The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-08-08

now IN the name OF common sense
couldsa fellow associate for two years
with rough-and-ready college students
and come out looking as he did!
The difficulty began with his hat
band which was a delicate baby-blue
and of the variety of satin ribbon
known as "double-faced"- hypocriti-
cal badge Of honor for a Stroke"
Underneath the hat-brlm his fair hair
was plastered to his temples in
bang" which owed its curliness to art
rather than to nature.
Nor was this ALL His neck was
swathed in a white pique stock of dis
tinctly feminine appearance, and the
bow-knot under his chin was kept
in place by turquoise pin, the exact
duplicate Of one Frances had once
owned and repudiated as being baby
ish.
Yet in spite of all this, Thomas Bar
ker seemed entirely self-possessed, and
gave the impression of being dressed
in the latest style Frances had build
ed better than she knew in calling him
a dandy He talked in rather a
mincing, affected way and lisped his
SIS in manner that might have been
considered attractive in a girl.
"Oh, dear me, do hope it's not go
ing to be rough!" he exclaimed, with
a funny little giggle 81 am not at all
a good sailor, and it would be so NOR
tifying to be i'll, wouldn't it, Willie?"
Again the girls exchanged eloquent
glances. What manner of man was
this who pronounced "at all"-that
touchstone of pedantry-as if he were
a schoolmaam, and who dared address
the manly William by the name he had
put away with other childish things
ten years ago?
ooh, you needn't be scared!" Grace
announced, scornfully. IF this wind
holds there can't be squalls, and they're
the only thing the boats afraid of-or
l, either, for that matter"
The young men seated themselves
as passengers and watched the vigor-
/ GUS young crew haul up the anchor
and get under way.
For about an hour all went smooth
ly, both with the weather and the con-
versation. They all talked about indif-
ferent subjects. and although once or
twice conditions seemed threatening,
no rocks were struck till Thomas
Barker made a tactless remark.
He had been watching Grace Hodges
| c1yf
tiller, and he said, with the smart air
of pert young miss:
IF tan gloves are the fashion next
winter you won't have to wear any,
will you, Miss Hodges?" He
smoothed his own fingers, neatly en-
cased in kid, as he spoke.
II never wear gloves. anyway she
replied shortly. They're fit only for
sisses who care about their looks"
IF there's anything 1 don't like, it
is feminine mani" Frances added,
vehemently.
William came to the rescue of his
friend.
why worse than masculine girl?"
he inquired, affably. Aren't both
trying to be something they can't pos
sibly be-"
Il do despisa molly-coddle!" Fran
ces insisted, with great spirit
Yes" agreed Barker with a little
less mincing utterance, "but even
worse, l think, is the girl who tries to
be a tomboy; and worst of all is the
young lady who tries to be-what
shall we call TIA 'tom-man.
William laughed indulgently at his
friends jest, but his eyes were clouded
with apprehension. His sisters voice
had taken on an Enthusiastically shrill
quality in her scorn, and Thomas
Barker's mineing enuneiation had sud-
denly relapsed into something much
less affected With this return to ma
ture, peace-loving William began to be
conscious Of a storm brewing.
There's no use arguing about the
matter" he proclaimed, decisiyely. AS
soon as girls find out that masculine
woman is unpopular with men, just as
surely as the feminine man is despised
by girls, there will be an end of this
masquerade.
Perhaps some good may even come
out of it all,P he added, judicially
Its certainly fine to see girls as
strong and athletic as some of them
are nowadays"
While the others we're talking, Grace
Hodges had been preoccupied Her ST.
Ience seemed to show that there was
something in the wind,-a squall pre-
sumably she was working hare
at the helm, and could give but Sigh
attention to the irrelevant converse
ton of the others.
Finally she said. with tinge of irri