Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 July 1915 — Folk We Touch In Passing [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Folk We Touch In Passing

By Julia Chandler Man[?]

OF MORE AVAIL Every man who came In contact with The-Girl-with-the-Clever-Tongue sought her favor. Wherever she went Bhe was easily the center Of attraction, and the man who happened to be her escort never failed to feel a sense of pride in the fact. Friends of her Own sex who were Jealous of her popularity guarded their secret carefully, for The-Glrl-with-the-Oiever-Tongue had a quick wit, and her venomous sarcasms did not always spare even her closest friends. In her heart of hearts almost every girl in her Boclal circle was secretly afraid of her, even while they envied her fascinating vivacity, and the cleverness of her repartee. This was particularly true of The-Glrl-More-Kind-Than-Clever, whom no one had ever heard utter a witticism, although every one admitted her gentleness and her kindness of heart and loved her even while they considered her something of a bore. And they all felt sorry for the distressing frequency with which she became the butt of the sallies of The-Girl-with-the-Clever-Tongue, who took a keen delight in watching the tender eyes of her victim widen with pain when some particularly clever sarcasm wrung a laugh from her companions.

The Man was talking to The-Girl-More-Kind-Than-Clever, but he was conscious of the imperious young woman who was the center of a laughing group at the other end of the room; a young woman who was boasting to her circle of intimates that once she engaged the attention of The Man he would forget the existence of The-Girl-More-Klnd-Than-Clever. No one who listened doubted that The-Girl-with-the-Clever-Tongue could make good her boast, and so it was that no one was surprised when the pasty broke up that she had held The Man in rapt attention from the moment she had secured an introduction to him until the time came when he was forced to resume his escort of The-Girl-More-Kind-Than-Clever. And if he was more passing witty and entertaining on their way home It was because he had been put on his

mettle by The-Girl-With-tbe-Clever- > Tongue who had stirred his sluggish wits in order that they might follow her swift flowing stream of repartee. The Man sang her praises, declaring that she was Just the sort of girl a man needed to hold him up to his highest possibilities* and The-Girl-More-Kind-Than-Clever answered mechanically, pondering the strange ways of life —and of men—in her sweet and simple heart. The Ms" had been paying court to The-Girl-with-the-Clever-Tongue for six months. She had kept him in leash by the power of her wit and the charm of her vivacity, and she felt that his heart was an ally of his admiration. They were seen much together, and the brilliance of The Man’s wit was beginning to win an equal fame with that of The - Girl - with - the - CleverTongue, although every one aatd that It was her cleverness which he reflected. . , ' • Everybody saw the proud light in The Man’s eyes when The-Girl-with-the-Clever-Tongue held her auditors in ■s spellbound circle, and everybody expected the announcement ot their engagement

But the' announcement made. jitut not The Man was the most L catch in town. Aside from I lest table heart of The - Girl - with - thjJthis the Tongue was involved. She V- Cleverup her mind from the first tiad made The Man, and now that she P ensnare she loved him she was mltnew that mined than ever. She nevJlre deterthat she could, for it hadftr doubted? pastime touring men to hJ been her to send them about again with her stinging kling in thfir hearts. ( The-Girlwith-the-Clever-Tongue was well award that her large following of admirers expected some definite consummatiofiof the open court paid her by The An, and it stung her pride that she Ad nothing to report. He laughed at her clever pallies. He enjoyed I'ing with her in her game of brilllsSt repartee. He was proud of her pdSalarity, but for some reas<M, which Tfe-Girl-with-the-Clever-Tongue could nolunderstand, he did-not ask her to mi ry him. • Once iila great while it reached her ears that; The Man was still friends with The Girl-More-Klnd-Than-Clever* but; it gav her no concern. ....... “A man doesn’t marry a bore!” she remarked, and then made it a point to be a little more scathing and personal in her san asms whenever she chanced to meet T le-Girl-More-Kind-Than-Clev-er. The-Girlwith-the-Clever-Tongue had not seen lie Man for several weeks when he i lvited her to a dance. She heard he had been out of the city. Someone aid that he had been to see The-Girl-h jre-Kind-Than-Clever, who had not i ime home from the mountains, bit The-Girl-wlth-the-Clever-Tongue b< 3ted at the very idea. And she made ip her mind to put a stop to such rumos. She put on the prettiest frock she owned —th* one The Man had so much admired, ind determined that she would briig him up to the point of asking hen hand in marriage. ' Never lij all her life was she more entertainUg. - Never more scintillating with The Man was frankly delighted so see her again, frankly

charmed jwith her brilliance and her beauty, wd those who saw them together a| the dance were perfectly eure thatfthe matter of their marriage had been] settled and everybody said that it Mould be a fitting -and brilliant mat ch. When The Man and The-Giri-with-the-Clevt r-Tongue Teacbed the latter 1 * home, tie manner of The Man was quite im jersonal as he bade her goodnight, afcd bis companion wondered greatly 7 !® she went slowly to her room, for she was perfectly conscious that no o ia had been spared the hurt of her sa castle thrusts that her brilliance mil ;ht carry The Man quite off his feet tl tat night A week later a friend met The Man and congi atulated him upon the announcement of bis engagement to The-Girl-More-Mind-Than-Ctever, admitting his surprise. “Why," ifte said, “we all thought you as good tp engaged to The-Girl-with-the-Cleveij-Tongue.” “To hadre my life strewn with poisoned darts?” questioned The Man, .I t. "ladmiFanswered the friem^“tba«j

She Put on the Prettiest Frock She Owned.