Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-03-13
THE ELOPEMENT.

~
William Morgan Adams, his peg-top
trousers rolled well up to his ankles,
over his low three-button shoes-thus
displaying his fancy hose; his dished
felt hat. with fancy band in his high
school frat. colors, grotesquely brimmed
(being turned up over one ear, and
turned down over the other); his hands
in his pockets, whistled a peculiar call
as he approached the house, in the
cleaning; and promptly Mistress
Doretta Marian East opened the front
door of said house and tripped out
upon the porch.
Doretta wore a white shirt-waist
with brown skirt, and brown ribbon
around her throat; and her hair was
ruffed above her ears, gathered at the
back of her head and held there by two
side-combs and comb in the middle.
This was the very latest way the girls
had of doing their hair.
Upon the left front of her shirt-waist
she wore, also, a Tri-Omega pin.
Everybody knew that it was Will
Adams, of course.
Hello" she greeted frankly, to
Will advancing up the walk.
'"Lo," he responded, lauguidly rails
ing his hat an inch and dropping it
again-assumed carelessness being the
proper thing among his set of high
schoolers. He lounged to the steps.
Lets sit around on the other porch, "
proffered Doretta quickly. ''The Mat
thewsons are coming over, and l just
hate them"
Sure" he assented.
''Mama'll call me, / know, but
won't answer. They aren't coming to
see me anyway. And what's the use
in trying to be nice to people when
you don't like them? Life's too
Short" continued Doretta sagely, as
they proceeded to the smaller side-porch.
There" she said. "You sit on the
settee and I'll sit in the chair.
With a grunt and sigh combined, as
of ennui, William sank into the settee,
and sprawled, dangling a foot over the
end. He flung his dished hat upon the
floor.
81 think you boys do wear the pref
test hose" commented Doretta admir-
ingly. That's a swell pattern, isn't
iti''
Had a fire-sale down at Issac's;
three pair for quarter. Didn't you
hear about it?'' volunteered William.
Doggy Bottles and Clipped in and
bought three pairs together.
''Oh the ideap' giggled Doretta,
"How are you going to divide up
three pair of stockings, if they're diff
ferent patterns?"
go around on one leg while we're
wearing the odd, - explained her caller
lazily.
''How ridiculousr' scoffed Doretta.
"You boys do think of such things!
You can smoke if you want" she add
ed shyly.
"Much obliged. Guess l will" He
extracted box of Turkish cigarettes
from his coat pocket, and without
changing his attitude managed to
light selection therefrom and stuff the
box back into the pocket Cigarette
habit is fierce" he vouchsafed. dad
says I've got to quit, so now Pm taper
ing off. Only smoke two boxes day."
That's a lot, though, isn't it?"
queried Doretta anxiously.
''Should say notl Perkie and Jock
Summers and those fellows smoke
twice that. Used to myself
''You won't any more though, will
your" she coaxed. 81 think it's horrid
to smoke so much. And it's awfully
bad for the health.
"Want one?" he asked.
''Of course notl The idea!' she
demonstrated. "But / love the smell
of them."
Heard the latest?" he invited COM
placently.
'Nol What?''
''The crush that MAY Leonard and
Pete haYe?'
''Oh, that! should say yes. Isn't it
dreadful? We plague May about him
all the time, but she doesn't care,
1t won't last long, though. She's
always crazy over some boy for about
week"
"Pete's folks are going to get an
auto, that's what's the matter with
her, isn't it?"
"Oh-I don't know. But an autos
pretty fine." She hesitated, and then
added defantly: ''Maybe you think
that's why I'm going with you. But it
isn't, really it isn't"
Heflushed, and Observation-Disclosures
'Uh-uh; didn't think that"
'"ShT she cautioned suddenly.
''There are the Matthewsons. Now if
mama calls me just won't answer. 1
don't care. Well keep quiet and maybe
they won't know we're here"
They'll smell my cigarette, he sug-
gested blankly.
Throw it awayr she bade in an
alarmed whisper.
He dropped the smoldering stub to
the porch floor, and crushed it beneath
his sole. They sat in silence.
upon the front porch chairs scuffled,
''How-de-do's" were exchanged, talk
began. -
"Dorettap'
The ipquiring summons foated
through the dusk.
Didn't tell you?" whispered Dor