Holbrook argus., 1910-07-12
George, a Gilt
 Edged Prize

The woman in the mottled barrel gown dipped the fingers of one hand into the bowl of suds at her side and able while the manicure girl played upon the fingers of the other hand.
 Thought I would be in on Tuesday? Why, my dear girl, you have no idea how busy have been, Simply rushed to death. I told you of my engagement when I was in before, didn't |? You don't remember?
 "Oh, you must! Don't you remem- Der my showing you this exquisite ring? Oh, thought you would. Well, just look at this bracelet! Isn't that swagger? George gave me that, too Real, genuine rubies, and rubies are much more expensive than diamonds. You didn't suppose so? We'll, just take it from me, they are the real thing and no mistake.
 q gave that reception I told you about and it went off just too lovely. Maybe the girls weren't envious! Why, do you know, two of my most intimate friends failed to show up, and after they had been asked to help receive, tool Twas awfully mean of them, but I knew it was just because they couldn't bear to see me so hap. py. Some girls are that jealous and spiteful.
 "Clare-that's one of them-has tried her best to get husband for the last three years and she envies me. 1 don't blame her, though. Most girls are willing to take anything when they get to be her age.
 "Older than me? We'll, I just guess, Clares every day of 36 and her visits to the beauty shops haven't helped to hide it, either. Does she come here? Not it I know it. You don't suppose I'm giving any secrets away, do you?
 of course he was there-at the re- ception, 1 mean-and he looked too handsome for anything Some of his friends were there too, and I reckon they was mad at my carrying off such a prize. Yes, he's got stacks of money-has an elegant business, all his own.
 q overheard one woman say to another, Well, they say she Is good sort of girl and I'm glad of that, though there ain't any girl quite good enough for him!' Now what do you know about that? I ain't vain, exact ly, but of course that made me feel some joyous.
 'He is good fellow all right, but l guess he ain't any too good for me; I've been used to the best of every thing. And, say, what do you think! You won't tell anyone, will you, for well, it isn't so much to tell, really. only I wouldn't want anyone to know l was tickled over it, but two girls, I heard, was actually sick abed when they heard of my engagement. Think of it-sick abed! Wasn't that grand?
 Tt isn't that I feel so proud on my own account, but it pleases me to find that he is so popular. like to know that man has lots of admirers, and when they take on like that you can bet that a chappy is all right, can't you?
 Wish you could see him-he's perfect love. You wish you could? We'll, I'd never dare to bring him to one of these repair shops. I've got dandy little tintype of him-it isn'i as good as it might be, though II was taken before he knew me, when he was out with some other girls, and 1t has got rather a conceited grin; but you wouldn't blame him if you saw the way those girls were gazing upon him. Want to see 1t?
 "He is great and it's no wonder the girls were sick. There was one girl badly broken up over him. He used to take her out some, once, just be- cause he felt sorry for her, I guess She Is dumpy kind of a girl, hasn't particle of style, and then-just think of iti-she isn't the least bit educated; says done and T seen, and all that sort of thing, you know, and of course George couldn't go that He ain't got any use for an uneduca- ted girl, not him!
 What, finished so soon, and I had oceans more to tell you! See that trump in green: she's beckoning to you; what a nerve! You had an ap- pointment with her? Nonsensei You had one with me for last Tuesday and it wasn't my fault. I couldn't get here then.
 Well, good-by; I'll be in again next week and l won't forget the tintype Good by"
 And the woman in the barrel gown hastened away to meet George, who believed she had had an appointment