Indianapolis Times, Volume 48, Number 4, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 March 1936 — Page 15

MARCH lfi, 1938

Today's Short Story

JUST DESTINY By Dorothy Durham

ELLA CLOUSE ana Dewey Frazier hadn’t spoken for months. And the whole of “Woods Cove,” way up in the Tennessee mountains, was concerned about it. All were concerned, because they liked Ella and Dewey. And this blissful pair had been well on their way towards matrimony, when they quarrelled, and all ovef the Civil War!

Ellla Clouse’s grandfather had fought on the Southern side—and who was Dewey. Frazier, who had corns down recently from Germantown, Pa,, to tell her right in her own territory the rebels didn't win the war? No matter how much she 'loved Dewey Frazier, he couldn't tell her that. He did tell her, but it didn't make sense. For she haughtily announced to him: “It doesn't matter. We, the South, have never surrendered. - ’ She emphasized the “We’’ and "never’’---turned her nose in the air and walked into her house, leaving Dewey Frazier on her front door Step -to take the Higlvway. tt tt SS THAT finished Ella with Dewey. “With any woman that crazy!’’ He v r as “better ofl not being in love.” And Ella was not going to give in, regardless of how much she loved him. He “had no business saying what he did.” They still went to parties in the Cove, but never together any more. She determined Dew : ey Frazier w r asn’t going to keep her from parties. That w ; as certain! And Dewey, being a stubborn soul, when well aroused, displayed the same obstinacy. Dewey Frazier still came to the dances and parties, but always with another girl. And Ella Clouse was right at the same parties, her nose well up in the air, and her hand tucked away under another arm. It just, didn’t seem right to the Cove. Why. heretofore, wherever Ella Clouses’ bright and cheery face showed up, Dewey Frazier’s droll and comical one was just a half a peek behind. u tt' OR, more often', looking worshipfully into her happy blue eyes, and admiring with a playful jerk, a mass of chestnut curls that adorned her face. Tonight Woods Cove seemed mere conscious of the break between the two than ever before. For tonight was the night of the big box supper, and the first one that had been held since Ella and Dewey had stopped speaking. Ella Clouse and Dewey Frazier had always been the life and fun of the box suppers. Every one knew Ella always started weeks ahead of time designing and working on her box, to make it the showiest and most outstanding box to be bid on. And mainly, so Dewey Frazier couldn’t go wrong on the right box. He was always secretly informed also, as to which was her box. And he had many times held the ribbon, while she tied its fancy bows. tt tt tt ELLA CLOUSE'S boxes were the sensation at these suppers. Not only because they were the fanciest and prettiest, but because the fun came about in making Dewey Frazier bid sky-high to get it. The Cove knew he liked the way Ella cooked fried chicken, but they also knew he wasn’t paying for the fried chicken. He paid to sit with Ella. Knowing this, the impish boys and men of the Cove would look eagerly for a fussy, fancy box—and then wait impatiently for Dewey to utter a bid. He'd bid a small amount to start with, so the crowd wouldn't suspect he knew the box. After he bid a small bid, one of the tantalizers would bid just a fraction ahead; until Dewey would get impatient, and bid maybe s:t ahead—defiantly—as though ,to stop the foolishness. At that, a group hidden in the back of the room would get together and pool their money; and one would blurt out, just as determinedly. a bid that passed Dewey's bid by $3. tt tt tt ONE night Dewey Frazier had to pay sls for Ella’s box. on such scheming. He took it good naturedly, when someone yelled out, "Dewey Frazier you sho do like fried chicken.” He was always teased about Ella Clouse making him paint the school building. For that's why the suppers were given, to raise money to paint it. Now that Ella and Dewey weren’t speaking, the Cove didn't know what would happen. As darkness f r ” families and courting couples, u, to tradition started making the.: way towards the supper. Ella Clouse had her box cleverly concealed under a silk shawl. Very stealthily, she placed it among the other boxes, so no one would see which was hers. She sat near the front, where she could well view the bidding going on. Dewey Frazier sat way back in the back of the room. 0 0 0 AFTER every one had arrived, Dan Benson started the auctioning. Picking up a beautiful red satin box ir. the shape of a heart, he held it up so the crowd could see it. Dewey Frazier leaned forward, and halfway winced. The red heart reminded him of something. “Look at this box,” directed Dan Benson, "Hit’s a beauty. Some purty gal has tuk the trouble to cover hit with fine wallpaper—little birds all ovem it. This box is worth ■moren a dollar an’ a half. The purty

