The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1881-10-28
NUMBER 40.
A STRANGE EXPERIENCE.

Strange a it may s,-ein even 10 members Of
I the Order Of the Knights Of Pythias else
/ where, a lodge in Bay city, Mi-h.. has had
/ the experience Of Inducing a female into the
mysteries Of two degrees nf the order and
partially through that Of third degree before
'er sex was discovered. Il has placed the
lodge in n sad dilemma, ana none Of the
members are able to predict what VIII be
the outcome thereof. They have been very
reticent regarding the particulars o. the
case, but reporter who belongs To the or
der has, through diicent inquiry among the
members thereof, been able to CLEAN the fol
lowing facts in the case:
About two years ago q yodng man az pre-
possessing appearance, tall and handsome,
with a smooth face, dark hair aud BLUSH
grey eyes who gave his name a. Frank
Chambers and his place of nativity as CIeve
land. applied at q large clothing store ON
Centre street, Bay City. for a situation as a
clerk. and his appearance made such a IA
voranle impression on the youngest of the
three brothers who kept the store that, bs-
ing in want OF n clerk. he engaged the new
conner, and didn' even ask for rrfereHca.-
To this the other brother- drmurred, Hut the
had such winning ways, and proved such AN
excellent salesman, that no more was said OF
thought Of references.
From the start. being apparently about
the same axe. the youngest member Of the
firm and the new clerk hrcame on very ami
cable terms. and were iuseparahie cOmpan
inns, with the exception that the new cierk
took a room and board at a private house,
and would rot listen to the propusai>, often
made, To- occupya room and board witt. Eiin-
Matters ran along smoothly in this way
for nearly two years. when tie young mpr-
chant, after repeated solicitations, prevailed
upon the clerk to Join the order of Kui-hts
Of PythiaS. Thereupon his application was
presented 10 the lodge. approved, and the
candidate elected. When, however, at the
next meeting, the clerk WAS r-qurst-i To- 5e
in readiness ter imitation l- did not put iu
an appearance, and gave as an excuse thaL
he felt timid about the matter; bat at the
next meeting thereafter b. ya~ promptly on
hand, and inductpd into the mysteries uf the
Pages, or first degree. Of the order At th"
next meeting the newly made PAGE was re-
luctaut tu take tine E~gU.rr'~, or SECOND le-
gree, but Wa after time prevailed urou to
do 50. ana that night Hecau- au E-gu'rr--
When the time arrived ta take rle third dc
gree the candidate l.-ftatpE still more IH8u
before, tut not one rf The brethren suspect
ed tire true cause thrrruf-rHey att-5 rutri it
to his usual timiIity. aud after several OF
them had talked Witn tho vuuug clerk. whom
they all had come tn admire and respect. he
entered the ladg--rorm, Witnessed th- FIRST do
gre conferred upon a new candidate, aud
had nearly passed through the third degree
before the sex was discovered just exactly
how this came about fHc u:vrtt-u work u-
the order vi not permit tht. writer 20 oisc,se
bat the uemurr- were struck With c.uSreT
nation, and then and There all further pro
cpedines were suspended. The young ladl
had tainted upon fuiiug aut that irr -el
was discovered, and upon regain ~ con
sciou>nrSS was Throw O iu.rll sterile ana rr
cnferet story could ue aruug rum urr
e;lher 10y rhD gentle na.adirg of beer emu.uy
er or thc tlreats uf u'rmlrr-, AID uyr hy-
teric~ increasing. she was convey pd To- Dee
buartliug hau~r IN rIu~- carriage, ana
doctor called ro attend the case.
The a'ovr inridprt, urcurIe3 arrut fiyu
w"rA~ a-n, aI.6 are uuw ura1a uuh'fr for rh.
d~r t.u... Tie g. una f.a, -rH trr9k ful
~ fens.r wearing arrarr., -,n3 'r r- aag o
two, after rne d,.rrnr 'rtd gu..tro l.r.r nerves
she duuued her natural garmt.n.-. ~-ut fr
her rmp'uvrr friend and Tn htH size made .
clean breast of who ~h- WIS aud where h-
parents resided. hur na refused Go Hi-r.r-
any of The fict~ about rar shr~tI remain.
in Bay City, and runner IS busy with tHe re-