Elmore County Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1910-1915, 1912-05-18
The Struggle
for Arthur


surge Of regret that there were disad
vantages connected with being Il
years old.
For example, II one were displeaset
with friend one could not make III
a face and say "Smarty! You thinl
you're smart. don't your And nc
other method tf nroce arre really
seemed to at tbs present ease
There was not a particle OF doub,
that Elsie Wangness had deliberately
set out to trap Arthur He had CONS
TO visit In the Mills home, displaying
the full glory OF his gray summer suit
heliotrope silk socks and tie. and with
a bus1Dessliks assortment of goli
clubs and tennis rackets and accom-
panied by Speckle. the sportiest look.
Ing Boston bullpup that ever was seen
on that street Since Arthur was tall
and intellectually designed after the
pattern OF the young man who makes
modern clothes advertisements things
of beauty, II is easily seen that there
was nothing for any girl in the neigh
borhood to do but fall desperately In
love with him.
After Arthur's arrival there began
perfect surge OF girls toward the
Mills residence. It appeared that they
all loved Violet half to death and were
sitting up nights planning entertain
ments for her to show their devotion
entertainments to which she was 70
quested to bring along your brother
John--and his guest"
But Elsie Wangness was the most
devoted Of them all, for she took to
bringing over her fancy work and sit
ting on the porch with her dear friend
Violet or course, she could not help It
II she was there when John and Ar
thur happened to be there also.
Violet recalled. when she thought II
over, that Elsie most generally had
been sitting there on the porch when
the young men were around. 1t was
no wonder, then. that she actually be-
gan wearing Arthurs fraternity pin
no doubt she had wrested it from
him by main force! Violet had OBJ
served that pin two seconds after Ar.
thurs arrival and instantly wild hopes
Of wearing 1t herself before his depart.
dre seized upon her. Only a week Of
Arthurs visit had gone by before Elsie
ostentatiously displayed the pin and
also a maddening air of ownership OF
Arthur before Violet's very eyes. Any
one can see, therefore, that Violet was
Justified In longing to say "Smarty!"
and wrinkle up her nose.
The unwritten laws Of girlhood
frown upon one girls flirting with a
Young man to whom another girl has
a Nior right. As Violet told herself
holly, If she didn't have first right to
a visitor in her very own home, she'd
like to know who did!
What was hardest to bear was
Elsie's sweet commiseratiou. Her |
avery glance seemed to say how sorry |
The wai for Violet because Violets at.
ractions were so limited that 1t was
impossible for her to capture hand.
ONE young man. Violet, however, was
In the depths of her heart
hat II she had used one-sixteenth Of
10 artful wiles of Elsie she could
ave beaten Elsie In the first inning.
That was what came of being re-
erved and modesto wasn't true that
aen wanted to do the chasing them.
elves. Hereafter-VioIet set her Inns
4 way that presaged i'll for any help
.ss and unsuspecting masculine indi.
idual that fate henceforth threw in
er path
Arthur says he just loves brown
yes" Elsie would confide to her. Vio-
It's eyes were blue. Or Arthur SAYS
. much prefers smooth hair like
line" Vioets hair was naturally .
avy- After these little episodes VIC
t would retire to weep In rage and
editate revenge
II only in some way she could get
rem with Elsie 1t would assuage tho q
tterness ranking within her. That {
,e should have been such a simple {
N as to let another girl get ahead I
her was dreadful reflection. G
In the last week OF Arthur's stay. \
hen Elsie dropped frequent remarks
at were calculated to show Violet -
at Elsie expected to hear from Ar.
ur frequently Violet broke six EN-.
oidery needles. Arthur had said moth.
& about writing to her! II
The day the visitor was to leave Ar +
ur and John came home to luncheon a
ID Elsie. who had the chair nearest I,
Q porch steps. bestowed her sweet. c
t. most bewildering smile upon them
was as though she said to VIC
J: See how Arthur rejoices at my :
,lcome!" g
Then Arthur paused instead of 70 "
: indoors. He smiled down at Elsie Ia
d for an awful instant Violet won. Il
red II he was going to make love to d,
r before Violet's angyished eyesi p
en- he spoke: ;,
Say. small girl" he said from the to
Ight Of his % years, don't forget Il
It I'm going today and want nv min