Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 122, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 May 1920 — ALEXA [ARTICLE]

ALEXA

By DOROTHY O. GRAVES.

(®. ms. .py J^cCim* - Theodora, aged twenty-three, college graduate, six feet two, his near-sighted blue eyes heavily spectacled, and sniv namOslJigAier, u.cqepted the. Injtractorship In botany in an Illinois unlverslty. He arrived, a sun-baked, dust-caked young maa In the town-rtf L* s»Tte oti a torrfd Tlay VTtlfltß Tffld prairie sirocco bluffing as Theodore had never dreamed a wind could blow. -Be was met with a boisterous welcome by his old college chum,-Hick Haskell. “Ted, such good look for you to come! When I heard I nearly spilt my sides. Boston Teddy In Illinois was top ranch for me! But cotne on, there’s a bath and inucb ready at home. After his bath, Theodore sat down to the bountiful lunch and chat with Dick and' Mrs. Dick. Dick kept the conversational ball bounding. “Friday night’s the faculty reception, Ted. Bach man takes a girl, so Molly and I chose Alexa for you.” “Dick did,” laughed Molly. “And we’re having her over to tea this evening, so yon can meet her,” «>ntinued Dick. “Then all you have to do Is to say something about the faculty reception and when her eyes brighten up you’ll say, ‘Won’t you com© a© my guestr That’s easx, and Alexa IS the prettiest girl In La Salle.”

“I really do not care for young ladles, Richard, Ihhavere —er fully outgrown the sex; add my entire concentration I put Into flowers and my work upon them.” “Never mind, Teddy, you'll get Over all of that' We’n make a man of you Jret" . B-- -'i,At tea Theodore fumbled considerably and finally upset the sugar bowl. Mrs. Molly, however, tactfully turned attention away from all his blundering. Alexa, charming as well as beautiful, fingered the teactip daintily and asked Theodore about flowers generally. Theodore answered brusquely and finally ended the conversation with the comment that he. never could get anything out of talking to a girl, anyhow. Alexa was uncertain whether to be amused or miserable. Happily Mrs. Molly came te the rescue. “Alexa, we are going to expect you to help get Ted acquainted here.* “Ideally must go, dear,” Alexa said to Mrs. Molly, “and Tve enjoyed the tea so much, but Isn’t Mr. Thayer rath-er—welh-er —different?” she added In an undertone. “You mustn’t mind Mm, dear. He's really very nice and lots at tm whom you know him. Dick and he were rasramates at college. Let’s you sad I help Dick make a man of him.” i. Alexa responded with an affectionate hug as she left, but called back. “We Is different, though. Molly." Friday came. Theodora broke a lens to his microscope and left his work early because he could not work without It On hlg way homeward he passed the Drew residence. Alexa was on the lawn.

Theodore’s footsteps on the cement walk ceased so suddenly that the silence fairly shrieked and the girl looked up. “Is it you, Mr. Thayer?’ she called gayly. “How are the flowers?” Theodore, the botanist, suddenly became Teddy the young man. He vaulted the picket fence With an assurance of himself and a real boyhood. “Alexa,” he said. “I am so glad to see you.” i '- “Yon- have pretty hair, Alexa," said Teddy. “You have beautiful flowers, Mr. Thayer,” said Alexa, i:; \ “Oh; bht ; the flowers, they are, er his own. “The flowers, my dear Miss Drew, am very beautiful. , Beside them, a man Is butan— —er, imperfect or, attempt at——« “But I learned at the university that flowers are but one form of evolution. “Yea, yes, true. Some do teach that, but in life nothing is beautiful but nature, and plants are nature, flowers are plants; nothtng ls more beautiful Gian the simple little flowers." “Yes, of course.” AICXA agreed, and she tosSed her pretty head- She drew her long fingers through her flowing hair, so the sun might , penetrate the mn<y to the. remotest curl. *T washed my hair,” she stated. .. ~ -b--. And Teddy was ready. If was the hair that did It He stammered; “H—honestly; Was Alexa, 1 do want you to go to the reception tonight" “It’s beautiful, Isn’t it?” Ted asked, his eyes op the hollyhocks.. “The hollyhocks, yes,’’ answered. Alexa. “Grandmother is so fond of thenar" £ . •'•-• •• -■ _ Alexa watched him quizzically. “Your hair,” blurted out Teddy. “My hair!" exclaimed Alexa, “what °* *tfeiKKiA “t mean something ye!#* Twmethln* fairer than-rer, flowers,” Ted stammered, looking at his feet Alexa followed his gaze, and doubtfully asked, *T don’t understand. Just what do yoo tneanr .. J Teddy blushed hbw, and repeated perrot-like, “fairer than flower* fairer than, lowers!”, I, mb < “And Teddy grew brazen. "And met Wtaab——!” — •fiTltrer ttan as the fence. On the other hts courage returned. He called quite like any ' full-blooded youth, *TO rail for you at eight” and to himself added: “She’s ao natursL" Alexa lauded to he«aif, “Ted Is m different" ' e