Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1913-06-06
"A Practical
Joke
II Turned Out Seriously In
Two Respects
By ARTHUR D. PURDY

Sue Gwinne was known as the big
gest little devil IN B. We were all
young then and were inclined 10 be
frolicsome. / was, 80 far as ! know,
the only serious one I'm the lot. ! sup
pose that this was the reason I fell
in love with Sue. opposites take to
each other. and by good rights Sue
should have returned my profered AZ.
fection, but she did not At any rate.
/ couldn't be sure for more than half
an hour at a time that she did. She
would say something very sweet to
me, raising me to the pinnacle OF &C.
stasy, then cast me down by cold treat
ment.
It seemed to delight her to make me
miserable, and why I couldn't under.
stand. / wondered why she didn't
play her pranks on the rest Of the
boys. 1 couldn't see that they had
any especial advantages over me. Nor
was / considered stupid. why, then.
had she picked me out to torment7
Sue had kept me In a chronic state
OF fret during the fall and winter, but
Mntn Aut btunOu WIS ADOuL 10 ElhHE
seemed inclined TO let up somewhat In
her endeavors to make me miserable.
Our set agreed to end the winters
festivities by a fancy dress ball. De.
Gliding upon or wtting up a costume
was entirely out of my line. for / had
no inventive faculty I'm such matters.
In my dilemma Sue kindly came to
my assistance. Leave It to me-" she
said, "and l guarantee that you shall
have one Of the most striking costumes
at the ball."
This was not only a great relief to
me, but set me up with regard to her
preference for me. Had she not picked
me out among all the fellows for an
act of kindness7 And when she told
me that she would make my costume
with her own hands / was proud as a
peacock. All she wanted was a few
measurements As to material, she said
It would cost little or nothing. I asked
her what the costume was to be, but
she wouldn't tell me, assuring me thai
/ would be much pleased with 1t. ]
really cared very little what / repre-
scented, whether It was Louis XIV.
Oliver Cromwell OF George Washing
ton. / was quite content to leave the
whole matter to Sue. believing that she
would provide a costume In keeping
with ng dignity.
The afternoon Of the day on which
the ball was to take place Sue tele
phoned me that l had better come to
her house and try on my costume.
did 80 and met with a surprise. There
was not the least doubt as to my caus.
ing q sensation In 1t or that it would
be considered the most striking cos.
tune at the ball. I was to represent q
bird Of paradise.
On a light framework was the body
of the bird, It's feathers made Of tissue
paper. Space was left in the center
for my body, and stockings Of a prop
er color were provided for my legs
The tail was a wonder. Beautiful
Btreamers composed of many hues shO
out In the rear, resembling either thu
tail OF a bird OF paradise or a rainbow
whichever the beholder chose.
1 confess / was very c%restfallen. Tn,
prospect of disporting myself I'm thi
gaudy apparel was especially dis
agreeable to me. / refused to use II
Sue had two or three OF her CIR
friends with her, who at ono mani
Tested great establishment that l did
not appreciate II, and Sue herself look
ed very much put ont that all her trou
hle should have been for nothing. Be
tween them they succeeded In per
auaaIpw no -. n.,N Nk un ala 40 ons
was no sooner decorated with 1t thar
they all cried at once: splendid
Beautiful 1t will be the finest thin
in the room! What an original ideal"
Well, / simply yielded my consent t.
make a fool OF myself, because fouI
girls set themselves to the task o.
forcing me to do 80. Each one o.
them promised to make It easy for ms
by their support, giving me the mos
OF their time and dances at the ball
though how / was to sweep that three
yards OF tail around 10 a dance l did
not know. and they failed to explain.
We are any Of US liable TO do some
thing and afterward cannot under
stand how we we're silly enough t
have done Il, and this was a case II
point with me. / knew all the Will
that / should refuse TO wear such
costume, but I didn't have the stamina
in me 70 Withstand these girls. Be
sides, l feared that n failed to ap
pear IN It after the pains Sue had TAX
en- In designing and making 1t woul'
break the thread that bound her to me
On the night Of the ball ! was ObliG
ed to carry my costume to the buildin
where It took place and put 1t on there
Had l gone through the streets with
on l should have been mobbed. Tn
moment 1 entered the ballroom ever.
eye was fixed upon me. The girls VIII
had persuaded nee to wear the birI
stood by their promise to support ms
and all clustered about me, each claim
inR the honor OF the first dance wit
me. though they all az last gave way I
Sue.
shall never forget that dance. Ha