuse me," interrupted Mrs. Stout, "but don't you think it's terrible hot here? I'm 'most melted." [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] Miss Sawyer looked up in astonishment. "Why, Mrs. Stout, I am positively chilly," she said, coughing dismally. "I will open a window." Mrs. Tweedie spoke impatiently as she got up and attempted to raise a window. It resisted her efforts. "Really, I can't imagine why it will not open—I'll try the other." She did so, but again her efforts were unsuccessful. "I guess it's the damp weather," suggested Mrs. Stout. "I suppose it is," replied Mrs. Tweedie, as she went to the door and called for Dora, and then by way of explanation turned to the ladies and added, "Dora is very strong." "Did you call, ma'am?" asked Dora, a moment later, as she appeared in the doorway. "Yes, I want you to open a window," Mrs. Tweedie replied, shortly. Dora advanced on one of the stubborn windows and exerted all her strength. Conversation ceased, all eyes were upon Dora. Failing at one window, she attempted another with the same result. The windows could not be opened by woman. "I can't do it, ma'm," said Dora, her face very red. "Call Mr. Tweedie," Mrs. Tweedie commanded. "One of those windows shall be opened!" Dora hurried from the room, and then Mrs. Stout laughed irritatingly. "Tell us, pray," said Mrs. Tweedie, haughtily, "the cause of your mirth." "You must excuse me, ladies," Mrs. Stout began, but another burst of laughter that she could not control prevented her from continuing for several minutes. "It struck me as awful funny that we should come here to get up a woman's club, and then have to call in a man the first thing," she explained. "Were not the other sex created physically stronger than woman because it was intended that they should perform just such labour?" Mrs. Tweedie asked quickly, but before Mrs. Stout had time to reply Mr. Tweedie came into the room. "How can I serve you, ladies?" he asked as he bowed low and smiled. "Open a window, please," said Mrs. Tweedie. "Certainly, my dear," Mr. Tweedie replied as he went to a window, and, without any apparent effort, raised it. "There you are," he said, smilingly. "Anything else to-day?" (Once upon a time Mr. Tweedie had been a salesman in a dry goods store.) "No," Mrs. Tweedie replied, sharply. She was displeased with him because of his untidy appearance, and wished him to leave at once. He did so, making some senseless remark about the weather as he crossed the room on his way out. "Now for goodness' sake let's begin," said Mrs. Stout when the window was open and the incident closed. "Yes, do," echoed Mrs. Flint. "Well," Mrs. Tweedie began, "I have been reading recently a treatise on parliamentary procedure, and if I am not in error the selection of a presiding officer should be our first business. Am I not right, Miss Sawyer?" "Yes," replied Miss Sawyer. "And I do hope that you will be our first president, Mrs. Tweedie." "Oh, but I am not competent," Mrs. Tweedie protested, modestly. "Never mind," said Mrs. Stout, "take the place, we'll never get anything done if you don't." "But, really—" Mrs. Tweedie insisted upon weakly resisting. "You, Mrs. Tweedie, above all others," interposed Mrs. Flint, "are the best qualified to lead us." Mrs. Tweedie appeared to be resigned to her fate. "I suppose," she sighed, "that if you all insist (there were three who represented the ladies of Manville), it is my duty to comply with your wishes. We will immediately proceed to ballot." "Ought we to hold a caucus?" inquired Miss Sawyer while Mrs. Tweedie was passing paper and pencils to the ladies. "Why, what is a caucus?" asked Mrs. Tweedie in astonishment. "A caucus," replied Miss Sawyer, "is a meeting held previous to an election. The men invariably hold them." "Then I am very sure that they are not proper," said Mrs. Tweedie, positively. "Do you know anything about them, [16] [17] [18] Mrs. Flint?" The pastor's wife rolled her eyes skyward before replying. "I have heard Mr. Flint say that caucuses were not proper for decent men to attend," she replied. "And my husband," Mrs. Stout retorted, quickly, "says that a caucus is the only place where a vote counts." "It surely cannot be necessary in a woman's club," said Mrs. Tweedie. "Now if you will write on your slips of paper the name of the one whom you wish to be our president, I will appoint Mrs. Stout a committee to collect and count the ballots." "All right, but I can't pass my hat," replied Mrs. Stout, "because if I took it off I'd never get it on straight again. Put them in my hand, I promise not to look." Mrs. Stout proceeded to collect and count the ballots. "Ladies," said Mrs. Flint while they were awaiting the result, "this is a day long to be remembered. We have voted for the first time." "But