The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-05-26
SILLY:
By n. L. AvarY
Copyright, 1909, by the
S. S. Mcclure Company

abbreviation and corruption it became
"S'illa" and finally degenerated into
"Silly." $50 easy do even names go to
the dogs, you know" she explained to
Dick.
There were some people in the VII
lage who did not hesitate to say that
Silly herself would "go to the dogs
some day, she had such ''shiftless
ways" She preferred to wear plain
clothes rather than spend time indoors
on needlework. She could not be
counted ON for the sewing circle nor
dragged to the debating society. More
over, she was not as fond of going to
church and Sunday school as she
might have been.
ut fits me, Dick!' she cried, her
face, pink and white as their petals,
framed in bough of apple blossoms.
Her eyes were as blue as forgetme-
nots, and her hair was like the golden
tassels of the corn. 1.-The name fits.
haven't any sense, you know"
'That's one of your attractions"
drawled Dick. "When woman hasn't
any sense, IT'S really a drawing card
in these days. She's novelty, you
know. Women are so awfully wise
and clever that they put fellow to
the blush"
They were sitting on the green grass
within a fragrant bower of pearl and
rose. Something like dewdrops gath
cred in the girls forgetmenot eyes.
"What's the matter sweetheart!
"Dick. it's the name and the fitness
Of the name. 1t seems so absurd to
care about it, But l do. When l was
little, it seems to me they might have
cared enough about me to let me keep
the sweet name my mother gave me.
suppose they thought it was a waste
of time on me to say PRISCILLA If l
had been their own child they'd never
have called me Silly. And to think it'll
stick to me all my lfe!'
"If it were your last name, now,"
said Dick, 81 could change it for YOU"
Don't be sillyw
you're that when you laugh at my
lovemaking. It's poor, but honest"
''Dick, do you think, like all the rest
that sensible talk is wasted on me? Do
you, Dick? Oh, what would | not give
to be a wise, clever woman with dig
nified name! Nobody in the world will
ever take me seriously as long as l am
called Silly!
"I'll take you seriously if you'll let
me; take you and never let you 60"
''Dick, would you be willing-you, a
varsity man-tO have a wife called
Silly? You wouldn't! l can see it in
your eyes. Oh, to do something very
wise and learned! I'd die happy"
For heavens sake" cried Dick in
alarm, don't do anything wise and
learned!'
"She never has a serious thought
that girl" her aunt remarked. IF hel
name don't fit her to a T"'
She was coming up the walk, hel
arms full of apple blossoms, her ha
dangling at her side singing one of thu
ragtime tunes with which she scandal
lied the town.
"She do seem to be light headed" oh
served her uncle, Samuel Morris. but
then, she's good hearted thing"
She could not remember her parents
They had died when she was so little
She seemed to be Il sort of accident il
her uncle and aunt's family, Il rattle
burdensome and unpleasant one, whic
by Gods grace they must put up will
They lived in an old, old house on tn
outskirts Of quaint, rambling old vi
lage. 1t was set about with orchard
,t,,l. f>, IL
when she might have been embroidel
ing herself a IStticoat, making Graz
quilt or doing some other sensibl
thing. preferred to stay out in the o.
chards with the birds.
Mr.. Samuel Morris dreamed that
burglar was pressing Il pillow dow
over his face. He tried to cry out, bl
could not. He heard a great bangin
at the door and Il voice calling:
Uncle, uncle"
'Somebody is killing poor Silly"
thought, but he could not move.
Then some one was pulling him OF
Of bed. There were smoke and glea
Of shooting flames. Something wet W;
dragged over the floor and down Il
steps by one who painted hard. A vol
-Silly's-was screaming:
"Help me save uncle! Somebody
back for aunt! couldn't find her."
mo usew voices cried back. "Cor
out quick! The house is about to fl
inv'
.sI'u save her or I'll die irving! Tia
uncle"
They told him afterward, the #
neighbors who had seen the fire aft
it was we'll under way and had come
help if they could. that as she we
back the steps fell down behind h
She had ierked the wet blanket fro
around him and thrown it about h
SELF
How she found her aunt in Il
lAI wit n