Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-05-27
Curing a Fad
BY w. F. BRYAN.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Homer sprague.
BY W. F. BRYAN.

Miss Hovey was a faddist this to the
deep sorrow Of Dick Fennister, who
barely had time to develop an interest
In one pursuit before Florence Hovey
was of at new tangent
Dick had just learned to handle the
diabalo when he was called upon to
abandon the Elusive spinning reel In
order to spend his afternoons amid dim
lights and odors of incense while
burly Buddhist proclaimed the tenets
of fasting and modification of the flesh
to the end that the soul might be en-
abled to quit its earthly tenement and
soar through realms of space.
And then came Battery. His advent
enabled Dick to resume an intimate
connection between soul and body and
also permitted him to take Florence to
luncheon occasionally until Batterly's
artistic notions engulfed Miss Hovey
even more completely than the Hindoo
religion had done
Battery knew the value Of what ac-
tors call dressing the part" and there
was small danger that any one would
ever mistake him for other than what
he was. The black velvet coat. the
straight brimmed high hat and the peg
top trousers above sharply pointed
French shoes were all delightfully."- sug-
gestive Of the Latin quarter. Florence
discarded shirt waists and went in for
soft. clinging gowns designed by Bat
terly. The phraseology Of the studio
supplnnted the words Of affection which
Dick Fennister had received despite
the reigns Of other fads.
Things began to look serious. indeed.
for Fennister. and none knew it bet
ter than himself. Battery by his very
selfishness was the sort Of man to at
tract women. and Dick Fennister fear
ed that II he sought to exercise his
rights as fance this would serve only
to mark the termination Of their en-
gagement and preclpltate Florence's
serious interest in the artist
Things went from bad to worse. and
there came the day when Dick called
to take Florence for a walk only to
find that she had gone with Battery.
Later 1t developed that she had gone
to his studio to pose for her portrait
and that Mrs. Hovey had accompanied
them as chaperon. but this did not
tighten the situation much.
Thereafter Battery called daily to
escort his sitter to the studio, and with
mournful interest Dick watched the
trio pass the club window.
Then there came a day when the
light Of resolve flashed into his eyes.
and with positive cheerfulness he
turned from the spectacle. Harry Full
ton, passing him In the hall, was scan
dallzed to surprise him performing a
dance Indicative Of solemn joy.
= your own idea?" he asked when
Dick saw him and had subsidized.
"a poor thing" admitted Dick. "but
my own. 1t Is the outward indication
of the joy that rises within me-"
Its all right then" was the sarcas-
tic retort. 1T seemed rather the out
ward indication Of an inward collie
He passed on. and Dick headed for
the coat room. Ten minutes later he
quilted the club.
Mrs. Hovey rather enjoyed the after
noon promenades down the avenue.
Batterly's eccentricities, aided by real
cleverness with the brush, had made
him something of a social lion. and
she was proud to have him in leash,
She enjoyed the attention which the
artist attracted. but this afternoon
here was a new expression on the
ice Of those whom they met.
In spite Of the occasional Very clev-
" and How originalr' which fell
IN the lips of passersby there was a
Of levity in the eyes Of nearly
Both Mrs. Hovey and Florence
,usly, IL secretly. felt various por-
of their dress to see If some dis
cement of their toilets had arous-
milton.
several furtive touches assured
hat all was well, and so they
ore attention to Battery, who
IN this afternoon parade down
enable thoroughfare with the
ic matron and her remark
'some daughter at his side.
formed the suggestion of a
( .claring that the walk clear
and enabled him to do his
Ia ire shall be my master
AZ ,lared, ''if only | am able
nj o the subject. See! Ev-
ed IS at the beauty | aIn
~. eproduce upon canvas.
We famous"
afSrNAI All, that Ia1
SS-ik
4 Mrs. ,,.,o gu will make Florence
E famous instead"
! mo: she is already that" replied the
!. artist. st needs none to tell that she
is the observed of all observers. To-
day notice it as never before"
do your" asked Mrs. Hovey uneas-
. fly. at does seem to me that we are
attracting unusual attention"