THE STORYTELLER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 60, 8 June 1907, Page 4

THE STORYTELLER.

«' THE ANTI-BRIDGE CLUB. V Jack Meredith and his wife were dining for once iu a way. Ella was Srathcr silent and depressed, for she had {been holding bad cards all the afternoon, and continual "Yarborougha" do not tend lo cheerfulness. T.hsi husband was constantly taking gat his watch. It was unusual to see jltni - go impatient, and the fact attracted fer attention. "Have you an appointment this evening?" she asked a little vfearily.

& "I am going to the club," he said, 'and lain anxious not to be late." that the club you were talking gwbout the other day?" she asked, more afcr something to say than because she %48 really interested in the matter. &Yes,*> he said. "The Anti-Bridge Club. only been opened a week, and I think it is going to be a grand success." F. fa What do you do?" she asked indiffcrfeatly. She was going on to a bridge jboirty, but she could only hope she would Sold better cards than she had done this pftemoon. -

K-"It is a club for non-bridge players," me .explained, "a sort of protection against the husbands and wives win Spend all their time gambling, and think »1 nothing but cards." g-"ljeaning me," said Ella with a faint mile. "What do you do there," she Inked again, 'as you don't gamble ?" * Wt% don't say it isn't a gamble in a !p*y," he replied. "At any rate, there W'gtenty of excitement about it. You §§fte your name down as you go in, and Bfcjt certain time there is a draw —that ■Mb Bay, each man member draws for a

Hptner, and the one who falls to his lot ||,to be his companion for the evening, ■pey can spend the time just as they Bps--gQ to a.play or some place of enterKnment, and finish up with supper. It's l&and idea— a perfect sweeping away Hpbe evenings.'' Iljaift leant a little forward. She was ffißeh'more interested in the subject now. Ettaf—she said, "you might draw someEft »\rful—you might get some dreadf'.il ■P&f course one might. That is whet2 Sk gamble comes in."

BfAnd there is always the same nuinHt.of, men as of women t" KRMy, no—of course not. If there Eu-too few women, one may chance to Hr a. blank > while of the men are in Bsr minority, some women don't get Wtom at all. I tell you it is a delicious pfie. Something different every Sit Sometimes one may get a run tajik. I have been wonderfully forlf« lately. The first time \ drew i. Carol— she is so pretty one never ujjred of looking at her, and last Battle Mrs Webling fell to my lot! Of charming! and so amusing, she p/ae in fits of laughter all the time. Bent, to the Alhambra, and finished the Savoy " A who pays expenses, may I ask?" inquired in an icy voice. Bpoh person is supposed to pay for Ipr himself, but of course that is &&L" He "threw back his head and jpd in reminiscence. "You have no itwhat an excellent mimic Mrs Web- \.%" he went on. "Last night she Kpaying "

mf have not the slightest desire to Eg of any of Mrs Webling's remarks," ■M&nterrapted snubbingly. "Indeed, I HOT imagine how any respectable woHgfcan belong to such»aclub. To go Bint with other people's husbands—" Hst is no worse than playing bridge HuLJDther men's wives until the small H«». like her hußband does," she re■Md. "You might at least be fair, Bit; - As to being respectable—there ■£gft- » more exclusive club in London. illihe names have to be proposed and Enpdedby members, and then go before B&ommittee. Several people have been Hppwlied already."

HBat drammed her fingers on the tabl■fir some, irritability. "And may I ask fiSjre you propose to go to-night!" sho elffell; you Bee, it depends upon whom mm.% and whether 'she' likes to go. Bttjlpf I get Mrs Webling, we shall do a mHp-nall again. She promised to be jhjffL and, of course, it is too late for HHKplay. There is another draw for Bw partners if one gets to the club SSflfcr—l must try and do that to-mor-

suppose," she said with some jjJHjVnegs, "that in the future I shan't Hraptch of you. You will be dancing Bnfiaice upon Mrs Webling, or some H&piTjoman' like her." R&lpoked up surprised. BgJMy dear Ella," he said, "we could K|see much less of each other than we Bjgmiy. ' You seem to forget that you BKtaTely if ever at home—that if you Swfiuked out to dinner you are wanted Hpkoat your husband, because, as he Httnt play bridge, there will be nothing |pdo with him afterwards. If I want KB-to go to a play with me, you can gber go because you are engaged to Sake up a rubber. This club will be my Bttvation, and you ought to be. welcome tw.it, 100, if you have ever been con-Sjence-strickcn enough to think of poor Pss. at home by myself." %rlsß took out his watch and started

