Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-15
The Plan That Failed.
sY SOPHIE DEsrER.

| BIZ SOtdI8 OEoXnskss
Fl want to 60 to Miss Reevely's school"
announced Juanita calmly one day at din
ner.
you'd be much better on at the public
school," she said. land Miss Reevely's is
the most expensive school In the city. Why
can't you be contented, Nita?"
Papa won't send you" put in Jack.
'sWiu you, dad7 II you TO, I'm going to
q military school"
you win both stay where you are" said
Mr. Stephens, putting his glasses on upside
down. When he did this you could always
be sure he wouldn't change his mind. New
ertheless Juanita coaxed and pleaded until
her father spoke very sternly to her and
told her she knew better than to try to per
'But m CO." cried Juanita to Jack de-
family as they walked to school the next
day. "At Miss Reevely's shall meet the
very incest girls in town. They all dress
% beautifully. and spend lots OF money,
and have q good time. Besides, there
could be beautifully finished In music"
And turn into regular good-for-noth-
ing" added Jack. II wouldn't give 2 cents
for all Of Miss Reevelys girls
Boys don't know went on Juanita, tip
ping her nose still higher In the air. Now.
there's Milicent Van Ardsworth. I'm SIM
ply dying to be awfuily Intimate with her.
She told me the other day that her mother
find some other nice girl who would go with
her. Now, why shouldn't I be that nice
girl? I'm going to try to make Mrs. Van
Ardsworth select me-and she viii per-
suade father"
"Mrs. Van would never pick you out"
laughed. Jack. "She would want prim
little thing who couldn't smile except to or
der: A tomboy IKE you has no chance: .,.,
''You don't know how prim I can be II
try"
And sure enough, Juanita developed into
a model Of propriety. except when she for
got. She grew as neat as pin, and as
quiet as a mouse and as good as gold. And
her intimacy with Mi1icent grew, till Mill
cent herself begged her mother to see Mr..
Stephens and persuade him to let Juanita go
Il do not know Juanita very WELL" an
swered Mrs. Van Ardsworth. rs she
nice ladylike child?"
"Oh." said Milicent carelessly, "she is
Fun is not everything" replied her
mother. II will watch Juanita and see II ]
think she is the quiet ladylike girl would
like my daughter to be with
fed days later Juanita was sent by her
mother to see sick aunt at the hospital,
and as the best way to get there, permits
sion was given her to go on the elevated
road. She ran up the steps, bought her
ticket and, as the train was not in sight.
walked up and down the platform, reading
the advertisements. There was an interest
ing penny-in-the-slot machine. too, which
had several compartments for chocolates
and chewing gum, bonbons and molasses
bars. She dropped penny in for a molasses
bar, and then she said to herself:
IT haven't had bit OF chewing gum for
an age-it's so unladylike." she added.
mimicking Mrs. Van Arusworth. So a PEN
ny went in that slot, too. AS the train came
up she popped the molasses in one side Of
other, walked into the car and sat down.
Good afternoon. Miss Juanita, said
voice in her ear, and horrors, she turned to
look into the jolly face OF Mr.. Van Ards
her faultless style. Mrs. Van Ardsworth.
Juanita tried to smile and speak; she felt
the color rise to her cheeks and she realized
that she must look as IT, she ,,,i ha "a the
to swallow the chewing gum, and, alas! the
molasses refused to part from her teeth
Her mumbled greeting was anything but
pretty, and Mortified expression crept Into
II trust your mother and father are
WELL" said Mr.. Van Ardsworth to cover
Juanita's embarrassment. rs your father
going abroad this year?''
Poor Juanita! The hard lump Of chewing
gum stuck in her throat: the molasses pre-
The tears welled up in her eyes and she be-
gan to choke.
1t isn't very courteous answer to a
question to choke and gasp and sob, but it
chewing gum was disiodged and prevented
from doing further damage. Milicent's
father and mother left the car at the next
station. much to the relief of q very morti-
fed little girl, who was as sober as a judge
the rest Of the day.
The first mail the next morning brought
this letter from Milicent:
Dearest Nita: My heart Is nearly broken
and yours will be, too. when you hear the
news. Yesterday mother went calling, say
ing she would stop and call on your mother,
and 1 know she meant to persuade her to
let you go to Miss Reevely's school. When
ahe and father came home she told me she
had arranged with Mrs. Whitmore that
Prue should go and be my roommate. Prue
Is a prig I am 30 miserable don't know
what to do. I can't imagine what could
have changed things 80. for mother said
only yesterday that you were SO very nice.
She has forbidden me to mention the sub
ject again, SO shall have to be q martyr,
I suppose.
"Your afflicted MILLY"
Juanita knew without any explanation.