Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1919 — TACTICS [ARTICLE]

TACTICS

By HELEN E. IVERS.

Eva flung herself on the couch *Uith A deep sigh. Hazel, her older sister, smiled “Yes, sister,” she said, “tell me all about 4t.” J Eva’lived in the small towr/of W—. They were well known, each in a different way. Hazel was very pretty and rather a belle in the social world, while Eva, though as pretty as her sister, whs not as popular with the saute people. All of her teachers and more studious friends admired her very-much,-but that was not her greatest desire. • “Aren’t you going to tell me, Eva?’’ Hazel asked, seeing that her sister was still silent. ' “There’s nothing much to tell,” Eva finally answered. “I’m discouraged, that’s all. What I want to know is, how do you get all the boys that you like to notice you? I never can. There’s Jack B—, for instance. I like him, but I’m not especially fond of him, and I show that I don’t care whether he comes near me or not, but still I can’t go anywhere that he does not follow me. Others, that I would like to have show an interest In me hardly notice me, and I am just as nice as pie to them. I should like to know the reason. Hazel was amused. “You are funny, Sis. You don’t know human nature at all. I’ll tell you the reason why.” The-next night was the senior dance at the college, and Hazel and Eva were planning to go. All day they whispered together. When night came both girls dressed and then waited for their escorts. ’ They did not wait long. Very soon the bell rang and Jack B — was heard approaching. "Oh, dear,” Eva sighed. “I wish that he would disappoint me just once in his life. It gets rather boring to be so sure of just what a person will say or do.” Just here Jack came in, rather more sadly than was his wont. “I’m so sorry, Eva,” he said, “but I’ll have to disappoint you tonight. I have had a telegram calling me to N —, where my father was in a railroad accident.

“Oh, Jack,” Eva was all sympathy. “I hope that it isn’t serious.” Jack shook his head. “The telegram doesn’t give me much encouragement. However, I must go right away. Probably Hazel Will let you go with her.” “Oh, yes,” Hazel hastened to say. “Don’t worry, Jack. I’ll see that she gets there all right.” Jack went toward the door, but before he reached there he turned back. “Will you please come to the door with me, Eva?” he asked. “I have something to say to you.” Wonderingly she followed him, an<T was hardly outside when he seized her hands rather roughly. “Oh, Eva, dear,” he murmured huskily, “how I love you. Won’t you marry me, please?” She pulled her hands awmy. quickly. “No, Jack,” she said firmly. "1 cannot. Ido not love you.” She turned and re-entered the room, _ leaving a dumbfounded Jack behind her. , “An hour later she was at the dance, feeling miserable. The tactics advised by her sister had been Used. She was very cool with all of the boys she had been aspiring to have like her, and one and allhaddecidedthat that rather “dull little sister of Hazel,” was a charming little thing when one got to know her. Eva was certainly outdoing herself tonight. Nobody would ever, have guessed that she felt sad; for despite her merriment, she did feel lonesome. Her wish that Jack’would disappoint her once had been fulfilled sooner than she had expected it would and although she knew that-his excuse had been- good, she felt unaccountably slighted. She was undoubtedly relieved when it was time to go home. About 15 minutes lifter she reached home, the telephone rang. “It’s for you, Eva,” Hazel called, who had run to answer it. “You’re getting popular, Sis. I certainly was proud of yofi, tonight.” Wondering who it was, she went to the phone and to her delight Jack s welcome voice-came over the wire. “I thought you’d like to know,"’ he said, “that it was all a mistake abopt father. , He was on the train, but unhurt.” “Oh, I’m so glad,” Eva cried. “You must be, too.” “Well,” and his voice was certainly joyoua, “you ean just believe I am. But,” and his voice betrayed, emotion now; “I am sorry that I annoyed you this evening. I might have known that you couldn’t care for me." Eva was trembling, but she managejl to answer. “Oh, you needn’t be. I’ve almost changed my mind.” ~ “Wha-what?” Jack cried. “Oh, you darling 1- I’m coming home on the first train in the morning arid change that inconsistent mind of yours for good.” And the telephone operator had the audacity, to giggle. (Copyright, 1918. by McClure Newspaper , ' Syndicate.) • "