not the last," said Mrs. Stout, "our time is comin'. Now if you're ready I'll tell you who's been elected. Mrs. Tweedie has got all the votes and is elected president. Speech!" "Really," responded Mrs. Tweedie, "there is no time for a speech even if I could make one. Of course I am very grateful. We will now ballot for a secretary and treasurer." The performance of voting was twice again enacted with the following result: Mrs. Stout was elected treasurer, and for the office of secretary there was a tie between Miss Sawyer and Mrs. Flint. "There's a conundrum for you to settle, Mis' President," chuckled Mrs. Stout. "I am sure that I have no idea what should be done," replied Mrs. Tweedie, much perplexed. "S'pose we call in Mr. Tweedie and let him vote," suggested Mrs. Stout, who was bubbling with mirth. "Preposterous!" exclaimed Mrs. Tweedie. "Give to one of the other sex the privilege of suffrage in a woman's club? Never!" "Never!" piped Mrs. Flint and Miss Sawyer in chorus. "Why not let the president vote again?" said Mrs. Flint. "I am sure that I would willingly abide by her decision. Would that method be satisfactory to you, Miss Sawyer?" "I was about to suggest," replied Miss Sawyer, "that I would gladly withdraw in your favour." "Oh, no, indeed, Miss Sawyer, I could not let you make such a sacrifice." "Really, Mrs. Flint, it would be no—" "No, no, don't speak of it again, I beg of you." "But, my dear Mrs. Flint, it seems to me that you—" "I'm sure it is very good of you to say so, but I really could not allow—" "Please, Mrs. Flint." "No, in fact I insist upon withdrawing in your favour. There, now please let us not say anything more about it." "That's right, give in, Miss Sawyer, we ain't gettin' ahead fast enough to suit me," said Mrs. Stout. Miss Sawyer succumbed with a sigh. "Now," Mrs. Stout continued, "I'd like to ask why nobody's made a motion." "Motions are necessary," replied Mrs. Tweedie, "when action on any question is contemplated. The chair awaits a motion." "Mis' President, I—" said Mrs. Stout. "Mrs. Stout," gravely acknowledged Mrs. Tweedie. "I motion," continued Mrs. Stout, "that we have a committee to get up some rules." "It is MOVED" (Mrs. Tweedie said "moved" in capitals, hoping that Mrs. Stout would profit by it) "that a committee on rules be appointed. Are you ready for the question?" "There ain't any question about it as I can see," said Mrs. Stout, indignantly. Mrs. Tweedie patiently explained. Then the motion was "seconded," "put" (real man-fashion), and carried unanimously, and Mrs. Stout, Mrs. Flint, and Miss Sawyer were appointed on the committee. "Good land!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout when the announcement was made, "I don't know anything about makin' rules [19] [20] [21] [22] 'cept for boys. Can I ask my husband to help?" "Certainly not," replied Mrs. Tweedie, firmly. "He would only laugh at you and us; besides, we need no assistance from the other sex." "Madam President," said Mrs. Flint as she arose and smoothed down her dress. (Where she got the "Madam President" idea no one knew, but it pleased the ladies immensely.) "I have read that in Congress they have a committee on ways and means. Will it be necessary for us to have a similar one?" "Well, I declare!" unceremoniously interrupted the uncontrollable Mrs. Stout. "The idea, and three of us married women with children. I say that when our first baby was born we was each of us appointed a committee on ways and means by the Lord." The laughter that followed was suddenly terminated upon the second entrance of Tommy Tweedie. "Ma," he bellowed, "Dora slapped my face and made my nose bleed, and pa laughed at me, and said it served me right." "My poor, dear, little son!" exclaimed Mrs. Tweedie as she rushed to him. "Tell mother how it happened," she added anxiously as she wiped the blood from the little villain's face. Tommy evaded the question by asking another. "Can I have some cake now, ma?" "Certainly you may. Ladies, if you will excuse me for a moment," said Mrs. Tweedie as she and Tommy left the room in quest of revenge and cake. "Did you ever!