EJove," he cried, "I did not think so late. I shall searcely get to ib in time for a draw. Good-bye, wish me good luck!" he hurried from the room, and ew minutes she heard the bang of ont door. Ella did not move for some time. pebrows were drawn together, and is full of thought. Indeed, it was in effort she at last rose from the and prepared to go to the bridge where she was expected, is'incredible!" cried her hostess, us itered the room, where a card-table dto lurk in every corner. 'Mrs Sth is actually half an hour lats; a thing has never occurred before. »r EUa -we thought you must be

Wigram—Miss Crane," intro- | Khteed the secretary, and Wigrani found Bpßuutf bowinj; to the owner of one of Bffijn in in*- charming faces he had ever ■gT have had the good luck to draw Hmo" he said smiling. nice!" she replied. "The last Ejfime I was here, my escort was an old Kmaa who could talk of nothing but his l|iainents all the evening. You won't Kgf about yonr ailments, will you?" Del haven't any," he laughed, "so yon Bjfo be quite happy. Where shall we RpsOh, to the very nicest of places. We Hgrnt dijie at the Ritz, see the new piece Kjgfc'tne Hnymarket, and have supper at Eft? Savoy. Docs that programme suit

||; "Nothing could be better," he replied Enthusiastically, and in three minutes lijiiey were driving off in a hansom.» don't know what I rtnuld do with - lljjttlus Auti Bridge Clnl) ' he dchnd . jgpaly think what it mian*' If t wuc I j||||ioi that vou ind I might neui lu\ ffiyjs&am Bure we should not," she lcplud HmuUly ' Before f ]omed f met n > Kin., Both mv sisteH pla\ bndg" m I Bfflpeourse, they get ever so rmiu unit' Baffi'p; tint, because I don't, no one nskISSU- $ never go on visits 101 if r did I HHnj&atwy* f«l as if I were m th

[way, anil not waul oil. It was so different eight years ago when 1 Ihvt came out-bridge wa.i iu)t. so popular thenand I hail a very good time. You won't believe me, but 1 used to be as much in request because 1 could sing, and people, enjoyed listening to me after dinner. So, of course, 1 have given up practising even, now. What is the. good when no one cities lo hear me? I really used to sing quite well'" looking up at him pathetically. '

I "I am quite sure you could" he answered promptly. "1 hope you will let me hear you one day." She shook her golden head. "I have given it up," she said. "But tell mellow is it you are here? Don't you ever play?"

"I never cared for cards,'-' lie replied, "and none of iny friends care for anything else, so 1 scarcely ever see them now. Just think of my luck! They are all slewing in some hot room.au': probably swearing at their partners, and losing money, while I am spending th ■ evening in the best possible way with the most delightful companion in th; world!"

"Don't be too sure," she laughed. "You have only known me for ten minutes—perhaps I shall turn out to be horrid later."

"I will risk that for the enjoyment you have already given me, and if the worst comes to the worst and we don't get on. we can be quite silent. But you can't keep me from looking at you. At least this is one evening you are engaged to spend with me, and I mean to make the most of it. One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name, you know." "One can say that while the hour lasts," she answered, "but the nameless age afterwards is appalling to think of. I think I would rather die when the hour is over."

"We will do better than that," he said, "we will repeat his hour again and again. While the Anti-Bridge Club (remains, at least there can be no chance of boredom, and I can always live on in the hope of meeting you once more.

It was past midnight when he drove her home, and* he lingered on the steps after he had opened the door for her with her latch-key. "Are you going to the club to-morrow night!" he asked. "I ain not sure," holding out her hand to say good-bye. "But if I do—it is very unlikely that you will draw me." "I might manage it somehow," he said thoughtfully. "Do you think it would be very disgraceful to cheat in such a case?''

"Of course it would," she cried horrified. "You would get turned out of the club if you were found out, and then there would be an cud to all your crowded hours."

