El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-16
THE c.. E. CLUB.


onstration as the reading of the con-
stitution was demanded. The president
raped loudly for order.
lit 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 CLANCY Elopement club. Abso-
lutte secrecy as to time and particulars
of elopement shall be maintained even
between memb ers. Mem bership shall
be limited to seven, and shall cease the
moment a wedding ring is placed on a
true sisters finger The older the man
inveigled into clipping the more credit
shall be given the departing sister.
Boys under s are not to be considered
RESPONSE BILE. Trunks and trousseaus are
absolutely forbidden. Long wedding
trips are also barred. The penalty for
being a member longer than for two
years is expulsion. Each departing
member shall suggest sister to take
her place. %
.'You have heard the reading of the
constitution, said the president, rising
from her chair Now. what action is
to be taken?"-
Madam Presidential tall girl
arose with malicious sparkle in her
black eyes-"the reading of the consti
tuition was demanded for the purpose Of
calling attention to the clause which
reads that the penalty for being a men,
Der for over two years is expulsion. We
have one such member. l think it time
that action was taken"
The members gasped as the audacious
speaker took her seat and listened
breathlessIy for the presidents answer.
That official raised her head defiantIy
and said haughtily:
Il presume that they mean me, Miss
Andrews l believe that 1 alone remain
of the original seven.
Il do, and 1 move that the vice
president take the chair while we con-
slider the case. -
lone moment, please. - The president
turned to the secretary. evil you
kindly look up the time of my men,
Lership?''
Amid dead silence the secretary re-
ported:
There are two months remaining,
Madam PRESIDENT.
II 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. l will say, however. that such ao-
ton will never become necessary in my
case, and a resolute look came into the
blue eyes.
lob, Graciel'' broke from the girls
in admiration. for il was an open secret
that the fair president had been engaged
for some two years to a dignified pro-
fessor of science, a man some 20 years |
her senior
Perhaps you won't mind telling |
your 'modus operandi?' sneered Sadie |
Andrews increduIoUsly.
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 betW cen members, said Oracle |
sweetly, although her eyes flashed at |
the covert insinuation eff there is no |
more business before the club, she |
added, Il declare the meeting adj |
journed. -
Grace walked away. The hateful |
thing!' she exclaimed, the tears filling |
her eyes in spite of herself. "I'll show |
her! He does love mel He doesl He |
will do anything | wish. Only he does |
not approve of clipping. Oh, wish that |
he did But I'll manage somehow, and |
he just must do it, whether he approves
or not.
A month passed, and still no oppor-
tunity presented itself for putting into
practice any of her numerous plans
Grace was almost in despair Sadie An
urews openly laughed her to scorn as
the time passed and Oracle was still
Oracle Dawn Many of the girls locked
du biOus and smiled family when oa
die would trlumphantly eJaculate II
told you so - in their presence Grace |
preserved calm bearing outwardly |
but lnwardly ragged at hey helplessness
One day merry party CT excursion
lists boarded boat and went tor all out
ing 20 miles down the river Among
them were Grace and Professor Harper
The q E club was out III full force, |
and mighty resolve formed itself in
the maideu's mind that this should be
the eventful occasion
A cave III the vicinity visited and |
lunch partaken of, the party broke up
into groups of twps or threes and scat
tered over the hills into the woods The
captain OF the vessel cautioned them
against straying too far away, as the
boat would put out promptly at 8
O clock AS was natural, Grace and the
professor sauntered off together.
Now. where shall we go!" inquired
the professor Have you any special
place that you would like to go?''
tha FIJI /