Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-08-24
HIS GREAT
EFFORT

Miss Morton was a girl he greatly
admired; SO he was. for once. anxious
10 accept the invitation. but there was
enc part of il that made him hesitate
Down in the corner was written
'cinch," and Dan knew as little Of
cinch as he did of Choctaw. He an
pealed to his sister.
1T serves you right" she said I've
been begging you to learn to uIay
cards so you could help me out on
different occasions. and you never
would"
I'm sorry" he said. humbly. az
certainly wish now that l knew how"
That's just it," she said, scornful.
ly. You wish you'd learned, now that
1t means pleasing a girl like Alice
Morton. Hereafter maybe you'll be
good"
Say" began Phillip, hesitatingly.
I'll do the next thing you ask of me
if you'll be so obliging as to help me
out"
What's the trouble now?" asked his
sister. resignedly. Don't you know
how to word your regrets?'
Regrets nothing!" he exclaimed.
I've accepted"
Accepted! Why. how can your
You can't play cinch."
Il could learn"
"Oh, ] see." she said. IAN right
Go get the cards"
Phillip had never considered him.
self particularly denge before, but he
surely felt stupid when the lessons
began. His sister was patient, but it
was annoying to be laughed at, and he
aid not enjoy playing schoolboy again.
Besides. his sister beat him with
alarming ease.
You haven't got the idea of IT," she
would say over and over. Remember
not to put your five on my ace, but on
your partners, and you'll do better"
My partner didn't have an ace," he
said. Il saw that from her hand
spread out there"
You're not supposed to know what
your partner has. turn up that hand
just because there's nobody to play it.
Don't throw away five. 1t will count
later"
Yes, know" he declared. but
it's the only trump had"
mo. it wasn't" she contradicted.
tiently. That was heart and your
hand is full Of diamonds, which are
trumps."
"Oh, / forgot the left-handed busi-
ness. But now I've got the hang OF
it,"
So the drill went on evening after
evening and Saturday afternoon, when
Phillips gave up tennis in order to
perfect himself for the ordeal At
night he dreamed of 1t, in tho Office
he thought out hands and plays and
made diagrams on odd pieces of paper
showing what he would do if the other
fellow led so and so. He became al
most meek in the light of his own
denseness and took all his sisters sug.
gestions in good part.
IT'S awfully good of you" he said.
81 wouldn't have so much patience to
teach you anything"
You wouldn't need so much" she
said, cruelty,
AS the days wore on the party drew
near his sister declared she was on
the verge of nervous prostration.
IF you don't do better" she sighed.
Il shall certainly be too weak to go
to Ance's party myself
ooh. no, you must CO." insisted
Phillips. Il need you to consult in
case get stuck. Keep on a little
longer and I'll brace up"
He did brace up to such an en-
couraging extent that the very last
practise evening he won three games
straight and was declared fit to shine
with the card players.
"This is the first interesting eve
ming | have had for more than a
week." his sister said, YEARLY. Be
ing always the winner is about as en-
tertaining as talking to yourself"
ITS a great game" said Phillips,
enthusiastically. TN play you anoth-
er. Some on; it's only II o'clock"
81 don't believe I'm going to enjoy
the party bit" she said, dolefully.
The great evening came at last and
found Phillips quite in the spirit Of
the thing. He was really glad he was
going and was so pleased with his ap-
nearance that he suffered his sister
to tie his white tie without murmur.
Carried away by his gratitude, he ex-
trayagantly ordered taxicab to re-
ioice her heart.
The brilliantly lighted house and
the many little tables looked festive
and inviting and Phillips spirits rose
high. He y as careful. however. and in
nauses in the conversation he would
assume a thoughtful expression that
made it hard for his sister to keep a
straight face. She knew he was say
ing over and over to himself the direc-
lions she had last given him.
The conversation was at its height
when the last guest came downstairs
and the hostess rose to direct them to
their tables. She was very pretty in
a delicate yellow gown. but afterward
il was a long time before Phillips
could see that particular shade with
out the same sinking of the heart that
he experienced when Miss Morton
spoke.
She clapped her hands gently to at
tract their attention and as soon as
they were quiet she made an an
nouncement
Il want to tell you before we sit
down to play" she said. that we have
decided to change the game to