The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1911-10-26

Lets take up n Of the ladies first
What's she like, young or old. com.
plexion dark or light. slender or
plump? And what sort Of jewelry
does she affectY
shes not young. Hair red Com
plexion2 Well. red too. She's not
plump. She's fat"
"Ah. | see! Mrs. Finn"
"What do you know of Mrs. Flinny'
Il know a good deal of you the
young man smiled quizzically again
"We want something gorgeous. A
mOnds and rubies. Let's see what
you have"
The dapper clerk brought a tray on
which precious stones glittered In all
colors of the rainbow. At last q ring,
Set with a large ruby and two fine
diamonds. was set aside.
well take that" the young man de.
cided.
For Molly Mehaffey and Patrick-he
seemed entirely familiar with Bob's
home relationship chose respectively
q very pretty pearl pendant and a sill
yer cigar case. This done. he laid the
three purchases In a row before him
and surveyed them critically.
There" he said finally: II think
those will help make n very salts
factory Christmas for the lucky ones
But aren't you forgetting something's
For Miss Finn? Not here. I'm
much obliged to you. though" Bob
said as he filed out a check that ran
into four figures.
"Oh, It's been a pleasure. you may
be sure" the young man replied pleas
antly. 81 like to spend money. ever
II 1t is some one else's."
When they left the store the young
man turned up the street with Bob In
the matter of fact way of one whose
company is justified by lifelong ac-
quaintance. Bob. grimly amused. per
mitted It.
ut takes Christmas time to make q
fellow expand There's a lot in this
good will to men, after all. That's
what | like about Christmas"
ITS nonsense" said Bob. 81 don't
believe In giving Christmas presents
Hundreds Of thousands of dollars are
spent this week In this city by people
who have trouble %scraping enough to
gether to make ends meet"
I'll admit It Is the dramatic view of
1t that appeals to me. always 20
hrOka mvSalf Chrictma, tj~a md A
positively glOat in my bankruptcy.
not because others see II as q tine
thing-few people have the superhne
theatrical sense | have-but because
! see 1t so myself and like to look on
at myself In n gorgeous role. You
don't understand that. do your"
81 do not"
mo. OF course not You have beer
too busy driving ahead. trampling the
world under your feet. to cultivate
these finer pleasures"
There are some people who would
be afraid TO say these things to me-"
Bob interrupted. halt angrily.
"Oh, I'm not afraid Of you. you
know" was the cheerful answer. And
he continued: yours is what I call
grand opera egOism. Now. mine Is
vaudeville. ! don't ask the world to
PROSTATE itself before me. All I want
Is that 1t shall place me I'm the fore
ground. so that | may enjoy myself
playing a striking role. or course the
same principle underlies both our ma.
tures-concentrated ~selishness. self
love. Were you eve In lover"
well hardlyw
Neither was I. It's a shame. too:
I'd make such a splendid lover. I'm
not a sentimentalist. though rather a
sen%sationalist. ! love a strong sensa-
ton. ! like the feel Of doing the big.
the unusual. the beautiful things. !
like the sensation Of talking about
myself frankly to a man who never
saw me before and doesn't give a
hang whether he ever sees me again"
Bob laughed loudly he could not
help IT. We'll. you've got nerve.
there's no doubt of that I stop at this
bookstore"
I'll 20 along. ] want 70 deliver =
homily with that laugh Of you're 10 .
sovt"