The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-11-07
VOLUME |.
SELECT STORY.
A LITTLE CLUB AFFAIR.

about if the air stirred in the passage;
thus she had moved for hours.
Was she heroine in distress? Was
she woman of gifts, evolving some
creation from her sleepless brain? am
sorry to bring her down to earth-she
was fit subject for romance. But it
must be confessed Isabel was only wait
ing for her husband, who was out late.
HA she been a sensible, practical wo-
man, she had wrapped the drapery of
her couch round her and laid down to
sweet dreams long ago. But she has
only been a wife a year. Her husband
was her single tie, she lived her life in
him.
Isabel was beautiful. Her flesh was
like marble lighted by fire; her hands,
her eyes, her lips, the poise of her head,
her unduIating motion, had an elegance
of their own. But when God lent her
the gift of loveliness. He added there
to the gift of upersensitiveness, through
which so many are graded to melancho-
ly and madness. She had been the
ward of bachelor uncle, who felt he
did his whole duty if he visited her
twice a year at her convent, and answer
ed her sorrowful black eyes with mods
and N7inks of approval. When she was
ready to enter the world, the charge of
young lady niece so taxed his freedom,
and, by consequence, his spirits, that he
laid him down and died. He hadn't
meddled in matrimony. Why should
his autumnal youth be spoiled by
foster daughter? The problem shovelled
/ him into the grave.
Then Burnham appeared to Isabel.
His family and hers had been on friend
| ly terms whole generations. He had
| Just returned from long tour, and had
| the air of other continents around him,
which fascinated her senses. Afterwards
his best grew upon her; his generous ma
ture, his pure intention, his mellow
thought the whole fine structure of his
manhood. She knew little of the
world; she made him her standard. So
! that when Burnham came wooing and
made her sure that all his happiness
was in her. she staked herself, and was
blessed in proportion to her intense SEN
sibility.
When Isabel became wife, she did
not degrade her hero. Her very esti-
mate kept him up to her. Proud and
tender of her, he walked to rectitude,
and softly, before her, many moons and
never meant to deviate.
The chapter recording Solomon's fall
begins but.)
But Burnham was society man; he
had such jjovial friends, who formed such
jovial and select club. The "Pick-
wick Club" ran over with money and
leisure and graceful gayety. To be a
"PickwiclIian," was to be recognized as a
tiptop globule of the city cream
Youngsters of family looked forward tc
rising into this club much as the. young
Roman anticipated the toga of man
hood. 1t welded an absurdly strong in
fluence The "Pickwickians" met in
elegant apartments, drank imported
wine, attended by perfect and silent ser.
vice, and rallied at the hard-worked
sad-visaged world. Young husbands
were considered great conquests among
them, and they importuned Burnhan
so much to join them that he good ma
turedly took to running in" From tax
ing friendly cigar and glass, he wen
on to extending his stays till the fascin
alton of the club ran through all hi
veins.
Isabel knew nothing of clubs. Sh
supposed they might be assemblages o
gentlemen with something of Hterar,
character, such, as Addison pictures
She saw in her minds eye sober citizen
grouped about tables, reading, perhap
smoking, and discussing wisdom. Sh
. waited for her husband because she wa
restless when he was away, not becaus
she had any righteous tongue in pickl
for him.
Feet shufled in the hall. She ben
her neck; her whole body crouched t
:, listen. They drew nearer, zig-zaggins
+ they paused at her door; and the bein
outside, evidently an animal withou
hands, began to rub and tumble an
growl for entrance.
Isabel threw the door open, when
person in very bad hat, with his Who'll
. apparel somewhat on one side, fell 6
her feet. 1t was a stage scene, but tel
n, ribly real with one actor. Isabel starte
;, back, raising and wringing her hand
. and staring at her husband like mania
Mr.. Burnham 0athered himself m an
+ took observations. Some drunken me
It are abusive; others maudlin; others joll
T But Burnham was pompous. He foun
\. sofa, and mounted it tremulously
~ harangue his wife on her duty
;, "gen'lmen to c'nduct self like gen'lme
!, -drivedullcare'way" and made as col
" summate and disgusting fool of hin
self as it is possible for a mans body
~ do when that fine spirit which govern
- is drowned.
- Isabel stood watching without mo
=, ing muscle. The stare drew his a
10 tention, and he requested leave to al
T if she was drunk, and if she meant
"sult him?" Then, overweight by h
a own eloquence, he relaxed and dropp,
. along the sofa. She saw face swollt
- and sensual a frame nerveless al
~ heavy; man turned to beast.
=, Her maid tapped at an inner door
ask if Mrs. Burnham wanted her now
va $50 to my dressing-room," repli
-. Isabel, towering between the damse
!, eyes and that locomotive-laboring-
Il, steep-grade upon the sofa. "Wait
me there"
She closed the door and went bat
of Not being addicted to harangues a
ta- handkerchiefs, she merely clasped
:, hands and looked at him, thinking,
Il. suppose, that no woe like hers had e'
=. come upon the world since the delu
Yet Mrs. Smith, down by the wharv