The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-07-12
HER FINAL FAD
Copyright. by Daily Story Pub. COP
By BEATRICE TRYCEY

luHs, ucspitt 1Sutdiic lTcHZlcQ prO.
testations. Evidently General PATRICK
had decided that collie should be M
small factor in the victory which waa
to be his and mine.
This ~stratagem was Immediately fol.
lowed by one Of a more ensationaI
nature. Welded by the hand Of one
Patrick Bates, a writing wal club in
the form Of a slippery, greenish water
snake, was slammed about the heads
and necks of the shrieking and panic.
stricken twenty.
Succeeding closely on the heels Of
the reptilian maneuver there was az
choice a collection OF deviltry psrpe-
trated as | hope never again to wit
ness.
At exactly three-thirty matters had
gone far enough, Decidedly my inter.
ference was necessary, so l strobe
onto the scene
Natalie, in the midst of chaos, sat
on a moldy stump, silently and help
lessly crying. On the grass at one
side Of the eating pavilion was
stretched a small individual, bloody
about the forehead and unconscious
from contact with a brick, thrown by
the hand of my paid villain! Directly
opposite, doubled up c~orpse-like, lay
a dlminntiye knot Of femininity--a vic.
tim of abdominal commissions, brought
on by little green apples.
Hello, girl!" / sang out, I'm sane
and dust to my neck, but | braved 1t
all for a sight Of you"
Natalie burst into violent tears.
"Bobbie-you're aw-awfully good to-
come looking mt up-this way" she
sobbed; do something to bring these
two to life again, and-and-help me
get the rest of these wild animals
back to Boston and I'll marry you to-
night"
Later, when the two invalids were
sufficiently recovered to kick and
scratch and indulge in other gentle
amusements Natalie and | strolled
down the beach toward the station
with the remainder Of the party
scampering ahead of us.
Natalie" l remarked, consulting
my watch significantly, "we'll be back
in plenty of time for me to get a H.
cense before the Office closes. While
we're in the building we might as well
have a justice perform the ceremony"
She eyed me with dismay. why,
Bobbie,' she coaxed, you're not going
to begin by being q tyrant! Surely
you'll give me time to get into a de-
cent frock?'
met her appeal with a forbidding
stare.
Please she urged; whatever
would mamma think? She's discharged
three kitchen maids in the last month
because they wouldn't keep clean
and their appearance was immaculate
compared to mine at present"
"Oh, very WELL" | said grandly, "Tll
give you until eight this evening"
Natalie smiled radiantly, A moment
later | felt her hand slip into mine
with a gentle pressure. Robbie she
said, half timidly, 1--WE had quite a lot
of hobbies, haven't II"
you have" | assented, with a re-
turning squeeze. (,
Let me see" she remarked reminis-
Gently, first | called everything off
with you because I wanted to be a
brilliant lady novelist"
The next time you returned the
solitaire" | replied, 1T was with a
note to the effect that you intended to
devote your remaining years to sculp-
ture, and you lost interest in statuary
after smashing the great toe Of your
first model with a block of marble"
Natalie giggled. Then ! became an
artist" she continued.
And now" I reminded her. "you
have developed into a settlement
worker!"
This last thing was pretty awful"
she admitted.
Remember. dear,'I said sternly, mo
more fads for you"
Just n more" she coaxed.
Which one?" l asked. "Matri.
mony?
Natalie smilingly nodded her head.
1t shall be my final fad" she said.