ELINOR'S CLUB.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13009, 10 January 1908, Page 10

ELINOR'S CLUB.

4 (By ROSALIE XEISH, in "M.A.P.") 'Why fihc-uld wo bavo men in our olulxi?' r said Elinor; "wo don't want theni, they don't want us, ond they lnvo th.-ir own clubs, and—they're only a nuisance in ours.' , "TJiey'ro ra.ubar fun." I Gain, tentatively. ••Fun!—wo don't lxdons to clubs for fun, a,t Lxu»t. 1 don't—l co-mo hero for quiet «nd peace, and—and when I'm untidy and wuJit to tidy up and have not time to go -home, and is wny I have ehc&eli the Pcrsiplionc.-' , I sighed. "Well, my dear Elinor, you liiiift. go your own. way; 1 am only very t-orry you wUI not join my club, btfiuibo "its sudi a ono; but, aitcr all, if you please vonreelt, you ire sure of being satisiied. - ' Elinor was having luncheon with us. "i am only un ior a few days," she said. "Paiia asked mo to come up about eonio* HMTU-ii'ts; what a foarful bore eerviiits <ire!" •■Where ;t.r«< you staying?' , "At the olub." she replied. ''Do come in. t» tea—rather late, dearest, if you don't mind, as I shall havo domestics pouring in on mc between three and lour —α-nd more probably on until nojrly five." "Very well,'" 1 eaid, "I will come iboiit 'five,'' and 1 aocordin,sdy drove down to tho Persi phono at a qua-rter-pat & five •is your business over.' 1 askea, as I was'shown into a delightful sittingroom that adjoined Elinor's bedroom. "1 never htvtrd anything co absolutoly idiotic end disgraceful/ she eaad, jumping up to meet mo, and pouring out her anger and troubles with soino incoherence. "'What do think, Alice, I have been waiting liere for two hours; you know, I advertised in tho "Momiiiv? Post,' , and for over two hours I've waited to see bt>tlors and first footmen —because- Martin is being married, nnd Jones won't stay on I without him—and they've actually sent them all away." '"Who has sent what away?" I asked in nwich bewilderment. '■Why, the hall moid," roplaed Elinor- "you know wo h%v© oniliy ho.ll mauls here! They're so nice- and clean, and «he so id she asked the ccci retary, who said she couldn't allow «ny men in the club." 1 I laughed, e.iud then, apologised. "I'm co sorry, dear, but how stupid of them; did tihey re-i.lly refuse?" "Yes," said Elinor, "and when I went down and complained, the eocretary said siho was very much surprised I had even suggested their coming here—as though it were c nunnery, o/es though. on«i looked on footineni cs men.." ''"What will you do?" I asked. "I don't knew/ she replied. "There were about fifteen altogether, the hall maid said, and now 1 suppose papa ■ will ha.ye to come up and see them at J his club, but he always likes mc to see tilicim for him." 1 ''An<l, of course, you wouldn't bo allowed in hie club," 1 said. "Poor you," 1 added emphatLeiJOyj "but you must consolo yourself with tine thought that every drawback has its cornip©JiEa~ tion, a.nd, at lejist, you will go* your meals in peace.' . It. was the following day, tjkl I had ; finished my breakfast, and was settling down to write my letters, when a telegram came from Elinor: ''Very unwell; ■ can you call in to-day?— Elinor." 1 ordered the brougham, and wonit at I once. iSiho was evidently suffering from a. chill, for her face was flushed, and her voice, rather hoarse. i "I say, dearest, I feel so very ' seedy," she said plaintively; "isn't it ii- bore wihon I havo so much, to do. I i thought perhaps you wouhl be an angel, and see to one or two things for mc." "Of course," 1 said. "I havo nothing to do to-day, and tho brougham is here; but, Elinor, can't I get you a doctor?" j • "I have told them to fetch one," she said, "and I shall tell him he muetv give mc something to buck mc up; I do so want to go to the Marchmonts' to-morrow night. I expect he'll be hero in about a quarter of an hour. Can you wait, like a dear, and send j off some wires for mc?" I "Of oonrse," I said; "but don't talk, ! lie still and I'll lower this blind." It was scarcely ten minutes before the maid knocked at the door. "The doctor, Miss," she whiepered Ito mc. j "Ask him to come up," I said, and turned away to tell Elinor. A few moments later there came a sharp rap at the door. Tho noisy kind of cheery man, I said to myself with a little grimace, as I thought of Elinor's fads for absolute quiet. "Come in," I cried, and, as the door opened, with some abruptness, 1 involuntarily drew back in dismay, for a tall, gaunt woman stalked firmly into the room, and, going over to tho window, clrew tho blind up hurriedly, showing us as she turned a sharp, rather hard, face, short and sensible [ skirts, and very useful gloves and boots. '•"How do you do?" she said curtly, taking off the useful gloves ac she spoke, and looking keenly at the astonished face of Elinor, who was almost buried in exceedingly fluffy garments. ""What is it." added the doctor, "a headache, eh?" But Elinor was apparently suffering from partial, if not entire, paralysis, and she only retreated further into the fluffy garments. Tho gaunt lady strode over to the bed. and felt her pulse, and ''tried" her chest, and generally went through the necessary medical pantomime, and then she turned again to mc. "A slight chill," she said cheerfully. "A day in bed—milk and soda and light food. I'll give her something that will soon set her right," and she sat down and drew out an exceedingly large and unpleasant-looking notebook, then she jumped up. "Good day," she bowed coldly to Elinor and turned to mc. "Are you coming down?" I meekly followed her. "There's nothing to be I alarmed about." she said reassuringly —"your eister? No, I thought not, she's exceedingly nervous. Most of you society women are neurotic nowadays. Don't let her get up to-day; but cheer her up, and don't let her talk about her ailments, eh? Good day," and a moment later she had vaulted athletically into a hansom, and was whirling away down Dover street. 1 ran back to Elinor. "Isn't it funny?" I laughed. "Oh, Elinor, wasn't it really lovely; did you ever see such an awful female?" I added j .Itnost hysterically, but Elinor's hysterics were the other kind. 'Give mo my blotter," she cried,

angrily, "quick, Alice—j-es, that one —and ring for Mario at once. I am going to get up." "Get up, ,, I said, "but you're ill!'' '•Yes, perhaps I am, but I'm not mad," she rejoined, ''and if I am ill I'll have a man to get mc well; but trive mo my blotter, dearest, while Marie gets my water, and let mc forget that creature •vvho treated mc as though I were a baby or a lunatic. 1 ' "Whom are you writing to?' , 1 asked. "I am sure you're too ill to write any letters." Elinor paused and laid her pen down on the blotter. "I'm writing to the secretary of the club,' , she eaid, "to tender my resignation, and to tell her what I think of her beastly club, and she added dramatically : "And then I'm going to a decent hotel: I'm much too ill to stay here, my dear Alice."