The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1900-12-10

lIOuStu MuCu NJiulAcut anu CuilO1lAJ-
Then the list of the speakers names
fairly took away the breath Of the
farmer who had read IN his weekly
paper for years Of the brilliant ana
witty Congressman NJ, Of the mag
netic and fofeeful Senator k, WITH
ont expecting to have a chance TO hear
them.
When the great day came the pretty
park at the edge of the town was
filled to oyerfowing with gayly ex-
pectant town people and country folks
and mountaineers. ali animated and
half-deafened by the patriotieally en-
ulatiye strains of the Ringgold and
other less famous but equally ambiti-
GUS bands. On the fag-draped speak,
ers stand the local luminaries were
almost lost from sight in the exceed
ing brilliancy OF an ex-governor, a
United States senator, a member Of
congress and an ex-candidate for vice
president. In front of the stand, di-
viding public interest with the great
men, sat a group Of forty or fifty
youths-the Twenty-One Club.
When each noted speaker had had
his turn and had been eheered until
the trees shook. then the Twenty-One
Club arose to its feet as one man and
with all the breath it had left lifted
up slIch mighty shout as made the
previous din seem tame.
Johnny K Bartonl Johnny K
Barton!" was what they yelled
Now, the young distri4t-attorney.
knowing the Twenty-One Club, had a
few well-chosen words. a few happy
phrases, ready for just such an
emergency. AS he swung himself up
on the platform and stood there in
front Of those distinguished men who
had long been the objects Of his critical
admiration, and felt that their sur
prised, questioning eyes were boring
holes through his shoulder blades, all
those graceful words, all that fine
rhetoric foated of and left him for
one hideous moment feeling that the
was vacuum. Then he saw
the eager expectant faces Of the boysJ
and another eager. expectant face fur
ther off under a big white hat, and he
knew he did not need the escaped
thistledown rhetoric. The occasion.
the waiting audience, the inspiring
thought Of immense results that might
spring from words OF his presented to
those young men who believed in and
were so thoroughly in sympathy with
Kim, was preparation enough. There
are some members OF the Twenty-ODe
Club who viii never forget certain
words he uttered; and the memory OF
those words aud of that one day on
he threshold OF manhood gives added(
value and meaning TO manhood itself
md to patriotism.
The young men were not alone In
their club a success. IL
won not only the appreciation OF the
visitors, but also the en-
support OF the general pub
ic Before the day OF celebration was
)ver a new club, or rather a new chap
er Of the club. was organized by
'ouths who would reach their ma
ority during the following year Thus
he Twenty-One Club promises to be-
.ome permanent institution In
county.
Marian rode home from the ceIebra-
ion in Johnny X S buggy. They aook
he long way round, as Johnny X liked =,
o do when he had his pretty second
ousin beside him, and the sagacious
mare chose her own gait. Consequent
y they were the last 10 arrive Of the
eturning party
AS they approached the house In the. /.
ultry, dusty dusk Marian saw group I
f dark figures beside the gate.
Those awful boysl" she exclaimed,
nd started in confusion to draw her
love over something that sparkled
n her left hand.
Johnny K. stopped her "They will
ever notice" he said. "And what il
hey do?"
The nine Barton boys formed in
mes on each side Of the walk and
Taited in solemn silence as Marian
dvanced toward them doubtngly.
hen President Jimmie stepped for
'ard rather awkwardly for Harvard
lan and handed her a huge bouquet
{ lilies and moss roses. He made
tile speech in which Marian caughtL,,
be words birthday Cousins and
Twenty-One Club"
She began to thank them prettily,
at Jimmie interrupted her. There
case attached to the STEMS" he ex-
Iained.
Further speech was prevented by the
hir and whiz and bang Of a sudden
scharge Of fireworks. BY the scin-
llations Of the pinwheels and the
ID, green and yellow light OF rockets
arian opened the little leather case
I'D saw novel and beautiful brooch.
the form Of an American eagle in
'ld bearing a small enameled nag
i his talons. On the accompanying
lrd she read:
TO New Woman; from nine vot-
s."
The little school teacher turnedaa