Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-06-29
Violets on the
Left Shoulder
By F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
By F. A. Mitchell

the mans college. was strolling on a
road not far from the women's insti-
tuition when he saw black spot above
him. He watched it sink gradually till
it appeared as a paper balloon rocking
in the air and fell not hundred yards
from him. Going to where it lay, he
took it up and noticed that to the cross
wires holding Il sponge that had been
saturated with alcohol hung piece
Of pasteboard on which was written in
a feminine hand:
I contain a secret.
EYES," said Langdon to himself. land
judging by your handwriting the Sc
cret is not to be kept. Some under
graduate of the women's college has
sent you off for the purpose of telling
her secret"
The student carefully examined the
balloon in every part, but the secret
was not found. Thinking it might lie
under the pasted seams. he took it to
his room and moistened and opened
them. He was not rewarded for his
pains.
81 have it." he exclaimed sudden
~. ''Some girl has written the secret
with a fluid that requires a chemical
agent to bring it out. III take it to
the laboratory and apply tests" He did
so and succeeded. By soaking the pa
per successfully in several different
acids he at last found one that brought
out letters containing a message.
You are warm, but you haven't got me
yet. If you do kiss
The writing stopped abruptly
"Ohor' said Langdon inwardly. 80
I'm warm, am |? That means that
I'm on the right track. And Il kiss is
to be my reward if get your secret
Only you didn't like to call kissing
you a reward. Any man who wouldn't
under such circumstances exercise all
his wits to reach the goal is no man
at all"
Ned Langdon tried all the chemical
agents he could think of to bring out
another message, but they failed. He
puzzled over the matter for Il week,
then temporarily gave it up-that is.
as to investigation, He continued to
think about it pretty much all the
ti1,,
CEe evening he was holding the bal
loon close to a gas jet examining the
paper with Il magnifying glass. turn
ing successfully different parts to the
jet, when on the paper, very near the
flame, out came brown letters. They
were too faint to be read, but LangdOn
knew he had got the secret-that is.
if there was no more of the problem
to be solved Heat was the element
required to bring out the writing.
Holding the paper very close to the
burning gas, message in deep brown
letters appeared:
Junior prom. Violets on left shoulder.
"Well. upon my word" exclaimed
Ned That's round about way of
making the acquaintance Of a stranger.
And to think that | didn't get on to
the heat explanation. That message
was probably written in common lem
on juice. But the Junior prom"
COLucS Oll ueAl WCCh LII 1Oul
more | would have been too late"
That ended Langdon'S studies till the
Junior prom" had taken place. He
had no thought but for the girl who
had sent the paper balloon. SO she
would be known at the function by
violets on her left shoulder.
And what must have been the feel
ings Of that girl as the evening in
question approached? There were few
chances of the balloon falling into the
hands of one she would care to meet.
And if it did, would he have the in
genuity to extract the secret?
"I'll bother that girl" unused Lang
don, 'by pretending not to recognize
the token"
He entered the hall late purposely
and stood in the background till be
saw a girl pass with a bunch of VIC
let's on her shoulder. She was as pref
ty as a peach. He was enraptured.
Langdon showed himself in the COM
pany Of different girls for half an
hour, then secured an introduction to
the girl of the secret. pretending not
to notice her viOlets. He made him
self agreeable. however-indeed. paid
her marked attention. After having
been with her for some time be gal
lantly asked for souvenir. looking
wistfully at the viOets. The girl did
not take the hint.
There was a gallery at one end of
the hall. used during religious services
for the choir. Langdon invited the
girl to go up there with him. She ac-
cepted. and they sat back where they
would not be seen. Beneath them was
that mingling Of voices common at So
cial gatherings resembling the running
of waters.
Suddenly every voice stopped at the
sound of a muff1ed shrek. Fortunate
ly sound has no direction for the ear.
''Some girl has been kissed" re-
marked numerous undergraduates.
The professors looked shocked.
The hero and heroine of this story
have long been married. and their
sons and daughters are now fitting
for college The mother breads TO