The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1907-09-20
A GRAIN OF SENSE
BY Robert Carlton Brown


years, but what good did that do
Bobbs, and what good did it do Mary?
Yes-Bobbs was bashful. In her
presence he acted like first offender
before Judge.
He was not pretty thing, neither
was he clever, but he was a man.
The neighbors said that Mary loved
him. Maybe Mary would have said SO.
too, but Bobbs never gave her the
chance.
Somebody quite unwittingly sent
Bobbs sample copy of fireside jour
nal. In scrutinizing the advertisements
he came suddenly upon a startling
one:
HOW TO WIN HER LOVE"
IT'S new, boys. Hasn't even hit
Paris yet. The best thing in the world.
Teaches you how't to overcome bashful-
ness, how to act in the company OF
ladies, and how to jolly the girls. 1t
costs 10 cents, and the first smile will
repay you. Send that dime to-day to
the Bonanza Company"
There was something imperative
about Send that dime to-day" Bobbs
always had taken orders, and this one,
as the rest, he accepted meekly.
Time hung heavily on Bobbs' hands
until the book came. When it did. he
seized it greedily, rushed to his room,
locked the door, pulled down the blind
and read the whole six pages at one
sitting.
Having finished, he got weakly to his
feet, crossed to the cracked mirror on
the opposite wall, and smiled into it
sickly.
Greet her with a smile" he repeat
ed. Then say, You're lookin' swell
tonight Flatter her, treat her like
you would the queen of England. Use
lots of soft soap; they like the lather.
! Be agreeable. Humor her; jolly her;
never be obstinate give in to her
every within. Gee-but that's some job
they set before a Teller, but | guess |
can do it all right"
He put the book in his pocket and
went that night to call upon Mary,
after an hours rigid rehearsing.
She looked blankly at him as he en-
| tered the house with wax figure grin.
and remarked, "Gee-youre lookin'
swell tonight, Mary. That gingham's
beaut."
He didn't once mention the weather
in the course of half an hours CONVEX
sation, and Mary began to look wor-
ried.
Has he been drinking?" her mind
suddenly suggested.
Continually she puzzled, while he
made frantic attempts to entertain her
with a few jokes selected from the
! book.
What on earth is the matter with
him." she gasped to herself
At last she decided that he must be
sick and it had affected his head. Care
! fully she preached the subject She
said he was sick he admitted 1t, for
the book had instructed, Agree to
everything she says"
Finally, after more absurdities and
foolish grinnings, Mary jumped NY
with a frightened look, grasped him
by the hand, and cried, Come, John,
! I'll take you to the doctors, you must
come. there is something dreadful the
matter with you"
For a moment he hesitated, he was
! just on the point of going-then-sud7
denly-he scowled and Immediately
became quite natural.
There's nothing the matter with
me-" he growled.
Her lower lip quivered, he certainly
was strange tonight she could not
Understand it; she must get him to
the doctor.
"Well-well If you're all right, whaS
what on earth are you acting SO
foolish for to-night?' she pleaded.
He hung his head shamefacedly and
thought. Things were not going just
as the book had planned he was los
ing ground.
Suddenly he jumped up, seized her
Oy the hands, and shouted, There's
nothing the matter with me, only
only love you, Mary"
''Oh, John, has it gone to your head
like that?" she cried, permitting her.
self to be Rugged.
NO" he answered, as soon rs he
felt like using his lips in purely prac-
tical way. "No-its this COMPOUNDED
/ book"
He pulled the pamphlet from his
pocket and threw it savagely into the
waste basket.
The book said I was to act that
way to win you" he continued, holding
her to him so that she could not see
him blush, but the book wasn't right.
I've won you another way, and l tell
you it just all goes to prove what I've
always said"
What's that, John?" Mary cooed.
now that she was relieved of her anx-
| iety.
lit lust goes to prove" emphasized
! t3obbs, that grain of common sense
is worth a pound of book learnin'."
Real Sparkling"
The big green automobile stood mo.
tionless in the sandy road.