The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1912-05-16
Decline and
FAN

Il don't like that beau of yours, the
one who called last night, Mertie,"
said the young ,woman's grandmother,
who had come on q visit II don't take
to him at ALL"
"Why, the ideal" exclaimed her
granddaughter in surprise. "Mr. Jar
gers Is one of the most popular men
l know! He's asked everywhere and
il he pays any attention to a girl ev-
cry one takes her up. OF course he's
older than just a mere boy, but I'm
sure he is we'll bred and entertaining
and"
"He can be all that" Interrupted
her relative, land even then l sha'n't
want to welcome him as a member Of
the family! It's because he reminds
me SO of Artemus Milkins-I guess
you never heard Of him. Artemus
was one Of the best-looking young
men in two states and all the girls
were crazy about him. They were al
ways getting into quarrels over Arte-
mus, and they watched one another as
cats watch MICE waiting to see which
way they were going to Jump, be-
cause they were so afraid they'd get
beaten out when 1t came to marrying
him.
"Artemus must have had wonderful
endurance and a constitutional dlsre-
gard for sleep for otherwise he never
could have stood up under all the din
ners and dances and balls and other
frivolities to which he was asked.
Once when he had the grip and stay
ed away from a party it was just ruin
!. ed, for the girls all went home early.
, There wasn't house in town where
the mother wasn't more than willing
70 sit up nights finishing her daugh-
ter's new frock If Artemus was going
to take the girl anywhere.
NATURALLY, after a few years the
! first crowd of girls gave up and mar
ried lesser lights, but there always
was a new crop of girls for Artemus
to be the idol Of, and, tell you, they
burned incense!
d. "He kept getting handsomer, too.
After a girl has been out ten years
she may be pretty and all that, but
she hasn't the charm of youth that is
so fetching With man it is differ
ent man keeps right on being
e good looking and popular and when
, they begin calling him one Of the
Fancy it's adding tone to girl when
they begin referring to her as one
: of the older crowd!
= Everybody wondered why Artemus
k didn't marry and settle down, but
knew it was because he was having
> too good a time What's the use OF ty'
:, ing yourself down to one slave when
r, you can. Just as well have twenty OF
more?
well, for years and years Artemus
was our most popular bachelor, an In
stitution, an aggravation, a sighed-fol
prize, an ornament to our parties. H1s
decline was very gradual and unno
tioeable. 1 don't think any of us no
ticed it for a long time after Artemus
did. I presume when the tailor added
five inches to the girth of his new
dress suit waistband it made Artemut
sit up at last and take notice ant
think.
II When q man thinks he grows senti
mental. Artemus decided 1t was time
fcr him to get married. He must
have enjoyed lining up the girls ant
selecting the favored one, because he
picked out the youngest and pretties'
of that years debutantes and very
gently and kindly informed her thai
she could marry him. You see, w
heard all about these things, because
nobody felt it a breach of confidence
to talk about Artemus' doings.
1T must have been a shock to Arte
tears Of Joy. Inez blushed and STAN
mered and said: No, thank you. in I
scared way and then glided from him
giggling That night she told Ton
Flitt all about 1t as they sat in thu
hammock Tom said, Why, the ole
donkey!' and kissed her Indignantly
u "Artemus called next on Seren'
Phipps. Serena was 20 and popular
but inclined to be a highbrow. Arte
mus remembered how she had looked
at him when she was Is and he re
Elected that possibly his GOODNESS het
driven her to economics and social 70
form. When he proposed to seren'
she regarded him as though he wer'
bug. Then she told him frankly
that she wouldn't marry him because
he wasn't her ideal Of man, and sh'
was NO more in love with him thar
she was with tho weeping willow tre'
outside, and would he please shut thu
gate when he went out, 80 that thu
dogs wouldn't trample tho flower beds
II There were two after that, boil
older than Serena. Artemus seemed
to decide that years might bring NOR
appreciation Of LIES blessings Meth
er Of the two seemed to yearn for ,
blessing IN the shane Of Artemua