The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1905-12-29

She was not subject 10 surpr sc.
Much prOgressiyeness had made her
Immune Also there may have been
another reasOn-but that h anticipat
Ing the climax Of New Years nights
spread" 20 which the Bachelor club
took 1t upon Itself to invite Swan
puckCt society In the course OF the
days calls But Mrs. Dexter Bloom.
despite her complacency. was quite
sensible of Gen. Friesble 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 DO
left to make his own call.
The theme Of interest Ia 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 a heading: old Boys Frolic."
The thing was done up brown. he
organization of the bureau OF chivalry
was limited ut, and liberal space was
left for whatever might develop at the
spread In the end n second story
was written to cover the latter, for
everybody said It was well worth II
The Bachelor club opened Its nos
| pltable doors and kept them swinging
| until the place was fairly bursting
with New Years tollity. laughter and
| rcpartee-not to mention coffee and
cake and good things to eat, us little
| girl added who was present. Then,
too. there was more romance In the
air than the staid bachelor upholstery
and hangtngs 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. II was naturally
expected that the matter would be ex-
| planned In full at the banquet. The
| members OF the Bachelor club were
somewhat divided IA to how much OF
their plans on this score should be
made public II had at first been
| thought advisable to wait until the
banquet and then 10 make general
announcement. for. 10 be effective the
purposes OF the bnreau ought 10 be
known TO those who would require the
services OF the professional escorts
which II would supply. But some
members thought this would bring I'M
pleasant publicity at tho present per-
sonal stage of the proceedings and
that Il would be best for the members
to drop appropriate hints while max
Ing their New Years calls But the
experience Of Mr. Emmett Keene In
divuiging the matter seemed TO have
been the experience of nearly all who
had cssayed 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, rs ready speaker,
was urged by those near him at table
to divulge the details OF the clubs
mysterious plan. But In a speech
that was considered felicitous. he re-
ferred the whole matter 10 the origin
ator OF the plan, ito the esteemed
and confirmed member of our club,
Gen. Friesble Virgins" That gentle
man appeared to be visibly affected by
the task confronting him. He STAN
mered
Fellow members of the Bachelor
club, 1t Grieves me"--he checked him
self and looked hastily at Mrs, Bloom
at his side. whose natural color was
heightened to that Of a peony. that is
to say. II gives me pleasure" He
paused again, this time 10 wipe the
gathering beads of Precipitation 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
II over with Mrs Bloom, and she says
that as far as the personal element Ia
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 "traitori" and the enthusiastic ep-
plause Of the fair sex.