Marriages are made in heaven, but old maids go there. Lillie also painted a cynical picture of dubious double-edged incisiveness. It was called "Latter-day Love," and represented the ill hap of Cupid, neglected and superfluous, his quiver full, his arrows rusty, shivering with the [pg 18] cold, amid contented couples passing him by with never an eye for the lugubrious legend, "Pity the Poor Blind." [pg 18] The picture put the finishing touch to the rooms of the Club. When Lillie Dulcimer had hung it up, she looked round upon the antimacassars and felt a proud and happy girl. The Old Maids' Club was now complete. Nothing was wanting except members. Latter-Day Love. [pg 19] [pg 19] CHAPTER II. THE HONORARY TRIER. Lord Silverdale was the first visitor to the Old Maids' Club. He found the fair President throned alone among the epigrammatic antimacassars. Lillie received him with dignity and informed him that he stood on holy ground. The young man was shocked to hear of the change in her condition. He, himself, had lately spent his time in plucking up courage to ask her to change it—and now he had been forestalled. "But you must come in and see us often," said Lillie. "It occurs to me that the by-laws admit you." "How many will you be?" murmured Silverdale, heartbroken. "I don't know yet. I am waiting for the thing to get about. I have been in communication with the first candidate, and expect her any moment. She is a celebrated actress." "And who elects her?" "I, of course!" said Lillie, with an imperial flash in her passionate brown eyes. She was a brunette, and her face sometimes looked like a handsome thunder-cloud. "I am the President and the Committee and the Oldest Old Maid. Isn't one of the rules that candidates shall not believe in Women's Rights?
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