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout after the ladies had exchanged knowing glances for a moment. "I should say so!" piped Mrs. Flint. "I knew that he behaved badly in Sabbath school—" "Is Mrs. Tweedie's method the wisest?" asked Miss Sawyer. "Well," whispered Mrs. Flint, "Mrs. Tweedie is a lovely woman, but—" "My experience is," interrupted Mrs. Stout, "that all boys have got just so much bad and noise in 'em, and if it don't come out one way 'twill another." This interesting chatter was cut short by the return of Mrs. Tweedie. "Ladies," she said, "I must again apologize for an irritating interruption. As I suspected, Dora was wholly to blame. She had the audacity to tell me that Thomas attempted to steal cake. The idea, my son steal, and with such blood in his veins." "Folks that have boys must expect 'em to make some trouble," said Mrs. Stout, and then turning to Mrs. Flint, added, "I hear that your Willie's come home from college." "Yes," replied Mrs. Flint, as a pink flush spread over her face, "William has returned, and is soon to enter upon a mercantile career." "Drivin' a wagon, or a job in the factory?" asked Mrs. Stout, innocently. Mrs. Flint became red with rage, Miss Sawyer was disgusted, and Mrs. Tweedie mentally vowed that Mrs. Stout should be gotten rid of, because if she continued saying things there was no telling at what moment the club would fly to pieces. "It don't make much difference what a boy works at," Mrs. Stout continued, wholly unaware of the passion that she had aroused, "so long's he don't do anything mean. I saw Willie Flint goin' by my house this mornin'—he was walkin' with Miss Wallace, too, if anybody'd like to know, they made a nice lookin' couple—and I must say that he's a fine lookin' feller, too fine lookin' to follow in his father's footprints. But there, we're 'way off the track, ain't we?" "We have digressed slightly," replied Mrs. Tweedie, with icy sarcasm. "Our next business will be the selection of a name for our organization. Suppose that each of us suggest a name, beginning with you, Miss Sawyer." "Our meetings are to held in the morning—Wednesdays, I suppose?" asked Miss Sawyer. "Yes; that was my intention," Mrs. Tweedie replied. "It's a new idea, but if any of the ladies object—" "I don't object," interrupted Mrs. Stout, "only it's a time of day when most of us ought to be doin' somethin' else." "I had thought," continued Miss Sawyer, completely ignoring Mrs. Stout, "that 'The Wednesday Morning Association' would be appropriate." "Very good," said Mrs. Tweedie. "And what do you suggest, Mrs. Flint?" "My choice," replied Mrs. Flint, with her eyes find on the ceiling, "would be 'The Manville Anti-Male Club.'" Mrs. Stout snickered, whereupon the others glared at her contemptuously. [23] [24] [25] [26] "I feel that it is my duty to object, Mrs. Flint, to your suggestion," Mrs. Tweedie began. "We are all married— excepting one," she added, with an apologizing smile for the benefit of Miss Sawyer, who was blushing with embarrassment. "Would the name be appropriate when we consider that our life companions are of the other sex? Would it not reflect on our judgment in choosing a career in married life?" "Perhaps we didn't choose," said Mrs. Stout, quickly. "Perhaps—" there is no telling what Mrs. Stout would have said if she had not been interrupted by the entrance of a plump, pink-faced young woman. "Why, Mrs. Thornton!" exclaimed Mrs. Tweedie, as she advanced to greet the newcomer. "I am so glad that you came. Ladies: Mrs. Thornton. You are just in time to assist us in the naming of our club. How is that dear baby?" "Teething," replied Mrs. Thornton, sadly, as she sat down. "Oh, that's too bad," said Mrs. Tweedie, sympathetically. "Yes, I'm all worn out, and I can't find a thing for the poor child to eat that agrees with him." "What have you tried?" Miss Sawyer asked, wishing to show some interest, though she knew nothing of babies or their food. "Everything," replied the perplexed mother. "Last week my husband brought home from town a dozen samples of prepared foods; we have tried them all, but baby's stomach is still in a wretched condition." "Samples," sniffed Mrs. Stout, contemptuously. "Have you tried cow's milk?" "The idea!" the ladies exclaimed, indignantly. "Oh, I know it ain't fashionable," Mrs. Stout retorted, "but I've learned from experience that cow's milk comes next to the best thing for babies." "Pardon me, ladies," said Mrs. Tweedie, "but I must call your attention to the fact that, admitting at the same time the necessity for babies, our club is still nameless. Mrs. Thornton, what name do you suggest?" "Oh, dear," replied Mrs. Thornton, "don't ask me. I'm too tired to think. Whatever name is chosen will suit me." Just then Fanny Tweedie rushed into the room with the energy of an infant cyclone. Mrs. Tweedie gazed in astonishment at her pretty, light-headed, light-hearted, impulsive daughter, as though her entrance was out of the ordinary. "Why, Fanny!" she exclaimed. "What has detained you?" "I've been over to Gertrude's to see her wedding things," Fanny replied, in a rather disrespectful manner, without noticing who was present, and then, in her quick, impulsive way, continued: "They're just lovely! Really, I never saw such awfully swell things before anywhere. She ought to be happy if any girl ever was. I couldn't begin to tell you about them in a week; and— Oh, I heard the worst stories about Billy Fl—!" A