The Florence daily tribune., 1899-02-28
THE G. E. CLUB.

ment among the members of the O. L
club which illuminated in au open dem
onstratiun as the reading of the con
stitution was demanded The president
raped loudly for order
1t has been requested that the con
stitution be read, % she said, in a clear
high soprano
The girls settled down in their places
and, amid comparative quiet. the secre-
tary, clearing her throat, began;
This organization shall be called
The Chuney Elopement club Abso-
lute secrecy ms to time and particulars
of elopenent shall be maintained even
between members Membership shall
he limited to seven, and shall cease the
moment wedding ring is placed ON a
true sister finger The older the man
inyeiPled into clipping the more credit
shall be given the departing sister
Boys under 8 are not to be considered
Responsible Trunks and trousseaus are
absolutely forbidden Long wedding
TINS are also barred The penalty for
being euiber longer than for two
years Is expulsion Each departing
member shall suggest sister to take
her place
"Yuu have heard the reading of the
constitution. said tho president, rising
from her chair Now, what action is
to be takenf
Madam President"-a tall girl
arose with malicious sparkle in her
a. H.. ,,F 81
tution wns d manded for the purpose of
calling attention to the clause which
reads that the penalty for being mem
Der Tor over Two years is expulsion We
have one such member | think it time
that action WAS taken.
ihe members gasped ms tho audaciuus
speaker took her seat and listened
hrenthlessly for the presidents answer
That official raised her head dehantly
and SAID hauGhtily:
81 presume that they mean me, Miss
Andrews believe that / alone remain
of the original seven. -
'l do, and move that the vice
president take the chair while we con
slider the case
'Oue moment. please, The president
turned to the secretary "Will you
kindly look up the time of my mem
oershipy'
Amid dead silence the secretary re-
ported
There are two months remaining,
Madam President.
Il Thought so. The president turned
to the club, Ignoring her of the black
eyes You see, she said, THAT it is
impossible for the club to take any such
step as the member moved for the pres,
ent | will say, however, that such ao-
tion Will never become necessary in my
case, and resulute look came into the
blue eyes
"Oh. Gracier' broke from the girls
in admiration, for it was an open secret
that the fair president had been engaged
for some two yeais to n dignitied pro
tessor of science, man some 20 years
her senior
Perhaps you won't mind telling
your 'modus operaudii' sneered Sadie
Andrews incredulously
"Allow me in turn to call your atten.
tion to that clause of our constitution
which says that absolute secrecy as to
time and particulars shall be maintained
even between members, said Oracle
sweetly, although her eyes flashed at
the covert insiuuation. "If there is no
more business before the club, she
added, II declare the meeting ad-
lourued
.Grace walked away The hateful
thiugr she exclaimed, the tears filling
her eyes in spite of herself I'm show
her He does love mel He does He
will do anything wish Only he does
not approve of eloping. oh, wish that
he didL But I'll manage somehow, and
be Just must do 1t. whether he approves
or not
A month passed. and still no oppor,
tunity presented itself for putting into
practioe any OF her numerous plans
Grace was almost in despair, Sadie An
drews openly laughed her TO scorn as
the Tune passed and Oracle was still
Graoie Dawn Many of the girls looked
dubious and smiled family when Sa.
die would triumphantly ejsoulats II
told you SOP in their presence Grace
preserved calm bearing outwardly.
but inwardly ragged at her helplessness
One day merry party of excursion
lists boarded a boat and went for an out
ing 30 miles down the river AMONG
them were Grace and Professor Harper
The Q E club was out in full force,
tud mighty resolve formed itself in
the maiden { mind that this should be
the eventful occasion.
A cave in the vicinity visited and
t,,,, -
into groups of twos or threes and scat
tered over ;be hills into the woods The
captain OF the vessel cautioned them
against straying too far away, as the
boat would put out promptly at 5
o'clock AS -as natural, Grace and the
professor sauntered off together
Now, where shall we gof' inquired
the professor Have you any special