The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-12-07
CLUBS WERE TRUMPS
FROM JUDGE.

He looked like a gentleman gone t.
seed. Though patched and frayed al
to clothing, he was immaculate bott
in dress and person. He sat upon the
kitchen doorstep. shelling peas. Hii
expression betokened reconciled des
pair.
BE so kind" he said meekly, but
emphatically "as not to utter the
word club to me, sir The induce
ments that could tempt me to Join any
kind of association whatever do not
exist"
Before saying more. he glanced ap'
prehensively over his shoulder. Then
he explained in a low tone:
ITO clubs are due ali my misfor.
tunes; and endure SUFFICIENT, I as
sure you. When was a young man
and that seems centuries ago-this
village passed through an epidemic OF
clubs. How or why the pestilence
broke out, no one knows. But sud
denly every one was forming them,
Joining them. canvassing for them.
There was the Farmers club. the
Housewives club. the Card club, the
Glee club and score of others. Ev-
cry organization had its badge, and
some Of my neighbors proudly wore
f1ve or six
"At that time was just young
enough to know all about life, and I
was certain that 1t offered no prize
like personal liberty. Consequently l
was a confirmed bachelor-and rather
prone to boast of it, fear My asso-
ciates we're all young men who pro-
claimed loudly that they scorned the
female sex. Each had been most
cruelty rejected by some false-hearted
charmer, and when they organized the
Bachelors club the receipt OF one re-
lection at least was made a qualifica-
tion for membership. / was eager to
join, but this excluded me.
Isn't there way to get around
the ruler 7 asked Lon Pendleton
president.
"No,' he replied. We mustn't be-
gin that way. Don't try to get around
it-just qualify
Propose to some one,'
Certainly
"'Suppose am accepted?
"'You needn't be afraid of that, he
replied; then, noticing my look, lame
ly added, select some one who doesn't
like you, I mean
That was easily done. Salina
Briggs and had been sworn enemies
since we went barefooted to the dis
trict school. She was bigger than the
teacher then, and I called her Jumbo.
She retaliated by calling me Whiffet.
The years that had added to her bulk
and coarseness had left me under
sized, but gentleman and (hem!)
scholar"
He sent a quick, sensitive glance
into my eyes. and bowed gravely.
Whenever we chanced to pass on
the street. she would make some audi
BILE remark about me, to raise the
laughter OF the congenial friends
around her and her vulgar laugh
would raise above them all and follow
me farthest.
'Loathing her as l did, nothing ex-
cept my great desire to join the Bach
elors' club could have made me ad-
dress her-let alone upon such a sub
ject But in those days when I want
ed thing I went 1t blind as the say
ing is. Moreover. I was sure that
Selma would consider my proposal
toke-perhaps the result OF a wager
and this knew would enrage her be-
yond measure"
He was silent so long, gazing miser-
ably into space, that I was obliged to
speak to him He looked up pathet-
ically and whispered:
"She said yes"
And YOU" I ventured.
81 am a gentleman" he returned
and | nodded
"If 1t isn't--er' began, after
long pause
Not at ALL" he answered. "She was
mad to join the Matrons club, that's
ALL" Z
Before I could utter word of sym.
pathy, an untidy head appeared at the
door and a coarse voice cried:
John Hennery, be them peas done
ylt?"
And as | passed through the gate !
heard in gentle and refined tones:
NO, Selma; they'll be done in
-,,i~>,,+er