The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-06-04
FATE AT TIE OPEN MEETING

"If Mrs. Peck mas the cast iron
nerve to recite College Oil Cans al
the open meeting of the Narclscus
club tonight. I'm going to resign.
am indeed. Tact! That woman neV'
er heard of such thing. At one OF
our open meetings, mother, she
actually gave 'Curfew Shall Not King
Tonight, and added insult to injury
by acting it out, rolling her eyes
like dying calf, and letting her
hair down. l had invited Jack to go
with me, and thought I'd sink
through the floor when she got up
and began her maneuvers. JACK
plaques me about it every time /
mention the club, keeps asking me
when we're going to have another
open meeting says he wouldn't
miss Mrs. Peck's stunt for anything.
told him if he could stand it
could, so he's going along tonight.
"One OF the dearest, sweetest Wo'
men in our club is Mrs. Roberts.
You'd never imagine for moment
hat she's worried to death over her
husband, but she is. He was there.
He didn't come with her. but stag
gered in after the program had De-
gum Mrs. Roberts was mortified
10 death over it. And then, what
did that chicken-brained Mrs. Peck
do but recite College Oil Cans She
might just as well have pointed out
Mr.. Roberts as the horrible example.
l thought my soul that Mrs. Roberts
would sink through the floor. But IT
never faxed Mrs. Peck. Nothing could.
Another thing, mother. Jack
wants me to marry him. He insists
on having his answer tonight. Yes,
I know I could have Mr.. DeQuincy
any time I want him. I'd never
have to worry then about whether
could afford to do what wanted to.
He doesn't look to be nearly so old
as he really is, but he's got lots OF
money and he's liberal. Don't you
think, mother. that I'd be happy with
him? Yes, L know I've gone with
Jack quite while and he's taken
me, to almost everything, but it's
quite another thing to marry him;
besides, he hasn't such very good
position and it might be a long time
before we could afford to live as l
would like to. He says he expects
big advancement most any time now,
but one can't depend on that"
"The open meeting was simply
lovely, mother. Yes, Mrs. Peck was
there-and she recited! wish you
could have heard her. 1t was fierce;
oh, yes, lots worse than I imagined
it would be, but we didn't let that
bother US.
"On the way to the club Jack ask
ed me whether I had made up my
mind yet. 1 told him I had about
made up my mind to marry Mr.. De-
Quincy. That got him going. While
you were downtown this afternoon,
Mr.. DeQuincy came and took me out
in his motor car. Yes, he asked me
again, but I told him l would have
to think about it.
Last night, when Jack insisted
that l say yes told him I'd leave
Fate decide. If Mrs. Peck gave Col
lege Oil Cans I would know that |
wasn't intended for him, but if 1t was
'Curfew Shall Not Ring Tonight l
would say yes
mo. Mrs. Peck didn't recite Col
lege Oil Cans and it wasn't 'Curfew'
either. 1t was Over the Hills to the
Poorhouse'-it was, really-and l
told Jack that's what it meant, my
accepting him, and that there was
no use fighting Fate.
"But he said Fate and Mrs. Peck
didn't know what they were talking
about, for he had just had a fine
raise"