The Prescott daily news., 1912-12-06
CLUBS WERE TRUMPS
FROM JUDGE.

lie IOOKe0 ike gentleman gone IO seed Though patched and frayed as l to clothing, he was immaculate both in dress and person. He sat upon the kitchen doorstep, smelling peas. His 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 all my misfor- | tunes; and I endure sufficient, I as- l sure you. When 1 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- 1 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 five or six.
 At that time I was just young enough to know all about life, and l was certain that it offered no prize | like personal liberty. Consequently l was a confirmed bachelor-and rather prone to boast of it, fear. My asso- ciates were 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 1 Bachelors club the receipt of one re- | jection at least was made a qualifica- ton for membership. I was eager to join, but this excluded me.
 "Isn't thereNa way to get around the ruler I 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 I am acepted?'
 "'You needn't be afraid of that he replied: then, noticing my look, lame like you, I mean
 That was easily done. Salina Briggs and I 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 sized. but gentleman and (hemD a scholar"
 He sent a quick, sensitive glance into my eyes, and bowed gravely. l "Whenever we chanced to pass on the street, she would make some audi ble 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.
 l "Loathing her as did, nothing ex- cept my great desire to join the Bach 1 elors' club could have made me ad- l dress her-let alone upon such sub l ject. But in those days when I want ed thing went it blind as the say ing is. Moreover, I was sure that Selma would consider my proposal a | Joke-perhaps the result of wager and this I knew would enrage her be- yond measure"
 He was silent so long, gazing miser- ably into space, that was obliged to speak to him. He looked up pathet- ically and whispered:
 "She said yes" | And you" ventured.
 'T am a gentleman" he returned, and nodded.
 'Tf 1t isn't-er" I began, after a long pause.
 Not at all," he answered. "She was mad to join the Matrons' club, that's all"
 | Before could utter word of sym pathy an untidy head appeared at the door and a coarse voice cried:
 John Hennery, be them peas done yit?"
 And as I passed through the gate heard in gentle and refined tones: NO. Selina; they'll be done in a