Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 150, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 July 1917 — Fluctuations of Fanny [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Fluctuations of Fanny

By George Haskell

(Copyright. 1917, by W. G. Chapman.) “Say, sis, which of those two fellows do you mean to take?” Fanny Ranger looked at her big brother with a quizzical smile. “ ‘Take?’ ” she echoed with emphasis. “Don’t you think I’d better w’ait till one of them asks me to take him?” “Oh well, you know as long as you keep the poor guys playing seesaw, one up in the air one minute, and the other one the next, how is either one to know where he fe at?” “It’s some sport !’ T laughed the girl. “I haven’t had so much fun since I went to the Lenten sewing circle.” “Oh well, if it’s only a source of amusement to you, I suppose the two chaps will come out of it somehow, alive and kicking,” answered Gus. “Oh, but you know I do really like—” “Which one?” asked Gus impatiently. “Both.” The girl threw back her-head and laughed merrily while her elder brother frowned at her in stern disapproval. “Now, see here, Fan; a man is liable to know a lot more about other men than a girl ever can. This thing will have to come to a showdown. If you really care for either of these boys, you’d better settle it in your own mind before you lose the one you do want.” Fanny’s brows drew together in a perplexed frown Ip her endeavor to strike something like a mental balance Intelligible to her brother. “You see,” she said, “I like Robert Sale pretty well, but I don’t think he really cares as much for me as Bert.” “I suppose that’s because Bert flatters and humors you the most.” “Gus Ranger! You mean thing!” “No, Fan, listen! You’re an awfully spoilt girl! You couldn’t help it, I

suppose, with three brothers and two doting parents. There’s nothing really bad or reprehensible about you—” “Thank you,” she broke in with exaggerated meekness. “But you’ve got the habit of thinking everyone must dance to your tune. Bert Farrar gives in and humors you, something as a cat plays with a mouse, !but it won’t go on forever. After you’re married-he’ll drop that. A man with any backbone won’t go on forever, jumping through a hoop, and effacing himself to suit a girl’s whims. If ;you’ve got that in your head there’s bound to be trouble. Bob Sale can see your foolishness, but he won’t cater to it. He thinks there’s enough good in you to balance It up, and he thinks you’d come to the big test with flying colors.” "Guilty —with extenuating circumstances. That’s some laying out,” she pouted. “But go on. Your sizing up of the candidates interests me. A man is liable to know more than a girl ever can.” The last with pointed sarcasm. - Gus ignored the irony and went on: "As to justness success Bert seems rather the keenest and most enterprising, .but Bob forges ahead steadily, and may win out in the end,” “I. think,” she rejoined, "Bert is bound to be a rich man. He’ll get ahead of Bob in the race.” “Don’t you be too sure of that.” “Well, you’ll see I” she said. — “I guess I know now which fellow is ahead,” he laughed, standing up and stretching himself as he started for the door. \ Fanny gave an enigmatical laugh as her brother toojt himself off. her face grew serious. She had to ad-, mit to herself that Gus had drawn up a pretty clear estimate of the situation, also she was confronted with the . problem as to Which one she should let go. When she was away from them both, It seemed always that it was Robert Sale whom she wanted most to

see. But when Bert Farrar came he charmed and fascinated her, his presence was a delight, and she wondered how she could ever think of anyone else. With Robert Sale she knew she talked more and better, in fact she surprised herself a bit, but sometimes he combatted her opinions, and they had, what she called “scraps.” She gave a sigh, shook her head a trifle hopelessly, and decided to let matters take their course. “It’s a little too important,” she said to herself,' “to flip up a penny—so I guess I’ll leave it in the hands of Providence.”■ — The two young men unoer discussion were both good, wholesome specimens of American manhood, but somehow as Gus Ranger had intimated, Sale had the deeper, finer nature of the two. But ffiost girls of nineteen scarcely ever go far enough in character analysis, especially in the man who attracts them, to estimate‘fairly the traits which are to wear well in the trying years of the matrimonial partnership. Robert Sale loved her devotedly, but he had not the trick of pleasing which Bert Farrar possessed, and a certain sincerity of character would not allow him to pretend to anything he was not. So as time went on it became rather apparent that Farrar was ahead in ‘therunning. “Gus!” exclaimed Fanny a few weeks after this, “what do you think?” She rushed into the room, sparkling and rosy from her walk. Gus lowered his newspaper and looked Inquiringly over the edge of It. “Bert has got a splendid petition, secretary in the municipal works office ! Isn’t that fine?” “Yes, pretty good salary,” responded her brother. “What did I tell you?” she asked triumphantly. “I never said he wouldn’t get on, did I?” was the gruff reply. That evening Farrar glowing with delight at his success came to see Fanny. He was more entertaining and attractive than ever, and the girl only waited for him to speak the words she longed to hear. He spoke of the things he mean’t to do.

“At last,” he said, “I dare to speak, I can ask —” At that moment she was called to the telephone, and her brother seeming to consider it his duty to gu in and entertain her guest, and to remain till he went, the sentence remained unfinished, but he begged for an appointment the next evening, and went away— The next day Sale telephoned, asking if he might call. Fanny set the time for him an hour before Bert’s engagement. She felt that now he must understand, he must come no more. The interview was constrained, and unpleasant. Fanny found it hard to explain. But he was beginning to understand, when Gus, with his usual untactful habit of “buttin in" entered. Noticing the faces of the two, he burst out, “Now what’s up?” “I think,” said Sale, trying to steady his voice, “your sister is trying to break it as gently as possible—my dismissal.” “No wonder, you impossible Don Quixote! Look here, sis; what do you think he’s done?" “Now! Now please!” protested Sale. “Shut up! She’s going to know the whole depth of your folly. Do you know, sis, this idiot was named first for that municipal office, and he asked them to put in Farrar instead? Can you beat it?” ~ “Now listen,” explained Sale, “Farrar lost his position over two weeks ago. He has a mother and sister to support. I haven’t anyone but myself, and I can always manage.” He turned quickly to go. But Fanny laid a detaining hand on his arm. “Robert!” she said. “Don’t go away I Don’t ever go away from me—if you care —” Gus really had the tact at that moment to discreetly fade, away.

“What Did I Tell You?” she Asked Triumphantly.