Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-12-21

She was not subject to surprise.
Much progressiveness had made her
immune. Also there may have been
another reason-but that is anticipat-
ing the climax of New Years nights
Spread" to which the Bachelor club
took it upon itself to invite Swan
pucket society in the course of the
days calls. But Mrs. Dexter Bloom,
despite her complacency, was quite
sensible of Gen. Friesbie 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 a courtier-but he shall be
left to make his own call.
The theme of interest III the Globe
Office that night and in various other
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 heading: "Old Boys Frolic."
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 the
spread. In the end a second story
was written to cover the latter, for
everybody said it was well worth it.
The Bachelor club opened its DOS
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 a 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
ization and purposes of the proposed
bureau of chivalry, it was naturally
expected that the matter would be eX-
planned in full at the banquet. The
members of the Bachelor club were
somewhat divided as to how much of
their plans on this score should be
made public. 1t had at first been
thought advisable 10 wait until the
banquet and then to make a general
announcement, for, to be effective, the
purposes of the bureau ought to be
known to those who would require the
services of the professional escorts
which it would supply. But some
members thought this would bring un-
pleasant publicity at the present per-
sonal stage of the proceedings, and
that it would be best for the memrers
to drop appropriate hints while max
ing their New Years calls. But the
experience of Mr.. Emmett Keene in
divulging the matter seemed to have
been the experience of nearly ali who
had essayed the embarrassing task.
Nor had the general embarrassment
of the situation visibly decreased by
the time the coffee had been reached
that New Years night. Ex-Alderman
Samuel Hitler, as a ready speaker,
was urged by those near him at tanle
to divulge the details of the clubs
mysterious plan. But in a speech
that was considered felicitous, he re-
ferred the whole matter to the origin
ator of the plan, "to the esteemed
and confirmed member of our cub.
Gen. Friesbie Virgins" That gentle
man appeared to be visibly affected by
the task confronting him. He STAN
mered:
Fellow members of the Bachelor
club, it grieves me'-he checked him
self and looked hastily at Mrs. Bloom
at his side whose natural color was
heightened to that of peony, that is
to say, it gives me pleasure" He
paused again, this time to wipe the
gathering beads of perspiration from
his forehead Drawing himself to-
gether. he started again: "As the
poet said, the best laid plans of mice
and men-Well, the fact is, boys, the
plan has its drawbacks. I've talked
it over with Mrs. Bloom, and she says
that as far as the personal element is
concerned. she thinks she will look
after me herself-or, that is to say"
but he never got farther and fell back
into his chair amid voCiferous cries
of "traitor!" and the enthusiastic ap-
plause of the fair sex.