Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 258, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1918 — Page 3

Summering in Texas

By LINCOLN TOTHBLUM

(Copyright, ISIB, by the McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) When Betty Wilson heard of German atrocities and the appalling casualties, she was shocked in a very perfunctory manner. She felt as if such things ought to horrify her, and accordingly would raise her hands, palms outward, in an attitude of dismay, and with a pretty shudder beg you to desist It was awful, just awful. It took her mother’s unexpected message, “Bobby’s enlisted,” to make the war a vital thing to her. For, although Bobby himself never knew what place he held in his sweetheart’s affections Betty had no doubts that Bobby ranked ace high. "Bobby’s enlisted?” repeated Betty, incredulously. "In what branch?” Mrs. Wilson advanced toward her daughter. Betty had not taken her own brother’s enlistment so to heart "In the cavalry,” she answered. "Is it not wonderful that he was accepted?” There was a moment’s silence and then Betty was crying. “But, my dear,” Mrs. Wilson comforted gently, “whatever is the piatter? Are you not proud to hear it?” « “Oh, yes, yes,” came in a choked voice, muffled in the folds of a handkerchief hiding eyes already sadly red, “but the cavalry is the most dangerous thing in the world. He can get killed most any time.”

A ring at the bell interrupted the tearful grievance. As Mrs. Wilson opened, the door she whispered a hasty word to the broad-shouldered visitor. “Where’s Betty?” he called out in a husky voice as he entered the living room and pretended not to see her. Perhaps it was because of the whispered warning that Bobby was not totally unprepared for the onslaught, for with a cry of “Oh, Bobby, oh, Bobby!” Betty flung the tiny daintiness of her person into his arms. It required but a short conference between the two, consummated by the approval of Mrs. Wilson, to decide the trip to the leading jeweler in town. And a slightly longer conference placed upon the rosy-tipped finger of Betty’s left hand tjie warning solitaire. And Betty sent him away smiling. She had always felt that if her mother had not been so foolishly prejudiced she would have made an illustrious actress. Here her heart was crying and breaking, but her eyes were dry and there was a smile on her lips. And the train letter she had given him was a happy, jolly letter, full of good cheer, but she hoped he could see where the tears had fallen on the pages. At the camp post office it was not

long before the soldier detailed to sort the mall knew to what troop “Robert Denton” belonged without further reference to the address, for letters and parcels, penned in a very feminine script, came with such regularity and quantity that he often was compelled to remark to the fortunate lad, "I wish you had to sort your own mail. You get more’n the whole regiment put together." At which Bobby would smile and, tucking a box of candy under one arm and a box of “smokes under the other, would stride off reading a whopper of a letter, as he loved to dub the voluminous manuscripts which Betty spent numberless hours to compose. • It was the middle of July—a very hot and dry July. Formerly Betty had been the first to suggest vacation, and early June as a rule found her at the seaside. Mrs. Wilson was nonplussed. > “Where are you planning to go this season?”' she asked, ‘fl thought of Nanton Hook, Maine. The breezes are so cool there.” Betty shook her head with a decided negative. “Perhaps you may be going to Nanton Hook, Maine. But I am going to El Paso, Texas. Mrs. Wilson stared. Texas for a vacation! Texas in the summer! Was her daughter in sober earnest? 1 And then she remembered —and remembering, she smiled. For close to El Paso was Fort Bliss. And at Fort Blisswell, at Fort Bliss was Bobby. As the hours flew by when the train crossed the boundary line .into Texas, Betty kept wondering if there were any end to the Lone Star state. Within short periods the scenery changed with unbelievable rapidity. At early morning she was traveling through a mountainous region—huge, stately hills rising majestically from the ground. Noon saw vast stretches of arid desert land with its network of irrigation canals and ditches. Now It was a plateau unrelieved save fbr the stubbles of cactus plants and then a deep ravine from which the water had vanished eons ago. Night .of the third day brought the travelers to the city of El Paso, picturesque because of its constant competition in architecture, language and population for American or Mexican supremacy. “Hotel Paso del Norte,” Betty directed the taxi driver, and was very proud that he understood‘her. Perhaps she would have hesitated before complimenting herself upon her skillful use of the Spanish tongue had she known the chauffeur was quite accustomed to understanding the language incorrectly enunciated. The following morning found Betty urgently hurrying her mother tor early departure for the camp. But long

