The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1910-05-13
The Crusade Against
the Bow Knot Club.

Re-enforced by societies at the left
OF her and societies at the right of
her. Mrs. Calantha Weglers promi.
hence in Cedralia, scraggly-edged
town of the Middle West, was undis-
puted. She acted in the capacity of
president or secretary in the Aid, HUI
name. Relief, Auxiliary, Soldiers and
Sailors societies, lawmakers associa-
ton, Pythian Sisters and Degree of
Honor, but like a warrior of old, she
sighed for more worlds to conquer.
To widen her field she organized
the Ladies' League. The object of
this order being reform, Mrs Wegler
had some difficulty in finding oppor-
tunity for action. Finally she found
her prey in the shape of the Bow
Knot Club. 1t was composed of a
few well-mannered young men, whose
chief offense seemed to be that they
had clubhouse at Leaf Lake.
The president of this club, Willard
Cole, was wooer of Mrs. Wegler's
young daughter, Bertha, but the
mother proved adamant in her dis
approval of his attentions and would
not suffer her prejudices to be over
come
One summers day the Ladies' Aid
Society, marshaled by Mrs. Wegler,
made an expedition to Leaf Lake for
a days outing. When they reached
their destination they were ap-
preached by the captain of the little
steamer, who made friendly and
cheap proposition to take the party
about the lake. The members of the
society being fair weather sailors and
earth and sky seeming reconciled,
they decided to make a little junket
on the waters. Serenely, complacent-
ly and blissfully conconscious of the
dangers in their horoscope, the sis
ters embarked. The constant chug
of machinery kept rhythmic time to
their chatter and Interchange of mu-
tual confidence, while the Kissing Of
the escaping steam raised their voices
to shrill crescendo.
Suddenly the man at the boiler
called in low, emotional voice to the
man at the wheel.
"Reddy!"
Reddy quickly turned and in re-
Spouse to the impressive reckoning,
hastened to the coal passer. The two
talked in low, troubled tones while
the society, now at attention."
maintained breathless silence.
Reddy returned to the wheel. The
boat gradually slackened her speed
and then suddenly and omniously
stopped. The man at the boiler
looked about him helplessly.
What is it," demanded Mrs.
Wegler
WELL" he replied disconsolately,
''the fires low and the GOALS give
out"
There issued a series of piercing
shrieks from the terrified pleasure
party.
what are you going to do?" cried
Mrs. Wegler.
We'll have to wait till someone
discouragingly.
Soon Mrs. Wegler spied sailboat
skimming by in the distance. She
waved signals of distress, to which it
responded by changing its course and
coming toward them. AS they
steered alongside the steamer, she
reco gnized the sailors as Willard Cole
and his best friend.
what is it, Reddy?" asked Will
lard as the boat came into the wind.
The two held conference. At its
close Willard addressed Mrs. Wegler
consolingly.
"There is No. immediate danger,
and we could, of course, tow you in,
r.. l think it would be safer for you
to all come aboard the sailboat and
let us sail you to the shore. The
steamer is old, and when fire gives
out"
"Oh, yes, oh, please, Mr.. Cole, take
us in your boat" piped a plaintive
chorus of panic-stricken sisters.
Under Coles directions and Mrs.
Weglers commands, the women were
carefully transferred from the
steamer to the sailboat.
"You have delivered us from dan
CERT" declared Mrs. Wegler in tragic
tones as she rolled her eyes Willard
ward.
Ho modestly and deprecrtingly dis