Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1905-12-27

-OH. n ~ "a
voices began to whisper in the ears
of those whose habits were most reg
ular. warning them that 1t was high
time they betook themselves to bed
the plans for the morrow were fairly
complete
The day dawned bright and clear.
The snow was tino and hard and gave
back thousand sparkles for every
glance from the bedroom window of
the early riser. The ladies of Swan
pucket knew nothing OF what was in
store Tor them. but rose early to finish
their New Years cake and candy max
ing and to attend to the thousand de-
tails OF this day Of nut cracking. and
corn popping. and apple baking. Soon
after breakfast numerous tall and SOM
Der figures. but all with sprightly gaits.
might have been seen vending their
way to common rendezvous at the
Bachelor club. and doubtless they were
noticed by many, but the real alarm
did not begin to be sounded by Swan
pucket society until the doorbells be-
gan Jingle, tingle. Jingle. that grew
more frequent as the day wore on
Her first caller took Miss CIarissa
Frey entirely by surprise. AS she aft
erwards explained, she felt as II the
tide OF time had taken her I'D bodily
and set her back 80 years. When the
doorbell rang she was not prepared
for callers. being dressed, indeed I'm
her wrapper; but when a peek through
side window had revealed the fact
mat her caller (woTld on endD was
Mr.. Emmett keene. dressed in keeping
with a bygone style OF chivalry which
she well remembered, even to the far
ing white collar and black tie and the
gold-headed cane, she flew with maid
emily agitation to the very garnet. leav.
ing MS admittance to others while she.
alive TO the spirit Of the occasion
decked herself out with n wonder of a
hoop skirt which her niece phoebe
had planned 10 wear that very night
at New Years amateur play. Emrnet
Keene never had got ahead OF Clarissa
Frey, and he wouldn't do so at This
late day II she could help It.
Mr.. Keene was somewhat taken absck
when. after considerable DELAY. there
entered the drawing room an appari.
ton that seemed 10 have a double I'm
the storehouse OF his memory. He
tried TO account for 20 years gone nv
but for the life or him could not male
~ more than 20 in the figure before
him. He had TO admit. as he had done
in times past, that Clarissa Frey was
remarkable woman After the ov
change or New Years greetings ana
gossip Mr. Keene tried TO explain the
organization and purposes of the new
bureau OF chivalry, "a new-er-de-
parture OF the Bachelor club" as he
explained. with nervousness. But
somehow the point didn't carry. Bv
inadvertent mention OF the fact that
the departure was founded upon the
much discussed plea for protection
from Mrs. Dexter Bloom. he found
himself launched upon a deep and
ethical discussion OF women's clubs
which ended only with the tineIe Of
the doorbell announcing the arrival
OF a fellow clubman, and indicating
that MIR. Keene was not properly an
! portionIng the time at his disposal
| among the members OF the fair sex
on his list
Mrs. Dexter Bloom was a widow Of
considerable dignity and aggressive
| intellect u cannot be said that she
revealed any signs or agitation wnen
! Gen, Friesbis Virgins was announced.