after Mrs. Wilson pronounced her toilet completed. Betty still primped before the mirror. She must look her very best, she thought, and later stolid El Pasoans found a second turn of the head well worth while as. the faitskinned northerner motored by. At the fort Betty wondered why the soldier on guard assumed such an aggressive position as she smiled her prettiest and asked to be directed to the proper location. “It seemed.” she afterward told her mother, “as if he was'afraid I wanted to snatch his rifle from him. Bobby’s tent necessitated a long climb on foot through a sandy, uphill stretch, and it was a rather breathless Betty who stopped before the tent to which she had been directed. As she saw no one, she motioned to her mother, laboriously making the ascent, to wait below. Betty walked a few paces off. She could see no one Jn or about the tent. A bit off she saw a laborer cleaning a saddle, and behind him a soldier with a rifle. She decided that she would make Inquiry of him and advanced. “Can you tell me—” That man in blue overalls! That man scrubbing a saddle! Betty reeled. It was Bobby! With an armed soldier behind him! He was a prisoner. And he had told her he had won a sergeant’s chevrons. Betty flew down the hill as she heard the soldier says: “Has the skirt gone nuts?” And Mrs. Wilson became fully convinced she had been very unwise to accede to her daughter’s plans, as her arm was grabbed and she was violently pulled down the hill by a very agitated Betty. “Stop, stop, Betty, my slippers are full of sand!” But her appeal brought no response, nor could she on the ride back to the hotel elicit any explanation for the sudden demand that they return immediately home. But Mrs. Wilson was too eager to leave the hot climate to question very minutely her daughter’s change of plans. The bellboy had already carried their valises into the taxi and Mrs. Wilson was making a final inspection of their room to see that nothing had been left behind. Betty stood disconsolately at the window, gazing at the -street below.

“All right, Betty,” called her mother, "let’s go.” “Yes, let’s go,” repeated Betty in an unwilling tone. She. did not want to leave El Paso, but it was the only alternative. As the elj§£atef stepped at the main floor and discharged its burden Betty stood aghast. There was Bobby! Her Bobby. But looking surprisingly military in a perfectly fitting uniform. And on his arm were the prescribed three stripes of a sergeancy! He turned and saw. her. “Betty,” he cried out joyfully as he made a rush for the girl shrinking behind a huge palm. The hotel Quests turned to stare at the unusual commotion. “Betty, my Betty,” he called as he caught up to her, “come to me.” And as she held off, “What is the matter?” Betty was choking. She could hardly speak. “But you’re a prisoner !” “A prisoner?” Bobby repeated questlonlngly. “I’m no prisoner.” His emphatic denial did not convince her. “Oh, but I saw you this morning at camp. Yon were in overalls, scrubbing a saddle, and there was a soldier with a rifle behind you.” Bobby laughed loud and long. His voice re-echoed throughout the lobby. “Oh, you dear, dear Betty. Don’t you know soldiers wear blue denims so as not to soil their uniforms? And the soldier behind me—that’s my bunkie 1” As hotel guests and employees returned to newspaper and duties they pretended not to see the happy kiss of reconciliation. Mrs. Wilson leaned weakly against a cAalr. "Imagine,” she said, “summering in Texas!”

NOT ENOUGH TO KNOW LAW

Young Men Seeking Admission to Bar Must Have General Understanding of Many Things:. It goes without saying that a lawyer must know a little something about law, but many persons will be interested to discover that the young men who have taken the preliminary examinations for admission to the bar must know something else. They were required to write an essay on “The Growth of Democracy”— a very good thing for them to understand. To test their knowledge of literature they were asked to give the name of the author and the work in which any three of seven famous characters appear, including John - Alden, Mrs. Caudle, Wilkins Micawber, Sir John Falstaff and Faithful. They were asked to tell what the Balkan peninsula is and the countries included In it, aim to name the five principal countries in Africa, and to bound several American states. And they were asked to tell about the Invincible armada and the origin of the British revolution of 1688, as well as other facts in European history. In addition their knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, Latin and American history was tested. Those who passed the examinations may go on with the study of the law. And it is supposed that their general knowledge will expand to keep pace with their growing knowledge of the pnnciples and practice of the law. — Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger.

