The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-03-24

Johnny BEEN, farmers boy, nine
teen years old, stood six feet In his
stockings; his limbs were long, well
shaped and put together in graceful
curves; a Byronic head was set on a
well turned neck, which In turn rested
between a pail, Of broad shoulders.
Johnny was beloved by every girl with
In fifty miles Of his fathers farm, but
as he loved every girl he was in no
danger from any one Of them.
Johnny was fairly intelligent, too.
and read all the books that he could
get his hands on. But the chief charm
about him-even greater than his man.
~ beauty-was his righteousness. He
knew nothing about the artificial de-
vices to make himself liked. He would
not intentionally. hurt fly, but II he
did so accidentally would not know
enough about manners to beg the Hy's
pardon.
The farm. its products, live stock.
everything pertaining to country life
was Johnny's delight. AS for a horse,
he not only loved the animal, but knew
all about him. One day Johnny went
to the races. In order to see the track
he climbed up on coach occupied by
some swells. His remarks about the
different runners interested these per-
sons immensely. And what interested
them more was that he invariably
picked the winner. One of the men on
the coach asked him q lot Of questions
and when the races were over took his
address.
One day this gentleman, Mr.. Swim
bourne, drove up to the farm gate and.
calling for Johnny, told him there
were to be more races and he wished
Johnny to go to them with him. On
the way Swinbourne told Johnny he
wished him to name the winning
horses; that he. Swinbourne, would
bet as Johnny told him to bet and he
would give Johnny 10 per cent Of his
winnings: Swinbourne in this way
made $4,000 and in the course Of a
year, by Johnny's advice, made for
tune. He paid his adviser his share Of
the profits and then asked him IL there
was anything else he could do for him.
81 would like" said Johnny, ito be
introduced among the swells."
Swinbourne looked at the handsome
youngster for q moment, then said:
Johnny. I'll do it. But you'll need a
wardrobe and must let me do lot of
coaching"
Johnny agreed, and Swinbourne told
him to report at his club in the city on
a certain date.
Now, if there was one among all the
girls whom Johnny loved better than
the others it was Hepsi Jones. This
was proved by the fact that she was
the only one of the lot whom he told
he was going to the city to be intro
duced into society. Hepsi put out her
hand to him and said:
"Goodby, Johnny; / never expect TO
see you in the country again. You'll
marry some city girl. Indeed, would
not advise you to come back after be-
coming used to city ways. Our ways
here will be distasteful to you. You'll
neither feel at home with us nor will
we feel at home with you"
"If thought that, Hepsi, wouldn't
go. Indeed, I'm minded to stay on the
farm
"Do nothing of the kind. Go and
mingle with these people, and if you
like them better than farmers folk
stay among them; If not, come back to
u.s."
Johnny decided to take this advice
and went to the city. He met Swim
bourne at the club, and Swinbourne
told him that since all social festivi-
ties went by seasons among society
people and it was then springtime he
mus. provide himself with golf suits,
tennis suits and garments appropriate
for horseback riding. Then. after con-
siderable shopping and Johnny had
been Quilted, Mr.. Swinbourne gave a
dinner for him at the Country club.
Johnny was so handsome in farm
dress that he retained a good deal Of
comeliness in the conventional evening
costume of city man. Indeed, all the
women present considered him an
Adonis. Their own costumes were
more becoming to them, though he
said they all seemed to be incased in
straitjackets. Before sitting down to
dinner cocktails were handed round.
Johnny was surprised to see every
woman present drink cocktail. When
the waiter offered him one he thanked
him and said he preferred glass OF
milk. Fortunately Swinbourne was
the only person who heard him. He
took the cocktail from the tray and
put 1t in Johnny's hand.
Johnny was much confused at the
multiplication Of plates put in front of
him, and, as for forks and knives, he
had never used so many at home In
half dozen meals. But he kept an
eye on his peighbors and by initiating
them got on very we'll. Wines and
liquors were distasteful to him, and he
dronly only what he felt obliged TO