The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-10-24

pOBCmAn brought Iuo letter. uebo
were Bettie's two greatest occupa-
lions; sitting and doing nothing. She
usually combined the two.
Her pretty face resolved itself into
a yeritable interrogation mark, when
she saw that the handwriting was
Bob Taylor's.
why, I haven't heard from him for
five years" she exclaimed, not
since he went to the Philippines after
our quarrel; What can he have to
say" Tearing open the envelope
she read:
Manila, May 18th.
MY Dear Bette:
II am writing to say that I am going
back to the United States on purpose
to see you I shall arrive in Brewster
about the first OF July. hope that you
will be glad to see me, for l can scarce
~ wait until I can see you.
1.-THE silly misunderstanding we had
has been wiped entirely out of my mind,
and my greatest desire Is to return and
plead In person for your forgiveness,
and also to ask you something more.
II can see In my minds eye your slim
willowy form In its sailor dress OF blue
And I trust dear Bette, that you stIll
have this identical dress, and will Wear
It to welcome me back. I think 1t wre
the prettiest dress I ever saw. II you
will don 1t for this occasion II Will
make our meeting so much easier, for
shall know at glance that l am for
given If you have 1t on.
"Should there be any change IN my
plans I shall communicate with you at
M Of oil n
this letter for I shall be en- route.
"Yours sincerely,
Robert Taylor"
y
After Bette had read the letter
twice she fell into reminiscent
mood.
Dear old Bob" she soliloquized
chow good it is to hear from you
And SO you have something to say
to me, was ready to forgive and
forget the next day, II you had only
asked, for I loved you and still do
What girl could help II?
"Of course I shall wear the blue
dress. Tll-no, can't either
haven't had It on since he left!
began to take on flesh that same
year I weighed hundred and ten
when he saw me last and now
we'll, I know those last scales must
have been wrong, for they made it a
hundred and forty-eight!
Goodness gracious, what shall
do? l can't begin to get 1t on and
my slim, willowy figure! That's what
I get for sitting around 80 much and
taking no exercise. And I remember
that he hated fat girls! I will wear
that dress"
Immediately she constituted herself
a committee of ways and means.
"Just five weeks in which to take
off thirty-eight pounds!" she said.
The next morning at breakfast Bet
ties father was full of trouble.
81 thought when I built this house
that | was putting up one of the
most substantial residences In the
town. he complained; but las
night, whenever car passed, | dis
tinctly felt it tremble, sometimes fol
as long as two minutes. And once I
was shaken to its very foundations
I'm going to get the builder to come
over. as soon as he can, to make al
examination
Even Bobby was disturbed. liz
came running down stairs one morn
ing a few days later, exclaiming:
"Mom. this house is hounted
know it is, cause last night I hearc
the awfullest groans and means afte
| went to bed. an the house jes
shook like it wus tremblin' with ter
ror! was afraid to git up an w
been awake all night"
One evening at tea, Mrs. Brown lair
down her knife and fork and looking
at her daughter. remarked:
Now Petite. | want to know wha
the matter is with you. You refus
preserves and cake, you won't TAX,
sugar in your tea. and you don't ca
enough to keep a bird alive. Your
actually getting thin and peaked
Why girl. you don't look like your
self you've fallen away so mucf
that your clothes are ever so much too
big for you. Nov what Is it,
"Oh nothing answered Bette.
Eyes there is There's something
wrong with you" replied her mother
You needn't try 10 conceal it any
longer Either you are sick or il
love"
'Well II you are determined t.
pry into your daughter's private af
fairs, mother dear I'll have to confess
that l am reducing my flesh by The
rolling process. You select a Ions
floor space, you see and roll bach
and forth twenty-five times without
stopping. Then you kick up YOU
heels"
"Bettie Brown. are you crazy?"
mo- but | believe being in love is
pretty nearly as bad as being crazy
well, now I begin to see daylight,
declared Mrs. Brown. $50 you are IT
love, are you? I thought as much.
TITS Bob Taylor" And then the
whole story came cut.
After Bob had arrived. duly en-.
and taken his departure, the young
woman in the case was in her room
taking down her hair for the night
and recounting to herself the expert
ences of the past five weeks.
II shouldn't have done 1t for any
body in the world but Bob" she de-
clared; "but I don't intend that he
shall eYer know that / WAS SO much In