One Not Guilty.

First Squibsmith—"Say, I wonder who originated the. mother-in-law joke.’* Second Ditto—“ Dunno, but It’s safe to say it wasn’t Adam.”

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

A Christmas roll call of the whole American people’ for membership in the Red Cross will take place December 16 to 23, Inclusive, formal announcement thereof being made through the following statement authorized by Henry P. Davison, chairman pf the war council: "From December 16 to 23 the lists will be open for every American tn every corner of the world, so that It may be known that the whole nation at home and abroad is registered for the cause. The Red Cross wants again to give the world notice not only that America can fight, but that to the Inst man, woman and child'-we stand four square for mercy, honor and good faith among the nations. "At the close of the Christmas membership campaign of 1917 there were 22,000,000 Americans enrolled in the Red Cross. There are also 8,000,000 members in the Junior Red Cross. “This year, both as a Christmas observance and as a renewal of the nationwide pledge of loyalty, the Red Cross will again put before everyone the duty of standing by the flag; for the Red Cross in this.great fight for peace represents the whole spirit of what we are fighting for. “This will not be a call for money. It will be a summons to Americans everywhere to line up for the Ameri-

“What branch of the service is she In?” just naturally springs to the lips when our eyes behold a young woman In one of these help-win-the-war frocks. They contrive to carry more than a suggestion of a uniform and have the snap and sturdiness of khaki clothes put on by brothers In arms — which commends them to American young womanhood this day. All business girls—and that Includes many more than ever before—are invited to consider the advantages of this frock and others of like character. They are- enough to inspire their owners to find something to do to make themselves useful, even if such an ambition has never troubled their placid hearts before. It must be the small flap pockets, or the battalions of buttons or the patent leather belt or its general trimness and businesslike simplicity that mark this frock as a uniform for one who is engaged In the pursuit of usefulness. It might be made of any substantial wool material or of a very heavy cotton. The frock pictured is of silvertone in blue with its crisp flecks of white. One will not grow tired of a dress like this. Its wearer puts it on, fastens it up and forgets all about It—this, which is a consummation devoutly to be wished, for all frocks for business and for those to be worn by the young woman at school. There is nothing to be told about this dress that may not be gathered from the picture. Its skirt is wider than the new suit skirts that are designed with less reference to convenience than to fashion and do not allow a free stride. It is the regulation Unrth—two Inches below the shoe tops. There are four of the long panels laid in very shallow plaits, and attached to the skirt under the most orderly rows of bone buttons. The bodice and sleeves are plaih. fl One might have a short, straight cbat of the same material to be worn with the, frock In cold weather, or one of those three quarter length capes, with warm

“Help-Win-the-War” Frocks

can ideal. We cannot all fight, !Mt this one thing everybody can do."The Red Cross membership fee Is one dollar. Half of this remains with the local chapter, ‘to be used for expenses and for relief of our soldiers and their-families; the other half goes to the national treasury. “There will be no allotment of quotas to any community. The quota in every district will be the limit of its adult population. "When the roll-can comes, every American, old or young, will be called re register and add the weight of his name to the Red Cross message. “Let us answer with one voice to the word of President Wilson, when he said: “ T summon you to the comradeship.’ ” The number of men and women now wanted for enrollment in the service of the American Red Cross abroad is in excess of 5,000, and this number la increasing weekly. Recruits to Increase the personnel as above indicated must be obtained by the end of rhe present calendar year. Special appeals are being made by the national bureau of personnel, to the various Red Cross divisions, to put forth particular efforts in enlisting workers, so that the effectiveness of the organization in the war zones may not be Impaired.

lining. But this belp-win-the-war frock has a claim to its title from the fact that it is an excellent model to copy when the conservator of wool intends to make over a suit —especially one with a long coat —into a one-piece dress. A little cleverly concealed piecing out may be required, or the panels may be shortened. In the former case braid or tucks win help out and plaits might be omitted.

