A Woman for Mayor | Page 4

better, we think," added Mrs. Stillman.
"Mr. Allingham, the women of Roma are going to put forth their own candidate," pursued Mrs. Bateman.
"Good, again. Since the women can vote, I don't see why, if you all get out and work, you can't elect anybody you see fit."
"O, do you think so? Do you really believe that?" said Gertrude Van Deusen, who had not spoken before.
"I do," solemnly asseverated the young man. "'You women can do whatever you undertake. Women without the vote can do almost anything they choose, here in the United States. But where they have the right of suffrage, they have absolutely everything in their hands. You've given me great courage. For, if you women really mean business, and will join your forces with the Municipal League--" he paused a little.
"That's why we have come," said Mrs. Stillman.
"Then we are sure of victory. Now if you can bring Judge Bateman or,--a better man, I think you said,--to accept the nomination, we can overthrow the gang of grafters at City Hall and establish good government here in Roma once more. Who is your man?"
"Miss Gertrude Van Deusen." Mrs. Bateman's eyes twinkled as she pronounced the name; for she knew well the conservative position occupied by all the Allingham family on 'the woman question.'
The chairman of the Municipal League gasped. Surely he had not heard aright. He turned to the younger woman, who sat smiling at him, confident of his support. Alas! What had he been saying?
"I am delighted to feel that we have the Municipal League behind us," Mrs. Bateman was saying. "We mean to arouse every woman in this town, and make them vote,----"
"But, ladies," began Allingham, already floundering in the dust of expediency, "have you thought?--Do you realize what you are doing? Under ordinary circumstances--in well-regulated towns perhaps,--but a woman for mayor?--In Roma? I'm afraid it wouldn't do."
"But you just said we could do anything we pleased?" began Mrs. Stillman.
"In the way of help, yes," replied the chairman, sore beset. "But this would be such an innovation."
"Now, Jack Allingham," said Mrs. Bateman, who had known him all his life, "I know this comes with a shock to you,--I know how difficult the problem seems at this minute. But don't decide now. Take time to think. Consult with some of your leaders. We want your co-operation. We believe that together we can establish the right kind of government in City Hall. But we are determined to fight for our candidate,--and to win. Unless, indeed, you succeed in putting up a much better man than any yet mentioned for the place."
"Then here is where you throw down the glove?" asked Allingham, recovering his equanimity, "and I've to--"
"You're not to decide until you've had time to think, to reason with yourself, to consult your leaders, and to arrive at a conclusion," answered Mrs. Bateman, rising. "And now, we'll go."
They said good-by and left him standing in the middle of the room, dazed and indignant at the tide of affairs. Even then he noted that turn of Miss Van Deusen's fine shoulders and the invincible way she carried her head.
"What a splendid woman she must be," he said to himself. "A genuine,--but I'm an egregious idiot,--a blanked blunderer. A pretty scrape I am in! Why didn't I wait until they declared themselves? And Miss Van Deusen! She must think me a fool. But a woman for mayor, indeed!"
"What do you suppose I've just heard?" exclaimed the secretary, hurrying in again. "Blatchley says the club women of Roma are going into the campaign with a vengeance,--that they are going to put up a woman--the daughter of old Senator Van Deusen. I don't believe it.--And yet, wasn't she one of those women who just went out?"
"She was," replied Allingham. "She is. Whether she will be, remains to be seen. You can't tell what a woman--"
"Then it's true?" Morgan's tone was incredulous.
"Yes, I suppose so," returned the chairman. "The women are going to turn in and work. It is possible they may win. But what a thing for Roma to do! I don't see how we can--"
"Then they came for help from the League?" asked Morgan, still more incredulously.
"They came," replied Allingham, "to offer to co-operate with us. They asked no help, come to think of it; they just offered to co-operate and they seem to have a very definite idea of what they are going to do,--women!" he finished abruptly, remembering his rash endorsement of their plans before their unfolding.
"I'm not certain but it would be a good thing for the town," began the secretary. "A radical change would--"
"Morgan," interrupted his chief, "we should make ourselves ridiculous, we should be a laughing-stock for the whole state. I shall never consent," he added, with the more heat when he recalled Gertrude's confident poise and--how he