pitchers is worth that. Come on—bid!” “Two bucks!” yelled someone recklessly. “Two bucks?” asked Dan Benson. “This box can't go fer jes two bucks. Come on, boys; git up ye biddin'.” Not a sound came from Dewey. He remembered helping Ella one time paste wallpaper on her box for a supper. “Two dollars—two dollars—going —going—gone!” Dan finished. 0 0 9 CAM HILL, the highest bidder, came down to the rostrum to claim his box and girl. The girl who had prepared the box had to come down to the rostrum, too. “All right, Sam Hill, Set with yo gal, An’ eat yo’ fill”— —rhymed Dan Benson. “Now, hyar’s a sho ’nough hon-est-to-goodness beauty. Look at this box, folks—all tied up in a million ribbins and bows—Christmas ribbins!” Dewey Frazier became a little tense. He remembered something else, helping Ella tie a million bows. It wasn’t Ella’s, and there was still uncertainty to endure. Dan Benson auctioned off a lot of elaborately decorated boxes, none of them selling for over three dollars. Dewey Frazier still had remained silent. Luke Hartfield, sitting behind him, said, “Dewey, hain’t ye doin’ no biddin’ ter night!” tt tt tt YEAH,” answered Dewey, good naturedly, “but I’ve got my box spotted.” He had determined to show Ella he was not interested in her ideas of dressed-up boxes. He would take the plainest box Dan Benson put up. Dan Benson picked up a shoe box. It was what Dewey was looking for. He bid three dollars on it. "Three dollar’s been bid,” said Dan Benson; and went on to explain, that it was a "plain, unadorned box,” but he'd bet it held “good victuals” in it. Some bidder announced a four dollar bid. Dewey bid six dollars. Someone raised it to seven. Dewey Frazier said “10 dollars.” "Twelve dollars,” cried a higher bidder. "Fifteen," said Dewey. The crowd was getting excited—and curious. "Sixteen,” came a bidder, making Dewey go higher. “Twenty,” Dewey came out in a deep and assured voice. • 0 9 0 THE Cove was getting wild. No box had ever sold for S2O. “Dewey’s got him anew an’ steady gal,” was running through Dan Benson's mind. And with pity, because he saw poor little Ella Clouse looking nervous. Then someone raised Dewey’s bid by a dollar. “Twenty-five’s my limit,” Dewey bid and warned. “Do I hear another bid?” asked the auctioneer. "Twenty-five—s2s—going—going-gone—to Dewey Frazier!” The crowd was restless. Every one was curious to see the girl who had encroached upon Ella’s property. That was the most a box had ever sold for in the Cove —even to Dewey Frazier when he wuz courtin’ Ella Clouse. When Dewey came down to the rostrum, he was hoping Ella would take a good look at the girl whose box he had paid $25 for—more than he'd paid for any of hers. “That’ll get her,” he thought. 9 0 0 the young lady whose box TN brought more than any ever auctioned in the Cove, must come forward, an’ eat with this gintleman. He shore must er been anxious to set with her,” said Dan Benson. But then he wished he hadn’t said that, for poor little Ella had a strange and far away look in her eyes. There was a slight pause, before the owner of the box came forward. Then Ella Clouse arose and walked up a few steps to the rostrum. The crowd cheered. Dewey Frazier stood starry-eyed, as though recovering from a tremendous blow. Dan Benson dropped his spectacles, in confusion. And Ella Clouse said impudently: “Dewey Frazier, how did you guess my box!” But Dewey Frazier saw love In her eyes, instead of impudence, and blurted honestly, "It’s Just — it’s just destiny, honey. I couldn’t miss it even if I tried it.” As they walked to the bench, she whispered: “I have some of that fried chicken you like so well ” (THE END) (Copyright. 1936. by Chicago Tribune-N. Y. News Syndicate. Inc.) Past Chiefs to Be Feted Past presidents of Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War . re to be entertained with a lunches at the home of Mrs. Bessie Hart, 527 N. Noble-st, Friday. Election of officers is to follow the luncheon. ■ ' • -a

