The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-12-30

She was not subject to surprise
Much progressiveness had made he
immune. Also there may have peer
another reason-but that is anticipat
Ing the climax of New Years nights
Spread" to which the Bachelor cIul
took it upon itself to invite Swan
pucket society in the course of tht
days calls. But Mrs. Dexter Bloom
despite her complacency, was quite
sensible of Gen. F'riesbie Virgins
commanding and graceful appearance
as he stood on the threshold, silk hat
in hand. meeting the half-natural
half-induced blush on her face with
the bow of courtier-but he shall be
left TO make his own call.
The theme of interest in the Globe
Office that night and in various othel
quarters was the impromptu spread
OF the Bachelor club. The compositors
were put to work setting up the kid
reporters spirited story of the days
New Years calls, which was to have
as a heading: "Old Boys Froiic."
The thing was done up brown. The
organization of the bureau of chivalry
was limited at, and liberal space was
left for whatever might develop at tina
spread. In the end second story
was written to cover the latter, for
everybody said it was well worth it.
The Bachelor club opened its oos-
pitable doors and kept them swinging
until the place was fairly bursting
with New Years jollity, laughter and
repartee-not to mention coffee and
cake and good things to eat, as little
girl added who was present Then,
too, there was more romance in the
air than the staid bachelor upholstery
and hangings had absorbed in many
a year.
The curiosity of some of the fair sex
having. been aroused by sundry made
quate references that had been
dropped during the day to the organ
lzation ands purposes of the proposed
bureau of chivalry, it was naturally
that the matter would be ex-
planned in full at the banquet. The
of the Bachelor club were
somewhat divided as to how much of
heir plans on this score should be
made public. 1t had at first been
hought advisable to wait until the
banquet and then to make a general
for, to be effective, the
purposes of the bureau ought to be
Snown to those who would require the
ervices of the professional escorts
which 1t would supply. But some
members thought this would bring I'M
'leasant publicity at the present per-
onal stage of the proceedings. and
hat it would be best for the members
o drop appropriate hints while max !
ng their New Years calls. But the |
Experience of Mr.. Emmett Keene in |
ivulging the matter seemed to have |
cen the experience of nearly all who |
ad essayed the embarrassing task. !
Tor had the general embarrassment |
I the situation visibly decreased by |
he time the coffee had been reached
hat New Years night. Ex-Alderman
amuel Hitler, as a ready speaker,
'as urged by those near him at table
divulge the details of the clubs
Mysterious plan. But in a speech
lat was considered felicitous, he re-
erred the whole matter to the origin.
tor of the plan, ito the esteemed
nd confirmed member of our club,
en-. Friesbie Virgins" That gentle
ian appeared to be visibly affected by
lie task confronting him. He STAN
cred:
Fellow members Of the Bachelor
ub, 1t grieves me"-he checked him.
If and looked hastily at Mrs Bloom
his side, whose natural color was
sightened to- that of peony, ''that is
say, 1t gives me pleasure" He
fused again, this time to wipe the
Ithering beads of perspiration from
S forehead. Drawing himself to-
ther he started again: "As the
et said, the best laid plans of mice
ID men--Well, the fact is, boys, the
an has its drawbacks. I've talked
over with Mrs. Bloom. and she saws
at as far as the personal elemenr is
ncerned.' she thinks she will look [
Ter me herself-or, that is to say"
t he never got farther, and fell back ]
70 his chair amid vociferous cries
traitor" and the enthusiastic ap-
ftSe of fhe fair soy /,