probably this perspicacity on the part of Ada Grosvenor,
coupled with a sense of humour, that earned for her the reputation of
"trying to ape the swells."

"Well, good-night everybody, and, Mrs Clay, don't forget to apply for
your right in time, or you won't be able to vote," she said in
parting.

"No fear," responded grandma. "I've not been counted among mad people
an' criminals, an' done out of me simple rights till this time of life
without appreciatin' 'em w'en I've got 'em at last."

Next day, true to intention, the old dame and Carry went up town for
their "voting papers," and to repeat the former's words, "was
downright insulted, so to speak."

The civil servant whose duty it was to give rights to those electors
who were not already in possession of such, was carrying affairs with
a high hand, and had the brazen effrontery to tell Grandma Clay that
it was a disgrace to see a woman of her years "running after a vote,"
as he elegantly expressed it; and he also suggested to Carry that it
would suit her better to be at home doing her housework, and to put
the cap on his gross misconduct, he persuaded them that they had left
it too late to obtain the coveted document, the first outward and
visible proof that men considered their women complete rational
beings.

Carry had retorted that it would suit him better to do the work he was
paid for than to exhibit his ignorance in meddling with the private
affairs of others, and that if he could discharge his duties as well
as she did her housework, he wouldn't make an ass of himself by
showing his fangs about women having the vote in the way he did.

The two electresses thus bluffed came down the street and told their
grievance to Mr Oscar Lawyer, for the nonce head of the Opposition
League, and at ordinary seasons a father of his people, to whom all
the town made in times of necessity,--whether it was an old beldame
requiring assistance from the Benevolent Society or a lad seeking a
situation and requiring a testimonial of character.

With Mr Oscar Lawyer they also ran upon Mr Pornsch; and it was
discovered that the churlish clerk's statement was utterly false, and
made because he was on the side of Henderson and these two women were
not. There was more talk than there is space for here, but the upshot
of it was the clerk was routed, and grandma and Carry came home
triumphantly, each in possession of one of the magic sheets of blue
paper, which they spread out on t