The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-07-13

~
IN friends. OF course low
BANxxSX ers' quarrel was at the bot
tom of it all. But even
Then, for q 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
30 doing, was an admittedly extraor-
dinary proceeding.
When Sibyl Cathcart found herself
fully installed into the sisterhood of the
Epinsters' Society, she began to rum
lnate as to whether, after all, she had
acted wisely. True, he had been seen
leaving the theatre with another wom-
an, and what made matters worse was
the fact that the other woman was
young and pretty. Rumor had 1t, too,
that he had been seen to publicly kiss
the other woman at the railway sta
ton. So Sibyl, with the usual i'm
petuosity of her sex, sat down immedl-
dtely and penned a short and formal
note giving him the congo. He de-
manded an explanation, first in person
and then by letter. She refused to
zee him when he called, and upon re-
ceiving 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 a quarter of
q century older than herself, despite
their allegations to the contrary, and
their business aptitudes were not bril-
liant The pretentious building in
which many of the members dwelt,
and which was recognized as the So
clety's headquarters, required judicious
management, in view of the small
amount Of money forthcoming 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 specta-
cles, 'do you think you could become
one of us altogether? l mean, could
you come and live on the premises, for
instanceW
"I-I think So" Sibyl replied doubt
fully, well aware that her friends
would think her more eccentric than
ever.
"Now that is nice of you! Well, the
TACT of the matter is that Miss Frank
lin has come to the conclusion that the
position of secretary to the society en-
tails more work than she can under
take, and If you will, we want you to
take her place. You are young and en-
ergetc, and with all due Difference to
Miss Franklin, I might say that you
rould be able to manage the society's
small income more beneficially to our
selves. You must know my dear, that
the greed for money of the opposite sex
horrible, and unfortunate creatures
like ourselves are therefore robbed of
what Justly belongs to us. You will,
Of course, have your board and lodg-
lngs for nothing and grant of fS per
Annum. VIII you accept the post?
Certainly. With pleasure"
F"That is good of you. But mind, you
must do your utmost to thwart the
vaccinations of the OPT osite sex. Never
patfonize a tradesman, or any business
conducted by man, and If you ever
nnd that either OF the servants has q
follower, sack her, my dear, sack her
immediately
; At this point gray haired lady, any.
thing but prepossessing in appearance,
entered the room, and was greeted by
Miss Tabbs.
f."Ah! here you are, Miss Franklin
Miss Cathcart has promised to act as
secretary from this day forward, and ]
nave just been giving her few wrin
kles."
~Thank you so much, dearie," re
Bponded the ex-secretary kindly. "But
90 you know what has happened? The
landlord has come himself for the rent
What are We to do? We have nc
money, and the rent is months over
due"
"How fearful to be in the hands O.
such a money grabbing brutew inter
posed Miss Tabbs.
"Men were always brutes! volun
keered Miss Franklin.
Sibyl thought the same and rename,
silent.
But where is he now?" asked Mis-
Tabbs.
"Oh, he's on the doorstep. spoke t
MIN through the letter box. / coul
not have the house polluted with hi
presence inside. It's bad enough 70
tho neighbors. knowing our principle
as they do. to see him here at all. III
says he must have the rent at once. O
= bailif will be put in. Think of Il
a male bailiff here-herer'
Miss Franklin was perilously nea
faiuttng. and her tears were runnin
last.
"shall I 60 and try and reason wit
him1" asked sibyl. by way Of putin
m end to painful scene.
"Oh. II you would be 80 kiAd; but b
surs and trsat him like an animal.