"Then we must trust to happy chance," he said.

"The Fates are not so kind as a rule," laughing. "I expect yon will get a terrible old frump next time." "Then I shall bore her as much as she bores me. I will talk about my ailments."

"[ thought you had none?" "I hadn't before this evening." She glanced up, surprised. "What has happened to you now?" she asked. "I am afraid I am suffering from an affection of the heart," he answered slowly. "Would you like to hear my symptoms!"

"No, thank you," she said laughing. She ran lightly»up the steps, but before she closed the door she turned round and for a moment he caught a glimpse of her pretty, blushing face. "Perhaps the disease is infectious," she said slowly, "and—l don't want to hear the symptoms because—l already know them!"

Colonel Leslie had been travelling for a year, and had only just returned to England. He hurried over his dinner so as to get early to the Bridge Club. There was always such a crowd there. He was therefore rather surprised to find the street nearly deserted. He dii not even see the long line of hansoms which had always waited within call, knowing that there would be plenty of custom later on.

There was rather a desolate look about the club itself, too. He waited a long time before the door was opened, and then a shabby-looking porter answered his impatient ringing of the bell. '•This is still the Bridge Club, isn't it?" he asked with some asperity. '•Yes, sir," replied the porter laconie-

Leslie went to the first card-room, the porter followiug on his heels. He opened the door, expecting to find the room brilliantly lighted, and crammed as usual with men and gaily-dressed women; but he fell back at the sight which met his

eyes. There were several card tables there, looking shabby and dusty and unoccupied. Only one light was switched on in the far corner, where two old men sat playing double dummy. "What does it mean?" he cried, turning to the porter. "Is this a city of the dead?" "It only moans as bridge 'as 'ad its day," answered the porter dryly. "But"—cried Leslie aghast, "but from the rage there was for it for so many years, one would have thought it would go for ever." The porter shrugged his shoulders. "All the other clubs was shut up long ago," he said. "Ours is the last one standin', and we close next week. There arc only those two members left," nodding hi-; head in the direction of the double-dummy table, "and their subscriplinns." contemptuously, "scarcely pays for the light they use, let alone the rent of the place." "But what is the reason of this Midden collapse?'' "It's the Anii-Biiilgc Club as 'as killed us- it's on that account v.e don't get any members now." Colonel Leslie remembered lie-iring of that institution just before he went away, but he still could not understand and wanted to know more. , "I can't see how that could interfere," he said. "Well, sir, it was like this. The new club wouldn't take anyone as played I bridge, so they 'ad to give it up or lie-

I 01 1"-" "But why? What would he the attraction;" "Von see, air, it was jealousy for the most part. There were many marriages due to the Anti-liridge Club, and bridge, itself ain't conducive \<) matrimony. It don't give one no time to think o' such things. So (he young ladies as used to belong 'ere thought they might do better by goin' over to the opposition, so to speak. Then all the lest of the members as used to spend their time playin' cnnls, and didn't care one brass farthin' what aippened to their 'usbands. and wives as didn't like the game—as soon as they 'card of their goin's on at the -Anti' they got suspicious, and resigned 'ere so that they could go and spy on their belongings," Colonel Leslie was amused. "And is I there only one Anti-Bridge Chi))'.'" he I asked.

•■to' bless you no. ~ir. It got liimitnled. and now there are several of them all over London, thriving in »ueh a way a, no club throve before. Ah. well! On- us"d to think bridge 'ad a 'unilreii lives and would take a lot o' killin' but (his la*( new thiii'.r 'as beat it 'ullow, and won a grand slain, .■>=: you might say. l''raps you would like to cut in, sir, or'-' with au apologetic smile—''l should say

(only -'iil.it is a second nature) join ilia gentlemen over there at their game. I'll) sure they'd bo ngrceablc."

"Cood Heavens, no!" cried Colonel Leslie hastily, healing a retreat. "1 should feel like a corpse if 1 stayed here lor.r 1 think 1 will go over to the 'opposition,' and see if they will have mc there." And as lie turned and left the room the depressed voice of one of the players fell on his cars as he called out wearily: "1 make it spades!"— Mabel 11. llobins. in M.A.l'.