The Tables Turned; or, Nupkins Awakened. A Socialist Interlude

stress came into the kitchen one December m

ed, astonished. And to herself she said: "

eld in her hand, "to ask me if I will address the club some Thursday on the subject of the College of Domestic Science

roll. The richest and most exclusive women of River Falls belonged to the Forum Club; its few rooms, situated in the business part of town, and handsomely but plainly furnished, were full of subtle reminders that here was no mere social center; here responsible members of the recently enfra

or puzzled her, she was quite clever enough to conceal it. She sat, her handsome face, under its handsome hat, turned toward the speaker, her bright eyes immovable as she listened to reports and expositions. And, after the motion to adjourn had been duly made, she had her reward. Rich women, brilliant

et longing to become a member. Sandy, who was about twelve at

ever joined the

not?" Mrs. Sa

Salisbury an op

ter of fact, Mrs. Sargent, I have never been asked. At least," she went on scrupulously, "I am almost sure I never have

we need," Mrs. Sargent had continued. "We've got enough widows and single wome

bury had only to ignore graciously the rather offensive phrasing of the invit

Salisbury's way in a long, long time! She felt in her heart a stinging resentment against Mrs. Sargent, with her mad not

she thinks this might be a good advertisement for the school, too." This idea had just come to Mrs. Salisbury, and she found it vaguely soothing. "

he tone that means "I command,"

why?" s

epeated, pent-up irritation finding an outlet at last. "There is such a relationship as mistress and maid, after all! While you are i

elf, with more spirit than the other woman had seen her show before. "But what she does with her

ds. "I say that I don't care to have my maid exploited by a lot of fashionable women at a club, and that ends it! And I must a

ys made the trouble. Men have decided what they want done in their offices, and

y school," said Mrs. Salisbury decidedly. "I have told you what I expect you

a little talk that would reflect on this family, or eve

on this family!" Mrs. Salisbury s

" Justine interposed. "Miss Holley, our founder and President, was most anxiou

ng to me!" Mrs. Salisbury said magnificently. "You know wha

word, and Justine, perforce not answering, hope

isbury guardedly, when telling her husband and daughter of the affair that evening, "but

have a row with Owen's dear little vacillat

hink it's outrageous?" Mrs. Salisbury

ernoons off is her own affair, after all; and you can't blame her, if a chance to step out of

home is not yet a court of law. Besides, Daddy, if one of the young men in the ba

hing WRONG, Sall

y satisfied to meet your j

k in his chair, watched the rings of smoke that rose from his cigar. "It's a funny thing about you women," he said lazily. "You keep wondering why smart girls won't go into housework, and yet, if you get a girl who isn't a mere stupid machine, you resent every sign she gives of being an intelligent human being. No two of you keep house alike, and you j

Mrs. Salisbury said, smiling over her

ng in all these things, Sally

from the favorite low seat that permitted her

ou women will have to sit down and work the thing out, and ask yourselves why young American girls won't come into your homes, and eat the best food in the land, and get well paid for what they do. You'll have to reduce the work of an

ey are much better off when they're worked hard. And I notice th

ut you expect a twelve or fourte

h," his wife averred, with precision, "I expect her to

ase she does an awful lot! She plans, and saves, and thinks about things. Som

e club is interested, I suppose. But in a few years probably the woods will be full of graduate servants-everyone'll have on

loy graduate servants!" Mrs. Salisbury, who had been f

pplied. "She keeps eight or nine housemaids. The college is only to supply the

s willing to go right on paying thirty-seven dollars a

ine was telling me only a day or two ago of their latest scheme-they are arranging so that a girl can manage two houses in the same neighborhood. She gets breakfast for the J

all this?" Mrs. Salisbury

ve, I believe, and the Smiths

ls together," Mrs. Salisbury asked, "instead of ha

e same, thirty-five dollars a month. Perhaps families will pool their expenses that way some day. It would save buying, t

