South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-17
HOW THE STUDY CLUB RE
VENGED MADGE FOR MRS.
SMITHS DISCOURTESY

Mrs Graham, may 1 ask where
you purchased that hat?" Mrs. Hell
en- Brainerd Smith. secretary and
practical dictator Of the Lotus study
club. strobe up the aisle OF the club
toward me. her eyes swapping and
her face fairly purple with anger and
chagrin. The reason for emotion 1
we'll knew. Upon her head and upon
mine reposed two creations" Of the
milliners' art, which were as alike
as the traditional peas in pod.
Knowing the wealth and the repu-
tation for fastidioUsness in dress
which Mrs Smith possessed. I knew
that the hat she wore must he the
Paris original from which the clev-
err milliner 10 whom Lillian had in
troduced me had made the hat 1 was
myself wearing.
But her tone and words were too
insoIent 10 be borne. i locked at
her coolly. and said with a touch of
hauteur:
May I inquire OF you. Mrs. Smith,
what concern il may be of yours?'
Perhaps you have seen the effect
upon an angry hen Of having a basin
OF cold water thrown over her. The
smile came into my mind involun-
tarily as I saw the blank look of as
constituent upon Mrs. Smiths face
when answered her insolence by 2
retort I'm kind
II had evidently not occurred to
L sfsf1 1rr ~
cupying a position paid for by the
club, of which she was the virtual
dictator. would dare to dispute any
request or command Of hers.
Mrs. Smith RetOrts.
I could see the reflection of still
another thought in her mind. The
sight Of the duplicate hat had evil
IDENTIFY so angered her that she had
forgotten her usual pOise. 1 knew
that she almost would have given
her right hand If she had not for
gotten her dignity 50 far as to speak
OF the hat at all.
But. even though 7 disliked her
cordially, 1 could not help but ad-
mire the quickness with which she
dismissed the incident. Without
turning her head or in any way no
ticing the amused and inter ested
faces of the club women around her,
who had Witnessed the little centre
temps. she said, carelessly: OF
course, understand your reluctance
TO give the name of your milliner.
and I trust you will overlook my
rather natural surprise and indigna-
ton at finding that the expensive
model which I had supposed 10 be
mine had been put into the hands of
department store cOpyists."
She turned away with a little
shrug of the shoulders and went
back to the rostrum, leaving me to
follow as best / might.
The insolence of her tone and
words was so pointed that l was
sorelv tempted TO walk out OF the
clubrooms, never to return. But
the quick glimpse that 1 got of the
faces Of the clubwOmen who had
seen the incident showed clearly
their resentment of her insolent con-
duct toward me Besides. I reflect
ed that in reality il was not Mrs
Smith who had engaged me TO lead
the history section OF the study club.
but these other women, whose flash
ing eyes and heightened color
showed how much they sympathized
with my embarrassment.
Messages of Sympathy.
So. with my head held as high as
Mrs. Smiths own, followed her
down the aisle TO the rostrum, where
/ took my accustomed seat behind
the table that was always reserved
for speakers. and waited for the time
TO come when I was to begin my
talk
Mrs Smith had disappeared
through a small door into the rear
Of the rostrum. When she came
back few moments later l smiled
involuntarily at the childish petit
ness Of the woman, for she had re-
moved her hat. and took her place
at the secretaVy's table with no head
covering whatever
Fortunately for my own poise, my
indignation against Mrs. Smith had
given way TO amusement at the wo-
mans foOlishness
When I had first taken my seat
at the table I had felt SO angry and
Inundated that il seemed as though
I could not bear TO raise my eyes 20
meet the gaze of the women gath
cred before me But 7 knew that I
must face them when I rose 10 ad-
dress them. and I decided that II
would be better 10 look at them first
while sitting down So while the
timid president. whom I had once
Ikened 20 a frightened rabbit, hur-