warning look on her mother's face stopped Fanny on the edge of a precipice. But Billy Fl—'s mother guessed—so did the others. Mrs. Tweedie came quickly to the rescue. "Fanny," she said, "we are trying to find a name for our club; please save your stories for another time. Mrs. Stout, have you any suitable name in mind?" "How would 'The Manville Woman's Club' do?" replied Mrs. Stout. "Very good," said Mrs. Tweedie, "only I am prejudiced in regard to the name of our town; it is so suggestive of the other sex." "Well," replied Mrs. Stout, "we've all tried, now what do you think we ought to call ourselves, Mis' Tweedie?" "I have considered the matter with care," replied Mrs. Tweedie. "Many names have come into my mind, but for one reason or another, all excepting one were rejected. The one that appeals to me as being the most appropriate and beautifully poetic is 'The Morning Glory Club.'" "Beautiful," murmured the ladies, excepting Mrs. Stout, who laughed until her fat body shook. "Excuse me," she said, as soon as she could control her mirth. "It's an awful pretty name, but what a beautiful bunch of morning glories us old women will make." If the ladies had been profane what opportunities Mrs. Stout had given them. She continued to laugh, however, despite their frowns. "Madam President," said Miss Sawyer, when Mrs. Stout's laughter had subsided to a gurgling chuckle. "The name that you have suggested is admirable. The only question in my mind is concerning the word 'club.' Is 'club' more appropriate than association, or some other word?" "You might say congregation," replied Mrs. Stout, "or aggregation." "Club," replied Mrs. Tweedie, "is the term generally used, I believe, to—" [27] [28] [29] [30] "What difference does it make, anyway?" Mrs. Stout interrupted. "We'll never get anything done if we don't 'tend to business better'n we have. We've done about as much in two hours as the men would have done in ten minutes." "Indeed," retorted Mrs. Tweedie, "but would they have done it as well?" She asked the question in tones approaching anger. (Blue blood boils at 180° F.) "Better," snapped Mrs. Stout, who was fast losing patience. "And why?" pressed Mrs. Tweedie, determined this time to utterly squelch Mrs. Stout if such a thing were possible. "Because," replied Mrs. Stout, "they wouldn't have talked about everything under the sun while they was doin' it." "No, my dear Mrs. Stout" (Mrs. Tweedie knew the irony of "my dear" perfectly), "it would be because the other sex are more experienced than woman. And they are more experienced because for centuries it has been their exclusive right to organize and govern. In the meantime, we women have been kept under foot and in darkness." "Good land!" exclaimed Mrs. Stout, "perhaps you have been stepped on, Mis' Tweedie, but I'm mighty sure that I ain't! It would take an awful big foot to keep me in darkness." An embarrassing silence followed, after which Mrs. Tweedie put the question, on motion of Miss Sawyer, and the name, "The Morning Glory Club," was adopted unanimously. At the moment Mrs. Tweedie announced, "It is a vote," Ezra Tweedie, unmistakably labouring under some great excitement, appeared in the doorway. "What is it?" asked Mrs. Tweedie. "Mrs. Brown, next door, needs you at once," he stammered. "Oh!" exclaimed the ladies in a stage whisper. Mrs. Tweedie alone seemed not to understand. "What has happened?" she demanded, forgetting for the moment those present. Ezra blushed, and looked about for some means of escape. (What foolishly sensitive, over modest fools we all are at times.) "Why don't you answer?" Mrs. Tweedie almost thundered. "It's a new baby!" Ezra blurted, and then fled. The Morning Glory Club adjourned without form. Late that afternoon when Mrs. Tweedie returned home she found Ezra asleep on a couch in the sitting-room, while in the kitchen her son, Thomas, and two of his chums, were trying to tar and feather a fourth urchin with molasses and the contents of a pillow. The uplifting of our morals and intellect is trying, and some personal sacrifice is necessary, she thought, as she drove the boys out of the house, and awoke her sleeping husband. "Where's Dora?" she asked, when Ezra sat up and rubbed his eyes. "I—I," he yawned. "Dora? Oh, she asked me if she could go out for a few moments, and I gave my consent. I hope, my dear, that I was right in so doing." "Right? Certainly not, Ezra. How are we to have any dinner? The fire is out, Dora is out—" "And you have been out," Ezra chuckled. "Three out—all out!" yelled Thomas. "And say, ma, I'm awful hungry." Chapter II A Man and a Woman On the same day that the Morning Glory Club was born, it happened that Will Flint met Barbara Wallace on her way to school, and he eagerly grasped the opportunity to renew a friendship which had