The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-02-21
A NEW WOMAN.

been champagne. There were cigars and
conversation. The meeting had been a
thorough success, SO in consequence the
members of the Columbian were in high
feather.
The club was only year old, and
each new success meant another weight
thrown ON the side of popularity and
permanence.
So the conversation had in it some OF
the spirit of the lively young men.
"By Jove," said Morris Habberton,
"this is what call real joy of life. A
fellow attends to his business during the
day and feels that he deserves a rest at
night. So he HES him to his club, where
there are cards, cigars, congenlal fel-
lows and harmless glass.
"Nothing like it," said old Hobbs,
who was gray as to the fringes OF his
bald pate, but had left the Bachelors
because, as he explained it, 'the fellows
were getting old and grumpy.
"There S always glow about the very
appearance of the club entrance to me,
said Habberton.
ooh, we know that's champagne talk
ing, but the vintage seems to have the
knack of uttering truth tonight" "
This was Lewis Mortimer contribu-
tion to the general talk.
"Vintage be hanged - exclaimed the
first speaker, turning on him in mock
fury.
But old Hobbs interrupted him with,
"Don't hang the vintage now, my dear
boy, and don't on your life, underrate
its power and influence.
81 don't, but my words are the words
of sane and sober truth. say and main
tain and I reiterate that there are a
warmth and a genial glow about the
very entrance to these rooms. "
"He waxeth oratorical," Knocked
Mortimer.
Contrast, went on Habberton, with
out deigning o notice the interruption,
"this home coming with the home COM
ing of a fellow who is married to
woman.
cor one of these new women" from
Hensington, VI no had not before Joined
in the conversation.
"Ah, now you are talking sense"
said old Hobbs, rubbing his hands glee.
fully. ''It is the advent of the new
woman that is keeping SO many inno-
cent, eligible and worthy men from
matrimony.
-"How do you know?" interrupted
Mortimer, with especial stress on the
"you."
Some one threw an almanac at him,
and old Hobbs remarked that he hated
"weak attempts at sarcasm.
Reginald Vertress was known and
reputed ladies' man, SO nobody paid
much attention when he observed, rath-
er tentatively: "Oh, I haven't much
faith in all this talk about the new
woman, anyway. If you'd believe me,
she's only the same dear creature with
the addition of a bicycle, big sleeves and
a membership ticket in the V. q. P. U"
"Well, whatever may be said," went
on Habberton-he had drunk considera-
BILE champagne-"the new woman is a
painful reality. We hate to admit her
presence, but she is here, though we
hope not to stay
spray forbear," exclaimed the ire.
pressible Mortimer. "Who knows but
some of our number have formed EN-
tangling alliances with new women
who make political speeches and head
petitioning conventions!
"'May gracious heaven forbid! re-
sponded Habberton, in such tone OF
mock tragedy that the whole company
burst into peals of rollicking laughter.
There was one young man who had not
Joined in the conversation and who did
not join in the laugh.
This was Tom Agnew. He sat smok-
ing in an obscure corner, and his face
flushed at the last words of Habberton
Mortimer and the laugh which greeted
them. AS soon as convenience would al
low he rose and slipped away.
In his mind strange fight was taking
place between resentment, love and fear
of ridicule
He felt that in Lewis Mortimer's last
remarks there had been veiled allusion
to himself, though his engagement to
Helen Clayburn was supposed to be a
secret.
Helen he knew to be leader in the
work of women, and he grew angry with
himself, with her and with his compan-
ions when he thought that she might be
included in the category of new women.
A man is not always reasonable after
champagne and losing game of whist.
So in his unreason Tom Agnew wrote q
letter that night which in his saner mo-
ments he would not have been guilty Of
penning.
And the next morning Helen Clay
burn received it just as she was going
out to attend meeting of the Kinder
garten association.
"Why, it's letter from Tom, she
said. "I wonder if he is in haste to go
away, that he writes.' And she tore it
open. 1t was not very long and as she
read it she grew white and trembled a
little. But Helen Clayburn was very
sensible girl. She handed the letter to
her mother, saying:
Something has gone wrong to vex
Tom. He should have come to me in
stead of writing. will wait for him to
come to his senses.
She read paper that morning before