The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-12-15
This Complex
Existence

| ACuuhA llpJO0u W tu0 DOlIOm VI THO
stairs and called "Mother!" In voice
which to the uninitiated might have
indicated that he was one Of those
gentle, retiring children known gen.
orally as not daring, to speak above
a whisper.
There was no answer. So, mutter-
ing to himself, well, l guess she
amt at home, or l guess she said she
was going downtown today" he made
a very subdued, genteel exit.
But Kendall had reckoned without
his host Before he had reached the
street he was stopped by voice from
the front upstairs window. Mrs. Boyd
had not been Kendall's another IT, slve
years without having become more or
less acquainted with his ways.
Kendall, DEAR" she said, where
are you going?"
Kendall halted on the lower step
and kicked the newell post viciously.
| Then he regarded the toe Of his shoe
with great disfaVor.
PLAY ball." he said. "Oyer in the
lot with the fellers"
But, you know, dancing school be-
gins today" and his mother sweetly.
"You must come in and get ready"
She withdrew her head discreetly
in time to avoid being convicted Of
hearing her son respond. Jaw, rats
on dancing school! / amt going!"
Then Kendall sat down on the step
and bumped the railing with his bat
for several minutes. There was no
further sound from the house and he
repeated his former remarks in loud
er tone: Jaw, rats on old dancing,
schools / amt going this year!"
Say, mother!" he shouted, bellig-
erently. II amt going to change my
clothes, anyway. These is good
enough for old dancing school,"
There was no response.
Jaw, rats!" Kendall said once
more. II wish there hadn't never
been an old dancing school. Then
maybe l wouldn't have to CO."
After relieving his mind by giving
the steps several much louder knocks
than before, he rose and went into the
house, kicking each step as he went.
He draped himself about the banisters
and swung there noisily until the sound
Of the maternal voice came to him
from the upper regions
Come up, Kendall, and begin dress.
ing"
"Aw, / don't want to 60 to old danc-
ing school," Kendall reiterated Ken,
dall's vocabulary was somewhat limit,
ed. Say, mother, don't make me go
this year. Nobody but sissy boys gol
to dancing school,"
There was no reply. Mrs. Boyd was
past mistress Of the art Of coercion
by silence.
well, anyway, I'm just going to
wear my school clothes. I'll take my
pumps, but these clothes is good
enough"
Clump! Clump! Clump!
Say, mother!" said a voice from the
depths of Kendall's closet. 81 don't
have to wash my neck, do 1? Say,
gee! l gave 1t good wash this morn
ing. l amt going to wash 1t again
this afternoon"
Silence.
We'll, anyway, l amt going to wash
1t tonight before go to bed If / have
to wash 1t this afternoon. l don't
see what difference 1t makes. I'm
clean enough to go and dance with
lot Of girls and lot of sissy boys"
Splash, splash, splash, from the
bathroom.
Say, mother, amt going to dance
with no girls this afternoon. Maybe
IN dance with the teacher, but bet |
won't dance with no girls. Girls,
they make me tired!"
Silence.
Say, mother, don't have to put on
clean shirt, do I? l don't see what
makes you want me to put on a so
many clean things. Gee! bet dadll
be mad when he sees how big the
laundry bill Is"
Silence.
Say, mother, this stockings got
hole In it," Can't wear the ones
| have on? Well, anyway, bet II /
do have TO dance with the girls I'll
pinch their fingers so they won't want
to dance with me again. Girls make
me awful tired!"
Say, mother, my foot hurts me aw.
ful, ! bet my ankles sprained Any
way, | bet 4 will be II l dance all
afternoon.
I'm going to wear my pumps over
to the hall and then won't have to |
change them after l get there. 1t
makes me tired having to change my
shoes hundred times every day /
Well, anyway, I'm not going to change
them when l come home. I'm going
to wear my pumps. Well, anyway II
] don't wear them home this time I'm
going to the next time. Say, mother,
won't have to walk home with any
ofrl ,,,lII T0D III