Waterbury Democrat., 1902-08-19
THE
CHUBBY GIRL
AM afraid ! am mot a bit chubby


I'm dead and don't know it. So OLE
ander says, and what oleander says
goes. Oleander is new woman.
1t was at the Comb and Brush
club that met her. Ethel was there
and she said:
"sWouldn't you like to meet olean-
der Vining Hook, dear?'
Do you mean the Oleander Hook?'
] asked.
:" Yes, Oleander Hook, who writes
things. You see, the Comb and Brush
girls are SO used to genius they don't
mind it a Bit
L have worshiped her verses for
years said, those dear, tender dew
droppy little things that have the very
scentsof apple blossoms in them. Most
decidedly l should like to meet her. /
shall consider this somewhat aimless
afternoon well spent
Well, here she comes gurgled
Ethel.
Il looked up and saw a sporty-look-
ing blonde, with hay-colored hair COM
ing over, taking long strides and with
a sort of varsity droop to her shout
ders- She leaned forward from the
waist up, and a gunzmetal cigarette
case dangled from her belt.
"She had tight tailor skirt with
crease down the front and hip peck
cts. A scarlet waistcoat showed be-,
meath iaunty little mess jacket, and
her watch fob was of leather. Then
she had a stock tie with horseshoe
pin and daring Panama hat like a
mans.
''she came over with broad grin,
and gave my hand a grips then slowly
pumped it right and left. Tt was most
disconcerting."
We'll, you old beggar,' she said,
You don't mean to say you've forgot
ten me2'
II confess was somewhat stunned
by the mode of address, and then it
was that reflected that after all this
was probably the proper thing. Stay
ing away from club life makes one
FOSSIL
II was quite sure had never met her,
though. for her dewdrop poem had
made such an impression on me that
I'd have recollected.
st hardly think I began, smiling
weakly, while Ethel looked at US in
astonishment, that is, am quite sure
I've never met you, but I've read you
with much pleasure
sob, break it off, break it off,
short, you beggar,' she said; you
know very well we were on the same
commiteein the Electric club
Now am sure you are mistaken
I said, pleasantly, trying to ignore
her fad for addressing me as a beg
gar; I never belonged to the Elec-
tric.'
Then it was the Thursday P. NJ.
club. What2'
$. Nor to that I said.
sOh, GOMEZ you're pulling my Leg
she said.
''She certainly. is breezy girl,
Oleander is. 1 didn't know what to
say, so I just smiled.
You were chairman of the fecep-
tion committee of the Thursday P. NJ.
club, or I'll pay for the dinner she
said.
Never. belonged to it, repeated
Z was getting little tired.
Then the Do It To-Day club That
is it. I'm twisted. It was the Do It
To-day
l.
"She stared at me as if she thought
that was lying.
The fact is, Miss Hook. I've never
belonged to any woman's club I said.
4 once belonged TO a. dinner club, but
there were as many men as women in
it. Prof. Volt, the electrician, was
president. It was quite prosy, sci
entifc sort of "a
!" Did you belong to that tough
club2' she asked.
Ethel broke in here to avoid trou-
bic.
oh, how NIGEL Tell me about it,
she said
1T was a beastly tough crowd
went on Oleander; that was where e.
met you. Beastly tough. A lot of the
worst Founders I ever was up
against
81 suppose it must have been if
you I began.
Were there, 7 suppose you are
going to say she CALCULATED.
"sNo, / wasn't going to say it, I
replied. Z always endeavor to avoid
being rude
REALLY she seemed most unpleas-
ant person. There was nothing dew
aroppy about her except her fresh
Aess.
You girls both wrote for the Tri-
umvirate,' said Ethel. to break the.
silence Didn't your
Yes. that's why. they had to lower
the price said Oleander. old Spacer
told me that, when I asked him why
they'd gone and done it. 1--WE can't
get 20 cents for it if we continue to
print your stuff he said. Queer old
bird, Spacer was
IT don't think we appreciated him.
4 said, trying to give a gentler turn
to the conversation. when he was
gone realized that I had learned a
lot of things from him.
Did, Ell? Well, I taught him
few said Oleander. glibly.
He seemed to be quite well in
formed, as men co. said.
Well, you ought to know said
Oleander.
by this time had begunto suspect
that Oleander's manner was simply
an unpleasant pose, so I turned my