The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-05-06
The Confessions OF a Club Woman
BY AGNES sURBRzDGE copyright 1904
Copyright, 1904.

these poetic instances or life cannot last.
What, for instance could be more like
an enchanting dream than our being in
this beautiful spot, with the moon glim-
mering across the great trees, making
deep shadows; the late flowers giving
forth their spicy scents, the soft music
from that yacht the south wind signing
it's farewell to summer"
"And you and l, scion of the old Gal
lie race and the fairest daughter of proud,
free America here together, and alone!'s
he broke in impetuously. "Alone-ah!
How I have longed for this moment, to
tell you all that is in my heart, to beg
of you one slightest favor before I go to
my own country, to venture the hope,
even, that may come again to you
mo- there is no part in life that the
real woman prefers to play, to that of
wife and mother-not if she is a noble,
true woman; the faithful, true-hearted
wife is the noblest of Gods creatures.
Don't you think SO, count?"
1t was Mrs. Bainbridge's insinuating
voice as she and Philip came around the
big boulder where we had paused. The
count whispered something that novel
list would set down as an imprecation. but
her words struck a chord Of feeling in my
breast.
Come I cried gaily, 'let's all go. up
to the house and have a last quiet game
of whist. It's a shame to part without
overthrowing that rubber Of Monday"
And my proposition being accepted by the
others, the poor count was obliged to go
| with us, and so ended our last night at
Meguntic Cove.
MY first meeting after I was home was
that of the executive board of the Nota.
Bene, when we were to plan our sea-
sons campaign.
It was the last Of September, one Of
those wonderful days when the air seems
mixed with some rare old wine; when
skies are intensely blue, and there is a
steely glitter to the lake; when one wishes
| for wings that the prosaic method of
walking may be dispensed with; in short,
when one seems to be living in a world
above and far more inspiring than this. !
was never in finer spirits than when en-
tered the club parlor, eager to welcome
the board members and take up the reins
of guidance once more. The shoe adver-
Using matter had blown over, and had
several fine affairs planned and felt that
I had yet to climb gaily up to the zenith
of my power and influence. .#
But however celebrating the outdoor
air might be, there was a chill in the
atmosphere Of that room, and I, who an
susceptible to the slightest opposition OF
lack of sympathy, left it like a shock
The greetings were perfunctory and II
some cases almost cold. I called the
meeting to order. The secretary's repor
was read and accepted, and new business
was called for. Nothing was forthcoming
There was grim silence on the part Of m.
enemy, the vice president, and her friends
put forth, tentatively, my plans for tn
winter, but to my CONSERVATION they fel
fiat. asked for opinions from othe
members but it seemed as if every in
, dividual woman had not donned her brain
!, just as she had not yet put on her winte
! attire. I was at my wits end, and Gale
! for a motion to adjourn. It was the onl
motion made that afternoon with an
degree Of fervor. '
On my way home sought Mrs. Henr
= and endeavored to be "chummy" with llel
e She was kind as ever, but unapproa enable
!. I hied me to Mrs. Parsons and told he
r of the constrained and proftless meeting
: "Now, what's the matter with 'em ?
: I asked. "What has been going on?''
She looked at me narrowly. "Some
Il thing evidently she said. But wha
= I haven't the faintest idea" .s
e went home and changed my street COS
It tune for becoming tea gown, deter
mined to have quiet evening to mysel
e When went down to dinner, there 81
n my husband in his old place, the childre
tumbling over him and laughing with jo
e They did not leave him even to we
" come me-