The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1904-08-13

How she ever came to join the So
ciety was as great mystery to her
self as to her friends. OF course, a
lovers quarrel was at the bottom of
it all. But even then, for a young
and attractive girl of twenty-three to
join the Spinsters' Society, and adopt
the vows of eternal celibacy like the
rest of its members, whose ages gave
them some excuse for so doing, was
an admittedly extraordinary proceed
ing.
When Sibyl Cathcart found herself
fully installed into the sisterhood of
the Spinsters' Society, she began to
ruminate as to whether, after all, she
had acted wisely. True, he had been
seen leaving the theatre with another
woman, and what made matters worse
was the fact that the other woman
was young and pretty. Rumor had
it, too, that he had been seen to pub
licly kiss the other woman at the rail-
way station. So Sibyl, with the
usual impetuosity of her sex, sat
down Immediately and penned short
and formal note giving him the congo.
He demanded an explanation, first in
person and then by letter. She re-
fused to see him when he called, and
upon receiving his letter, tore it up
and then cried over the fragments.
But once she had set her hand to
the plow she did not intend to go
back. All the other members, to the
number of seventeen, were at least
quarter of a century older than her
self, despite their allegations to the
contrary, and their business aptitudes
were not brilliant. The pretentious
building in which many of the men,
bers dwelt, and which was recognized
as the society's headquarters, requir-
ed judicious management, in view of
the small amount of money forth
coming for the purpose. One day
Sibyl found herself in the presence of
her chieftainess.
"My DEAR" began Miss Tabbs, as
she surveyed the girl from over her
spectacles, do you think you could
become one of us altogether? I
prem Ursmises ssI,1f for Sf sfsnes eSms fHd hze on s
I'll think so,". Siby1 replied
doubtfully, we'll aware that her friends
would think her more eccentric than
ever.
"Now that is nice of you'll Well,
the fact of the matter is that Miss
Franklin has come to the conclusion
that the position of secretary to the
society entails more work than she
can undertake, and if you will, we
want you to take her place. You
are young and energetic, and with all
due Difference to Miss Franklin, I
might say that you would be able to
manage the society's small income
more benefcially to ourselves. You
must know, my dear, that the greed
for money of the opposite sex is hor-
rible, and unfortunate creatures like
ourselves are; therefore robbed of
what justly belongs to us. You will,
of course, have your board and lodg-
ings for nothing and grant of 8
pounds per annum. Will you accept
the post! 7"
Certainly. With pleasure"
"That is good of you. But mind,
you must do your utmost to thwart
the Vaccinations of the opposite sex.
Never patronize tradesman, or any
business conducted by man, and if
you ever find that either of the SER
wants has follower, sack her, my
dear, sack her Immediately p
At this point gray-haired lady,
anything but proposing in appear
ance, entered the room, and was
greeted by Miss Tabbs.
"Ah /! here you are, Miss Frank
lin. Miss Cathcart has promised to
act as secretary from this day for
ward, and / have just been giving her
few wrinkles"
THANK you so much, dearie, re-
sponded the ex-secretary kindly.
"But do you know what has hap
pened? The landlord has come him.
self for the rent. What are we to do !
We have no money, and the rent is
months overdue. T"
"How fearful to be in the hands oi
such a money-grabbing brute l'
interposed Miss Tabs.
"Men were always brutes?" volun.
teered Miss Franklin.
Sibyl thought the same and re.
mained silent.
"But where is he now?" asked
Miss Tabbs.
"Oh, he's on the doorstep.
spoke to him through the letter box.
1 could not have the house polluted
with his presence inside. It's bad
enough for the neighbors, knowing
our principles as they do, to see hin
here at all. He says he must have
the rent at once, or bailiff will b
put in. Think of it A male bailif
here-here I"
Miss Franklin was perilously nea
fainting, and her tears were rnnnini
fast. !.
"Shall go and try to reason will
him? 7" asked Sibyl, by way of put
ting an end to painful scene.
"Oh, if you would be so kind
but be sure and treat him like an an
imal, or at least as an inferior, be
cause he's man, you know"
Sibyl ran down stairs and threw
open the door. She had intende'
asking his business in civil but firn
manner. Instead she drew bacl
with start.
"Sibylw