Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-01-05
A NEW WOMAN.

N--NNN
at the club, and, incidentally, there had
been champagne. There were cigars
and conversation. The meeting had
been a thorough success, so in conse-
quence 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 HabberUon,
this is what l call real JOY Of life. A
feilcW 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,
congenial fellows, and a 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
wers getting old and grumpy"
There's always glow about the
very appearance of the club entrance
to me, said Habberton.
"Oh, we know that's champagne talk
ing, but the vintage seems to have the
knack Of uttering truth tonight"
This was Lewis Mortimer's cOntribu-
ton 10 Jae 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, underra,e
its power and influence
Il don't, but my words are the words
Of sane and sober truth, 1 say and
maintain and l reiterate that there is
a warmth and genial glow about the
very entrance to these rooms"
He waxeth oratOrical," Knocked Nor
timer.
Contrast" went on Habberton, with
out deigning to notice the interruption,
this home coming with the home COM
ing of a fellow who is married to wo-
man."
Or one of these new women" from
Hensington, who had not before joined
IN he conversation.
"Ah,ROw you are talking sense" said
old Hobbs, clubbing his hands gleefully.
1t IS the ADVENT of the new woman
that is keeping - many innocent, ELI
gible and worthy men from matri-
mOny."
How do you know?" interrupted
Mortimer, with especial stress on the
"yof."
Some one threw an almanac at hin
and old Hobbs remarked that he hated
weak attempts at sarcasm"
Reginald VertreSs was known and
reputed lady's pan, so nobody paid
much attention when he observed rath-
er tantatively="O l haven't much
faith in all this talk about new women,
anyway. If you'd believe me, she's on
ly the same dear creature with the ad-
dition of bicycle, big sleeves and a
membership ticket in the V. G. P. u
We'll, Whatever may be sad" went
on Habberton (he had drunk consider
able champagne), the new woman is a
painful reality. We hate to admit her
presence, but she is here, though we
nope not to stay"
pray forbear," exclaimed the ire
pressible Mortimer who knows but
some of our number have formed EN-
angling alliances with new women who
make political speeches and head petit
,iOn.ng conventional"
May gracious heaven forb.dw re-
sponded Habberton, 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 smok-
.ng in an obscure corner, and his face
flushed a, the last words of Habberton
and Mortimer and The laugh which greet
cd them. As soon as convenience would
allow he rose and slipped away.
In his mind a strange fight was taking
place between resentment, love and fear
Of ridicule
He felt that in Lewis Mortimer's last
remarks there had been a yelled allu-
sion to himself, though his engagement
Helen Clayburn WAS supposed to be
q secret
Hel-n he knew to be a 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 included in the category Of
new women.
A man IS no. always reasonable after
champagne nd a losing game Of whist.
So i'm his unreas0n Tom Aguew wrote
letter that night W1.ch in his saner
moments he would not nave been guilty
of penning.
And the next morning Helen Clay
burn received It just as she wae going
out TO attend a meeting Of the Kinder
garten Association.
why, its a letter from Tom" she
said. Il wonder if ne 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 trembl-
ed a little. But Helen Clayburn was
very sen-ible girl She handed the let
pr TO her mother, saying:
Something has gone wrong to vex
Tom. He should have come to me m
stead OF writing. I viii wait for him
10 come to his senses"
She read paper that morning before
The association and the ladies' said of it:
The paper was excellent. but don't you
h.nk its yalue was much added to by
her manner Of reading? l. was read with
such spirit"
When she came home from the asso-
citation Helen Clayburn read Tom Ag-
news letter again and cried little as
she laid il down
He cannot become the laughing
stock of men by marrying a girl whose
actions place her Enthusiastically in the
ranks Of that very undesirable creature