Fashion’s Wise Economy.

Deme Fashion has taken “economy" for her watchword in preparing her winter styles. She uses expensive furs, but she uses them discreetly, a broad band across a narrow panel, a pocket, a crushed collar instead of a wide-spreading cape. She combines serge and satin In many of her most fetching frocks, and what she lacks in over draperies, although ahe still uses them, she makes up for in rows of silk braid or fringe. As a practical garment for street wear in the toll, she brings out the man-tailored, semifitting suit, with do other trimming than silk-braid bindings. arrow-head embroidery and bone or self-covered buttons. Other suit models are less severe, with jackets of fingertip length, uneven around the hem and with fur-trimmed panels.

May Eliminate Belta.

There is a tendency to try to rfin> Inate belts in the new winter eoatA and to emphasize the straight-hang-ing silhouette. The average woman is not keen about this kind of a eoat except. perhaps, for motor wear, and many makers of coats are putting on at least partial belts.

Hats of Plush.

There is a surprising variety of plush hats on display Intended for early fall and winter wear. They are made infall the fabric tones.

I LOVED A LASSIE

■ ~,1 loved a thin girl, but she was too thin. I loved a tat girl, but shewas awfully fat ••... I loved a tan but she was a baby giraffe. I loved a short girl, but I could only see the top of her hat I loved a religious girl, but she was always at a meeting. I loved a free-thinker, but she insisted on living in Greenwich village. I loved a good fellow, but she was, well, just a little free in her cups. I loved an outdoor girl, but she always wore a middy blouse. I loved a cabaret queen, but she painted her cheeks red. > I loved a girl with a brain, but she looked like Banqpo’s ghost I loved a simple lass, but she stuttered. I loved a chorus girl, but she ate onions. I loved an athletic girl, but she had a disagreeable habit of slapping me on the back. I loved a pretty little thing, but her father was a plumber. I loved a girl with beautiful eyes, but she kalsomlned her nose. I loved a Red Cross nurse, but she went away. ‘ I loved a minister’s daughter, but she was too gay for me. I loved a debutante, but she couldn’t get up an appetite for breakfast without three cocktails. , \ And then, all of a sudden, just like that— I loved a girl who- wasn’t too thin nor too fat, neither too tall nor too short, not unduly sanctimonious and yet who had decent scruples, taking her glass of port, but no more; dancing as well as she played tennis, serious at times and not addicted to foolish remarks; pretty of course, with eyes, hair, nose, lips, shoulders and all that sort of thing—merciful heavens, how I loved her — But she existed only in my imagination.—Franklyn Everett Fitch, in Judge.

JOTTINGS

A man’s temper improves with disuse. Prudence is merely well trained common sense. ‘ 1 Never make friends of fools nor fools of your friends. Some women worry about the worries they have missed..,, v A. circus can pull a sick boy out of bed after three doctors have failed. The man who is forever looking backward never gets very far ahead. Idle curiosity is an unknown toetor in the fair sex. It works overtime. Charity may cover a multitude of sins, but there are a number of multitudes still uncovered. Time is money, according to theadage, yet some men spend a great deal of time trying to borrow money.

SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE

To get the last word with a life insurance agent. To keep a woman from writing on both sides of the paper. To look dressed up when you have a ready tied four-in-hand on. To refrain from turning to the sporting page of a newspaper first To make a player piano play as well at home as it did in the store. To understand the telephone conversation of a stenographer who to chewing gum. To get the buttons in a white vest without breaking one of the com-mandments.—-Topeka State Journal.

LIFE’S DILEMMA

Why Some Men Dent Stay Single. It costa too much. They don’t want to go to war. They say ft’s a dog’s life. san* i Why Some Men Don* Got a Divorce It costs too much. They don’t want to go to war. They say it’s a dog’s life. And there you are. But a fellow can’t remain neutral In the matter.

IN TIME OF NEED

By SAIDEE E. BALCOM.