" Mrs. Salisbury presently submitted; "she would

" Alexandra said, with unintentional r

xploded theory. How much has Jus

gazine. "Justine is a sensible girl," she added, after a moment. "I have always said that. When all the discussing and theorizing in the world is done, it com

he entered the house, her lips tightly set. It was a Thursday afternoon, and Justine's kitchen was empty. Lettuce and peeled pot

s laid in the wide, comfortable fireplace, but she did not light it. She sat, hatted, veiled and gloved, staring fix

the writing table. Mrs. Salisbury's mouth curved into

and fifty cents, ind

st time; her face was radiantly fresh, under the sweep of her velvet hat. She found her mother stretched comfort

eside the couch, her eyes dancing, her cheeks two roses, and pushed back her furs, and flung her gloves aside. "My dear," said Alexandra,

rs. Salisbury said,

ou! It's the most awful thing I ever did in my life, in a WAY," she interrupt

giddily to heaven on a swift ru

wful, dear?" she s

the tribute of a little sigh to the discarded suitor. "So then Owen asked me to lunch with him-right there in the Women's exchange, so it was quite comme il faut, Mother," she pursued, "and, my dear! he t

settlement houses, and reforms, and hygiene!" Mrs.

at helped!-I clasped my hands, and I looked right into his eyes, and I said, quietly, you know, 'Owen,' I said 'I'm going to tell you the truth. You ask me why I don't care for Jim; this is the reason. I like you too much to care for any other man that way. I don't want you to say anything now, Owen,' I said, 'or to think I expect you to tell me that you have always cared for me. That'd be too FLAT. And I'm not going to say that I'll never care for anyone else, for

sition; her eyes, fixed upon her daughte

she gasped. "Alexandra, tell me t

just that. It was easy enough, after I once got started. And I thought to mysel

g-her dignity-Why, what must Owen think of you! Can't you SEE what a dreadful thing you've done, dear!" Her mind, working desperately for an escape from the unbearabl

uld have seen his face, Mother!-and he said-But," and the happy color flooded her face, "I honestly can't tell you wha

the most precious thing a girl has, you've simply thrown it to the winds! Do you want Owen to remind you some day that YOU were the one to speak first?" Her

kly at her mother, now

her he DIDN'T, for he does now! And he'll go on caring more and more every minute, you'll see! He might have been months finding it out, even if he didn't go off to New York with Jim, and marry some little

ou realize that your Grandmother Porter kept your grandfather waiting three months for an answer, even? She lived to be an old, old lady, and she used to say th

lady she must have been!"

er first began to call upon me," she went on impressively, "and Mattie teased me about him, I was so furious

ried away on a gale of cheerful laughter. "He'd get no dessert for weeks to come!" she threatened gaily. "You know I'm convinced, Mother," Sandy went on more seriously, "that this business of a man's doing all the asking is going out. When women have their own indust

r face and form rigid, one hand

expect me to listen to such outrageous and indelicate and COARSE-ye

all! Wait until you see him; he's walking on air! He's dazed. My dear"-the strain of happy confidence was running smoothly again-"my dear, we lunched together, and then we went out in the car to Burning Woods, and sat there on the porch, and talked a

ry said, smitten sic

s have her," Sandy went on. "You see

ant to give up that house?" Mrs. Salisbur

vaciously. "Why, I'd have to keep seven or eight maids, and d

oung matron in town," h

ment house, and entertain our friends at the Club, do you see? And Justine is to run a little cooking school, do you see? For

riends for you among the nicest people, trying to establish our family upon an equal basis with much richer people, and you, in

st part of town, with the river and those fields opposite

Against my express wish, she was the guest of the Forum Club to-day. 'Miss J. C. Harrison,' the program said, and I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw Justine! She had on a black charmeuse

ra, aghast. "What reas

s to servants! To-morrow I shall apply at Crosby's for a good, old-fashioned maid, who

ing belle-mere's guest to-day, don't you see? It'll be so awkward, scrapping right in

other girl would do, as Owen Sargent's wife! Don't live with Mrs. Sargent if you don't want to, but take a pretty house, dear. Have two or three little maids, i

pstairs, gathered her furs about her. "Only promi

lisbury consent

e heard, exactly how Sandy and her great news and her furs and her father's kisses were all mixed up together. "What-what-what-why, what am I going to do for a girl?" "Oh, Da

p, Sandy obviously in her father's lap; hear

reasons for wanting a bigger house and a more quiet neighborhood-" Several frantic kisses interrupted the speaker here, but he presently wen

ing library, and staring rather drearily before her. Sandy would have children, and children must have big rooms and sunshine, if it c

etted wife of an adoring rich man; a Sandy despotically and yet generously ru

of discharging Justine! The maid had her right

oluntarily. She mused over the well-worn phrase; she had never used

f there is a thing that belongs at home,' Ma said, 'it does seem to me it's a baby!' And my asking people to dinner by telephone, and the Fosters having two bathrooms in their house-Ma thought that such a ridiculous affectation! But what WOULD she say now? For those things were only trifles, after

E