OUR BOARDING HOUSE

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FRECKLES AND HIS FRIENDS—

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WASHINGTON TUBBS II

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ALLEY OOP

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BOOTS AND HER BUDDIES

THE TARZAN TWINS

After the Tarzan Twins had been waiting for half an hour in a ferment of anxiety, Paabu returned with the weapons—spears, long knives, and bows and arrow's—and Doc rewarded him with the pocket knife which the blabk boy believed would make him a gieat witch-doctor.

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES'

As the boys clutched those savage weapons of the jungle, their nervousness faded and gave place to a certain confidence and pride, for these were such weapons as the great Tarzan had used in his many thrilling battles with the beasts and men of the African wild.

—By Ahern

HUP, Ul NOT 1C ED,TOO, THAT HIS PANTS Y BOY XT *s\ WAS \ WE RE TO ° B'G. FAR TOO BIG. DEDUCTION TftAiC |WHy? BECAUSE HE PADS HIM-/NOW,ALL TONS SELF TO LOOK LIRE A FAT rT VVE OOTTA WAS h , ~i-i MAN. J(DO IS CATCH 1 jj' WANTED/ — = BY HE A SEftVICLikCT M. J\

HOVO NA\NE ' YOU ARE NOT , T6Y. TSV<\ UET ME. Vi ARM YOU . I OEMANO\N<b ANYTVWN6 ,MY PR\NCE'. THESE MEN REPRESENT THE V/OWA. 1 AM ATTENO\N<S , 09 HVb MAJESTY ,THE YVNG ,YoUR TO THAT UYE YOU MUCH r SP\TE9UL 09 REASON \_E9T,YOO\A_ REACVEE xWOTSS T\E.MO THE 9UTVUTY 09 9ES\ST\NG * EE YOUR VNWSVdEPS „ s’ SENSVBGE ""AND 9EMEMEER AvS NOT v „ ' OUR THAT YOO'OE MADE A ' 0o '" oorselt

Cautiously they crept out of the hut, followed by the doubting Ukundo. They were enveloped entirely by darkness, but in the distance the cannibals were stirring a blazing fire beneath a great pot. That pot, they knew, was being made ready to receive their friend Bulala.

OUT OUR WAY

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— r >y n a mini ) fllL TEACH THAT SMART MUG ) BRING IN ALLEY OOP/ I DON'T / A LESSON - SIGHS DINOSAUR. CARE HOW Y'DO IT SCOUR TH' < ON TH'GGANO WIZEK. AW'THEM YSJ^fjjSgy 1 - AWYTHIKJG/ ) GO HIDE SO I CAN'T DO NO - BUT BRING HIM IN - FEET THIN' ABOUT IT/ TH' LOUSE/ DANG HIS ORNERY HIDE - MEBBE MDU THINK I WON'T TURN TH' HIM -

—By Edgar Rice Burroughs

Doc assumed command but instead of leading his cohorts toward the village gates, he began a circuitous detour toward the scene of the cannibal festivities. "Where you go? Gate other way,’’ whispered the panicky pygmy. Doc snapped back: “We’re going to save Bulala! ’

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