(Copyright. i»IS. Weatera Nawmapec - “Swiftness is the essence of the pr*.* ent task. Miss Peyton,” spoke Vniiee Drury, traveler, explorer arid lecturer. “They tell me I can take dictation very rapidly,” replied the young lady stenographer modestly, but with vwr victlon. “Then you will exactly suit me. It is a peculiar case. I have just returned from the far South Pacific. 1 have* reason to believe I have discovered a new land and a new people. I have had a rival, and an unworthy one, Axel Morgan, a man not at all averse to stealing my thunder, and. as I have reason to believe, in possession of copies of my memoranda of the first six months of my trip. Be that as it may, I am here safe in New York ahead of him. To prevent the possibility of his coming on the scene to anticipate the publication <rf my book. I wish to rush it to press forthwith.” “I understand,” nodded Miss Peyton. She was glad of the work, for which she had been engaged at very good pay. She was the daughter of an editor and writer and recognized in Vnnce Drury a man of superior mental mold. Besides that, bis daring, adventurous spirit captivated her. There was a charm in his recital of the scenes he had witnessed, the work was unique, and for a week from eight until noon and from one to six, Nina sat in the little office, transcribing the notes made by the explorer during his year’s visit to the Antarctic circle. Some of Ms descriptions of icy wonders, of great solitudes, of sun and moon pictures no one but an actual observer could describe. Vance jotted down these verbal descriptions, recognizing frt them the finest part of his work. ' . . - ' "You see, 1 want to group all my Ideas into a half-coherent form. I’ve sent for a very dear friend, Cart Whitley, the story writer. I want him to beat the mass Into shape and give it the literary flavor, the coloring, the snap and go.” Cart Whitley appeared on the scene. From the first Nina disliked him. He assumed great airs of literary superiority because he had made a hit in the world of letters wlth*wne or two trivial books. At once Nina realized that he was indolent, fairly written out, and inclined to rest on the generosity of Drury In giving the finishing touches to the book, the latter proposed to issue. It was two days after Nina had completed her work and was transcribing the great mass of data to typewritten form, when she was telephoned for by Drury. She was somewhat startled and alarmed to learn that he was at a private hospital* She found him under charge 'of a physician. “,Ml«s Peyton,” said Drury, "there may be no cause for alarm, but I have reason to believe that I am going to have a relapse into the sleeping fever of which I had an attack just before returning to this country. If this is true, I shall be utterly Incapacitated, mentally and physically, for at least two months. I have sent for you to urge Whitley to get at work on the book at once. It would break my heart to have Axel Morgan appear on the scene while I am helpless and filch my hon-. estly-earned laurels. You will urge on Whitley and my publisher and push forward the work at once, I hope.” Nina promised him, pleased and honored with the confidence he reposed in her. She met a decided obstacle at the outset. .Carl Whitley developed In his true colors an incompetent, n procrastinate. She soon realized that no dependence whatever could be placed upon him. With this hoped-for co-operation failing, and Vance Drusy lying in a wast'Tng fever, all the initiative and energy in the young woman became aroused. She was urged on by reading a dispatch stating that Axel Morgan had arrived at a Spanish port, en route for the United States. Nina sat reflecting seriously all one evening. The next she spent with the prospective publisher of the book. Then—work, oh, such work! Day and night she devoted heart, soul and mind to the task she bad set for herself. Cart Whitley she utterly disdained. He was a broken reed, a pretense. A great triumph was in her eyes, wearied and worn as they were from overwork, as she went to the hospital one day. “You can see Mr. Drury,” spoke the physician. “He is past the crisis of his sickness, though weak.” Nina approached the cot. Across it *lay a newspaper and she noted that its first column referred to the arrival in the city of the explorer. Axel Morgan. The downcast expression on the face of Drury told how depressingly the announcement affected him. / “Mr. Drury,” she spoke softly. “Ah, you!” and his eyes brightened and both hands were extended. “I hear that Whitley has utterly failed you. What—what Is this?” It was the first volume from the press of “the great book,” and us site placed it In his hands she tottered and fell senseless across the cot. The strain had been too much, but oh. the reaction, when, an hour later, she entered into the joyous delight of the grateful man to whom her noble efforts had given new life, courage and ambition. ' . ’ ; And later, sharing his fame, as she had his labor, those two walked down the lane of life together one in heart, soul aud fortune.