The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-06-27
A NEW WOMAN.

1nere nau been WHIST tnat evening at
the club and, incdently, there had been
champagne, There were cigars and con-
versation. The meeting had been a
thorough success, so in consequence the
members of the Columbian were in high
feather
The club was only a 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 rest at
night. So he HES him to his club, where
there are cards, cigars, congenial fellows
and a harmless glass"
"Nothing like it, says Hobbs, who was
gray as to the fringes of his bald pate, but
had left the Bachelors because, as he ex-
planned 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 talking
but the vintage seems to have the knack of
uttering truth tonight
This was Lewis Mortimer's contribution
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 change the vintage now, old boy
and don't on your life underrate its power
and influence"
II don't but my words are the words of
cane and sober truth. | say and maintain
l reiterate that there is warmth and
genial glow about the very entrance to
these rooms.
Gle wakes oratorical," Knocked Nor
timer
Contrast went on tIabberton, without
deigning to notice the interruption, ''this
home coming with the home coming of Il
fellow who is married to a woman"
'Or one of these new women" said
Remington, who had not before Joined in
the conversation.
"Ah, now You are talking sense, said
old Hobbs, rubbing his hands gleefully.
1T is the advent of the new woman that
is keeping So many innocent eligible and
worthy men from matrimony.'
How do you know interrupted Nor
timer, with especial stress on the ''you."
Some one threw an almanac at him, and
old Hobbs remarked that he hated weak
attempts at at sarcasm.
Reginald Netress was known and re-.
puted ladies' man. so nobody paid much
attention when he observed, rather tent
atively: sch, haven't much faith in all
this talk about the new woman, anyway
If you believe me. she's only the same dear
creature with the addition of a bicycle, big
sleeves and membership ticket in the V.
G. p. L."
''Well, Whatever may be said went on
Habberton-he had drunk considerable
champagne-"then new woman is painful
reality. We hate to admit her presence,
but she is here, though we hope not to
stay"
Pray forbear,' exclaimed the irrepres-
sible Mortimer. ''Who knows but that
some of our number have formed entangl-
ing alliance with new women who make
political speeches and petition conven-
tons, )"
"May gracious Heaven forbidn' re-
sponded llabberton in such a 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 smoking
in an obscure corner, and his face flushed
at the last words of IIabberton and Nor
timer and the laugh that greeted them
As soon as convenience would allow, he
arose and slipped out
In his mind a strange fight was taking
place between resentment, love and fear
of ridicule.
He felt that in Lewis Mortimer's last
remark there had been yelled allnsion to
himself, though his engagement to Helen
Clayburn was supposed to be secret.
Helen he knew to he Il leader in the
work of women, and he grew angry with
himself, with her and with his companions
when he thought that she might be in.
cluded in the cate DRY of new women
A man is not always reasonable after
champagne and losing game of whist. SO
in his unreason Tom Agnew wrote a letter
that night which in his saner thoughts he
would not have been guilty of penning.
And the next morning Helen Clayburn
received it just as she was going out to
attend meeting OF the kindergarten As
ISOLATION.
"Why, it's letter from Tom, " she said.
II wonder il he's in haste to 90 away that
he writes" And she tore it Open 1t was
not very long and as she read it she grew
xphita l,I