some sixty in number, were as variously
dressed as became their pockets or proclivities, decently for the most
part, for there was no poverty in Rosewater. Mrs. Leslie took no notice
of the charged atmosphere, but proceeded to business as methodically as
if engaged in her morning housekeeping. The minutes of the last meeting
were read by Mrs. Haight, in the cultivated tones of one who had recited
upon the stage of her youth, "Curfew shall not ring to-night," and "The
Wreck of the Hesperus." The huskily strident voice trembled slightly,
but she read several pages of foolscap without a break, and finished
with a flourish. Then Mrs. Leslie, in spite of scraping chairs, asked
Mrs. Colton, Chairman of the Improvement Inspection Committee to read
her report on the condition of the new concrete pavements, of several
homesick palm-trees in the public squares, and on the prospect of
removing tin cans and soda-water bottles from the picnic grounds. This
resort was near the marsh, and it was the pet project of the ladies of
Rosewater to extend it into a boulevard as far as Point Santiago, so
that "public picnickers" should find an additional reason for spending
their money in Rosewater, and extend the fame of the town. They had
endeavored to extract the funds from their stingy lords by private
subscription, failing an appeal to the City Fathers, who found other
uses for the public funds; but even the civic Mr. Boutts was not ready
for such an outlay. The women--who had accomplished so much, having
literally transformed Rosewater from a broken-down pioneer country town
into one of the prettiest spots in California--had by no means
despaired; and when Mrs. Colton finished her report, Mrs. Leslie
remarked:

"Our boulevard may be nearer than you think. Mr. Gwynne has conceived a
project for reclaiming the marsh-lands, and converting them, by means of
levees and those tremendous dredges and pumps, into arable land--like
the reclaimed islands of the San Joaquin River; and has persuaded Tom
Colton to present a bill to that effect at the next meeting of the
legislature--asking for an appropriation for the levees, at least. He
has himself promised a handsome contribution for the boulevard,
convinced that it will add materially to the wealth and importance of
the town. He has even talked over Mr. Boutts--an important
conversion"--nodding smilingly at Mrs. Boutts--"and Isabel Otis, who has
forty-five acres of marsh, has promised that if the