begun at Barbara's home, in his college town, a year before she came to Manville. "I'm mighty glad to see you, Miss Wallace," he said, with boyish enthusiasm. "Thank you," she replied. "And may I ask how you happen to be at home at this time in the year?" The smile on his face disappeared. "I'll walk with you a few minutes if you don't mind, and try to explain," he said. Will tried to tell the truth and spare himself at the same time, but did neither well. "I'm sorry, and in your senior year, too," said Barbara, when he had finished. "Yes, that's the worst part of the whole affair. I—I don't know why I told you, Miss Wallace, but you asked me, [31] [32] [33] and—you see I don't have any one to tell such things to—never did. I don't mean to be disrespectful, but father has spent his life trying to save sinners by preaching—somehow it didn't work on me; and mother, she's good, of course, but—I can't say it just the way I want to—I guess it's sympathy I need." Barbara knew that his earnestness was genuine, but the timidity and hesitancy of the big fellow amused her. "One can do very little without it," she said, trying to refrain from laughter, and then quickly added: "I suppose that you have already planned for the future." "No, I haven't decided what I shall do—hardly thought of it, in fact. I shall stay at home for awhile, and then—I don't know—there's nothing I'm fitted for. I suppose that I might saw wood, or work on the roads." "That would never do for a clergyman's son," replied Barbara. "Would be rather funny, wouldn't it? Anyway, I've got nothing else to do at present except think about it—I guess something will turn up." "Wouldn't it be better to find something yourself instead of waiting for it to come to you?" "I guess you're right, Miss Wallace; but here's your school and forty kids waiting for teacher to let them in. I won't forget your question. Good-bye." Will raised his cap and walked away. The children loved Barbara, and usually ran to meet her like a drove of stampeded animals, but on this morning, when they saw her coming accompanied by a stranger, they remained huddled on the steps of the schoolhouse. "Who's that man?" one of the little girls asked when Barbara arrived within speaking distance. "Mr. Flint," she replied, with her usual candour. "Is he a real good man?" piped another. Barbara was not sure, but did not wish to say so. Without making a reply she unlocked the door and went in, followed by her flock, and was soon deep in the morning's work: trying to make the youngsters believe that the earth is round, explaining such perplexing words as pare, pear, and pair, and proving that twelve times twelve makes one hundred and forty-four,—if you do it right. During the day the question that the little girl had asked, "Is he a real good man?" frequently came into Barbara's mind. She did not know the answer, and wondered why she thought of it at all. Miss Wallace boarded with Mrs. Tweedie. She was a quiet little woman, but one whose appearance and personality had been, for some unexplainable reason, the cause of not a little comment among the people of Manville. Her eyes—Mrs. Tweedie thought that blue eyes lacked strength; and her hair did not please Mrs. Doctor Jones because it was neither yellow nor red. According to Mrs. Thornton's standard for feminine contours, her form was "positively dumpy;" and everybody knew that Mrs. Deacon Walton had told Mrs. Undertaker Blake, confidentially, that she "always suspicioned folks that didn't have any more to say about things and people than Miss Wallace did." Many other women were of the same opinion. On the other hand, the men who knew her thought that she was the right sort; and those who were not acquainted wished that they were. Mr. Tweedie especially was captivated by her quiet manner, and did everything possible for her comfort; and Barbara—perhaps it was because she pitied him—showed in many ways her appreciation of his thoughtfulness. Thomas, the "Tweedie Indian," as he was sometimes appropriately called, declared that "She's the best teacher in town, but when she licks a feller it hurts." Men and women will disagree sometimes—especially about another woman. There was no real sympathy between Mrs. Tweedie and her boarder, but Barbara was a college graduate, and Mrs. Tweedie had heard that her family was of the best. Education and blood Mrs. Tweedie worshipped. If the devil had presented himself to her with his family history under his arm she would have welcomed him. Besides, taking boarders is a much more genteel way of piecing out an insufficient income than taking in washing. Fanny Tweedie thought that Barbara was an awfully nice girl; though she was forced to admit after an acquaintance of two years that she did not wholly understand her. And Barbara