Storyteller.

White Ribbon, Volume 25, Issue 294, 18 December 1919, Page 10

Storyteller.

COMRADES EVER.

CHAPTER 1\

Election day had come and gone. Several women candidates had tome forward, blit Mrs Lewis was the onl\ one to secure a seat in Parliament. She had thrown herself heartily into the contest, yet was quite indifferent to the issue. To he* had conic the Divine call, and in to it she had stepped into the arena. She was no fatalist, but believed with all hei soul in Divine guidance, and knew that if the Master had work for her to do in the legislative halls of her native land He would guide her there; if llis presence went not with her she had no desire to be sent there.

She was a dear, logical speaker, and her meetings had been well attended and very enthusiastic. At only one meeting, which was held in the Town Hall, had there been any organised attempt to stop her from speaking, and this had been engineered by the liquor interests. When she arose to speak, the crowd at the back of the hall stamped and shouted, and a scene of the wildest confusion greeted her. K»»r a moment she would fain have tied the place, then the lighting blood of her ancestors, soldiers and pioneers all rose in her. and she faced the howling inob calmly and with dignity. A swift cr\ for help went up to the* Lather above.

A* ‘-he watched the audience, the humour of the situation appealed to her, and sudden I \ she broke into a clear, tinging laugh. The surprise of the audience' excited her still more; ‘‘laughter is contagious,’' and in this case decidedly ‘advantageous,'' for soon the merriment became general. As the laughtei subsided, Mrs Lewis smiled an ai*ology t and said, “Excuse me, please, but the view from this platform was exceedingly comical.” From the first she he d their attention. Her speech differed from any election address they had ever listened to.

She told them that women supported principles not parties, and that she could bo depended upon to vote for the great principles she enunciated. She became eloquent as she spoke of the need to improve our education system, till it hoc; mo one grand whole from the kindergarten to the' Diversity ; of how the health of mothers and children should be cared for by

the State; of many reforms needed in our criminal courts and prisons; and concluded in these words: “When Theodore Roosevelt was asked what the ‘condition of the world would be after the Great War had ended, he replied T'topia or Hell.’ We cannot, if we would, we would not, if we could, go hack to pre-war conditions; in our period of reconstruction you can depend upon me every time to vote for ‘l’topia’ till our good shall ever be better, and our better always best.*’

When the result was declared, she met with a most enthusiastic reception from the assembled people. She spoke briefly and with deep feeling.”

“I count it an honour.” she said, “to represent the city of my birth in the Parliament of our Dominion, and to be elected by the voles of my schoolmates and old companions. 1 will ever try to be worthy of your trust and respect.”

Many friends accompanied her home and others called to offer congratulations, hut at last all had departed. Then thc> horror of utter loneliness descended upon Gipsy Lewis. How she longed for “vanished smiles and 'ic es gone.” How her bonnie Jean would have teased and laughed at the fulfilment of her own prophecy, “Mamma M.P. ’ How Ted would have understood and sympathised, what a tower of strength he would have been to her. For awhile Gipsy shrank back at the* thought of her lonely future. After her grief h.-d abated she passed out from the house, and lying in a hammock she gazed up into the glorious starry sky. As always before, so now, the wide starry, spaces calmed her agitation. She thought of all the vastness and majesty of the universe she* realised her own littleness, but above all she realised that “in the Lord Jehovah w.*s everlasting strength.” Then her spirit went out in an earnest c ry to God for strength to* tread her solitary way, strength never to be false to the best, or untrue to her ideals.

She thought of the* difficult path before her; earnestly she desired that though firm in matters of principle, she might ever he courteous and yielding in all minor matters. The following morning came many messages of congratulation from friends and from many women’s societies with which she was connected. Will’s message was characteristic: “Three cheers, old sport, keep your wicket up.”

During the Christmas vacation, mother and son went to Australia to visit relatives there. Mrs Lewis, us New Zealand’s woman M.P., created much interest, and she took every opportunity to study political problems and the solutions of them by the great sister continent. She met the lead ing politicians, and discussed social questions with them, ever ready and willing to learn, and she ston'd up much knowledge which was useful later on.

It (.leased her much to note that Will was getting over the shock of his double bereavement. Tlu* natural buoyancy of youth was asserting it self, and he spent many pleasant hour-, with his cousins exploring Sydney’s beauty spots, gaining physical strength and laying up energy for hn year’s work.

The end of January found them on the steamer’s deck, homeward bound. The night was mild, the water calm, and they seemed to he floating in fair) land. They had talked of their visit, and recalled its many pleasant memo rifs, hut at length silence fell between them, each was dreading the parting so shortly to come. At length Will broke the silence. “Mother, must we part? It seems to nw that we ought to be together.” “So wc shall some* day, mv hoy.'’ Just now* wc cannot be; you must stick to your work until you gain your degree. I must stay and do my work at home, hut ab vacations we may be together. Your love and companion ship are my dearest possessions.” “How long it seems since Dad and Bonnie Jean left us.” Mr? Lewis flinched as she always did when any mention was made of her dear ones. She schooled herself ot let Will speak of them, for a taboo rd subject between them would ever mar their perfect companionship. “Yes, my s''n,” she bravely replied, “we are arranging our plans and our daily life without them, and their memory fades into the past. .We shall always miss them, life will never he quite the same without them. But they have passed on before to a more glorious service. Dad would have wished \ou to he happv and to be useful.”

“I do love my work, mother, and find it most fascinating. I want to he a really great healer.” “I know you do. You have talent, God given, my hoy. Realise your responsibility to cultivate it to the greatest degree. Then in the future, when the ('treat Master calls upon

you for servic**, you can respond, Ready, ay, ready!’ Remember •there's always room at the top.' ” Both smiled, and Will said, “\our old formula, mum.'' “Trite, but true, is it not?” and she smiled. Then tenderly laying her hand upon his; ‘ Pray for me. Will, that in thi* hurly burly of political strife I may keep my < hivalrv unsullied, and my ideaF ever exalted.

(To be Continued.)