Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1911-04-04
A VERY WISE
YOUNG MAN


library. Fred was still in college,
but he was a very wise young man.
He was so wise that he had attempted
to dictate to his sister, Edith, as to
how her smiles were to be distTib-
uted.
"Yes. wish Edith were more tract.
able" sighed the mother.
"Tractablel" exclaimed the son.
why. ! hadn't spoken 20 words to
her when she famed up and said |
needed a guardian myself. I'm "a and
she Is under 20 and yet she will not
take my advice. What are you going
to do with such a girl?"
eve will have to argue with her"
Can you argue with a girl who has
her fists doubled up? Now let's go
over the list again. There is Waters
who is a perfect ninny. There Is
Thompson. who hasn't got a dollar
There is Rush, who is a perfect sissy
There is Alvord, who sings passably
well, but will never earn $25 a week
There is Clingham, who is living on
his poor old mothers bounty. The
whole five rolled into one wouldn't
make a man and yet she keeps them
dangling around her"
Edith Somers had at least the five
callers named at the family council
Two or three of them had escorted
her to the theater. Another had ia
ken her to the horse show. She had
bowed to them on the avenue or in
the park and she had chatted End
smiled at home What of it? Can't
a girl do that and much more without
being in love? Her 24-year-old broth
err will say no. Edith Somers hadn't
yet given a thought to marriage.
In his class were three different
young men Fred liked exceedingly
we'll. He invited them by turns to
run down home with him and of
course sister Edith met them AS far
as Fred could make out they were
simply added to the five heretofore
mentioned. He believed they we're
impressed, hut just as soon as he be
gan sounding their praises Miss Edith
began talking with the canary or
playing with the cat. When Re turn
cd anu began criticising them she
would go to the piano and strike up
ragtime
Another family council was called.
81 throw up my hands," announced
Fred in tones of despair
What's she done now?" meaning
Edith.
Got two more, One has been in
an insane asylum l believe, and the
other will soon get there. l started to
say something to her an hour ago,
but she elevated her nose and walk
ed off"
Il had five beaux at one time
myself" replied the mother, who
thought the case had not yet arrived
at the danger point
But she's got 10 and more coming
every minute!"
But she can't care for them all"
But you see she'll pick out the
poorest one of the lot!
Summer opened; Fred came home
on his vacation and the trio went to a
lake resort. The dozen danglers were
heart-broken, but Edith Somers didn't
seem bit cast down. At the end Of
fortnight a new face appeared at
the Somers' table. Fred sized up the
stranger and said to himself:
"Homely enough to stop a clock. No
fear of Edith taking to him"
In clio
across the table Edith said to herself:
Strong, sensible, unromantic.
might like him"
After three or four days there we're
introductions. The stranger was
George French. mining engineer.
Mr.. French was invited to go out in
a sail boat with the trio. Mr.. Fred
was "a years old and he took charge
of the boat. There was no great call
for wisdom in the managing of a sail
boat in gusty day. All that is need.
ed is about five years experience.
Ten minutes of exhilaration and
then a gust struck her and she went
over The wise Fred was tangled up
with the sail and the two ladies were
ready to go to the bottom when Mr..
French got clear of the rope tangled
about his legs and began work. He
reached out an arm for all and gath
cred them to the overturned boat and
directed and chilled and encouraged
until the rescuer came.
II was three months later that Fred
Somers said to his sister:
Eddie. what's become of that civil
engineer"
"out west. / believe" was the an
swer.
Say. now. was in hopes"
"Yesi"
why don't your"
HE hasn't quite asked me to yet,
but / expect he will In his next let