The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-11-25
CLUBS WERE TRUMPS
FROM JUDGE.

He looked like a gentleman gone
seed. Though patched and frayed 4
to clothing. he was Immaculate bot
in dress and person. He sat upon th
kitchen doorstep. Smelling peas. HI
expression betokened reconciled de-
pair.
BE SO kind" he said meekly. bu
emphatically. "as not to utter tn
wcrd club to me. sir. The induce
ments that could tempt me to join an!
kind Of association whatever do no
| exist"
Before saying more. he glanced ap
prehensively over his shoulder. Their
he explained in q low tone:
TO clubs are due all my misfor'
tunes: and endure sufficient, I as
sure you. When I was a young man
and that seems centuries ago-this
village passed through an epidemic Of
clubs. How or why the pestilence
broke ont. 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
five or six.
AT that time was just young
enough TO know all about life. and
was certain that 1t offered no prize
like personal liberty. Consequently I
was confirmed bachclor-and rather
prone to boast of it. l 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
Bachelors club the receipt Of one re.
lection at least was made a qualifica.
ton for membership. was eager to
Join. but this excluded me.
Isn't there way to get around
the rule" asked Lon Pendleton.
president.
"'No' he replied. We mustn't be.
gin that way. Don't try to get around
it--inst qualify
Propose to some one?
Certainly
Suppose I am accepted"
"'You needn't be afraid Of that ne
rcph"l then, noticing my look, lame
" added. select some one who doesn't
like yoN mean
That was easily done. Salina
Rr-es and haG been sworn enemies
since we went barefootcd to tho dis.
tr 4 hooi. .;.,a was bigger than the
teacher then. aud called her Jumbo.
81 = rotaliatcd by calling mo Whiffet.
The years that had added to hcr bulk
ard coarseness had left mo under
siara, nut gentleman and (hem!) a
scholar"
he sent a quick. sensitive glance
into my eyes, and bowed gravely.
whenever we CHANGED to pass on
the street she would make some audi.
bic 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.
cent my great desire to join the Bach.
alors' club could have made me ad-
iress her-let alone upon such q sub
ect. But in those days when I want.
ID thing I went II blind as the say.
ng is. Moreover was sure that |
Selma would consider my proposal a
the result Of a wager
Ind this I knew would enrage her be-
'ond measure"
He was silent so long, gazing miser.
lbly into space. that was obliged to
peak to him. He looked up pathet.
cally and whispered:
"She said yes"
"And yOu-' I vent red.
II am a gentleman he returned.
nd I nodded.
IT It isn't-er' I began, after a
onR pause.
mot at ALL" he answered. "She was
nad to join the Matrons' club. that's
H."
Before could utter q word of sym.
athy. an untidy head appeared at the
COR and a coarse voice cried: |,
John Hennery. be them peas done
IT."
And as passed through the gate
card in gentle and refined tones:
mo, Selma: they'll be done in .
linute." i;
wife Who 10 Past Redemption.