liked Fanny because, though somewhat frivolous, she was companionable and amusing. Barbara tolerated Mrs. Tweedie because boarding places in Manville were scarce. She did not care for the town, and disliked especially the manners of most of its people; but she kept her opinions to herself; which, as has been intimated, did not increase her popularity with the women. Will Flint, son of the Rev. Elijah Flint, was a big, manly-looking fellow who might have been a greater success at college if his parents had not held the reins so tightly when he was a boy at home. His father had preached him a thousand sermons, and his mother had wept gallons of tears; yet here was the object of their labour at home in disgrace, his career at college ruined in his senior year. Both said that Will had decided to leave college and engage in some sort of business. He had left, but to say that he decided to leave was as far from the truth as right from wrong. The faculty decided, Will left. He was not all to blame, and nothing dishonourable had been done, but his frank explanations did not assuage in the slightest degree the grief of [34] [35] [36] [37] [38] his parents. The disgrace in their eyes was an indelible stain, and a gloom that was deep and black had reigned in the parsonage since the day of his arrival. Outside, tongues were wagging at a furious rate. The sons and daughters of the clergy seem to be the special prey of gossips. They are supposed to be impervious to temptation, something better than the ordinary human. We forget that the same God made them that made the children of the butcher and the baker. Late that afternoon, after Barbara had sent the last little urchin homeward, she stood at a window looking out over the fields at the autumn foliage of the woods beyond. She had been there but a moment when Will Flint came down the road and turned into the path that led to the schoolhouse. When he saw her he stopped. Barbara did not know whether she was pleased or not to see him. It was time to go, however, so she put on her things, went out and locked the door, and started down the path. "Hope you won't be vexed, Miss Wallace, because I came," said Will, "but I've been so confoundedly lonesome to- day that I—" "I am not vexed," she said, quickly. His manner and frankness pleased her, and dispelled the doubt that was in her mind a moment before. "I'm glad," he said as they turned and walked toward home. "The boys that I knew," he continued, "have gone away to work, or school. That is why I'm lonesome I suppose, and then the place seems different." "But it's not," replied Barbara, and a smile played about her lips. He was only a big boy, after all. "Everything seems to be smaller and shabbier." "Things," said Barbara, "grow old like men and women." "Yes, I know, but—I can't seem to say things the way I want to. I've been in the woods all day tramping and thinking; it's done me a lot of good, but—I guess I won't talk about myself any longer." "But I am interested," said Barbara, earnestly, and then added, quickly, "in anybody who is perplexed." "Thank you, but at present I'm nobody. I have yet to earn the right to be anybody, much less somebody." "Very well, if you insist we will drop Mr. Flint." "I wish that we could drop him out of sight for good," said Will, bitterly. "What a wicked thought." "If my thoughts—" Will checked himself suddenly and then asked: "Can't we find something else to talk about? I have it, the new woman's club, have you been invited to join?" "The new woman's club?" said Barbara, feigning surprise. "I had not heard of it." "You're making fun of me." "Indeed, it is you who are trying to joke at our expense." "No, really, Miss Wallace, I meant the woman's club that mother and the rest are getting up. Are you going to join?" "Yes; do you approve of such things?" "Really, I—I don't know, and yet I ought to know something about it because father and mother have been debating the question for a week past. Mother is very enthusiastic, but my impression is that father thinks that the club is unnecessary if not really harmful. I shall expect a great boom in Manville society when it gets in running order," Will replied, and then suddenly burst out laughing. "Tell me, please, I want to laugh, too." "Manville society! Doesn't it strike you as being funny?" "Yes, and no." "A woman's answer." "Sometimes her only defence." "Pardon me." The October sun was disappearing behind the trees toward the west; the night air was stealing up from the lowlands; and a frost-laden wind was coming over the hills. "Isn't the air great?" said Will after they had walked without speaking for several minutes. "Splendid!" replied Barbara, taking a deep breath. "The fall is glorious." They had reached Mrs. Tweedie's gate and stopped. [39] [40] [41] [42]