The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-11-06
A Practical
Joke
II Turned Out Seriously In
Two Respects
BY ARTHUR D. PURDY

young then and were inclined TO b
froiicsome. ! was, 70 far as / know
the only serious one IN the lot. ! SUI
pose that this was the reason | fel
en- love with Sue. 0pposites take t
each other. and by good rights SUI
should have returned my proffered af
fection. but she did not At any rate
i couldn't be sure for more than hal
an hour at a time that she did Sh.
would say something very sweet L
me, raising me TO the pinnacle of &c
stasy, then cast me down by cold treat
ment
II seemed to delight her TO make me
miserable. and why | couldn't under,
stand / wondered why she didn't
play her pranks on the rest of the
boys. ] couldn't see that they had
any especial advantages over me. Nor
was | considered stupid. Why, then.
had she picked me out to torment?
Sue had kept me In a chronic state
OF fret during the fall and winter, but
when the season was about TO close
seemed inclined 10 let up somewhat in
her ebdeavors to make me miserable
Our set agreed to end the winters
festivities by fancy dress ball. De-
Gliding upon or getting up costume
was entirely out OF my line, for / had
no Inventive faculty In such matters.
In my dilemma Sue kindly came 10
my assistance leave II to me-" she
said, ''and ! guarantee that you shall
have one Of the most striking costumes
at the ball"
This was not only 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 kindness? And when she told
me that she would make my costume
with her own hands / was proud as
peacock. All she wanted was few
measurements As to material, she said
II would cost little or nothing. | asked |
her what the costume was to be, but !
she wouldn't tell me, assuring me that |
1 would be much pleased with It. | |
really cared very little what | repre-
scented. whether Il was Louis XIV.
Oliver Cromwell or George Washing
ton. was quite content to leave the
whole matter TO Sue, believing that she
would provide costume In keeping
with my dignity.
The afternoon OF the day on which
the ball was 20 take place Sue tele-
phoned me that / had better come to
her house and try on my costume.
did SO and met with surprise. There
was not the least doubt as TO my caus-
ing n sensation In II or that 1t would
be considered the most striking cos
hume at the ball was 20 represent a
bird of paradise.
On light framework was the body
II the bird. Its feathers made of tissue
PAPER. Space was left In the center
or my body, and stockings OF prop
n color were provided for my legs
The tail was wonder Beautiful ,
treamers composed OF many hues shot
nut la the rear, resembling either the
all OF n bird OF paradise or rainbow,
whichever the beholder chose.
/ confess | was very crestfallen. The
respect OF disporting myself In this
nudy apparel was especially dis
greeable 20 me. | refused TO use It.
ne had two or three OF her girl
riends with her, who at once mani
ested great establishment that | did
OF appreciate II. and Sue herself look
! very much put out that all her trou-
e should have been for nothing. Be =
veen them they succeeded In per- y
iading me to put itson. | did so and :
as no sooner decorated with Il than II
icy all cried at once: splendid
II will he the finest thinA
the rooml What an original ideal" o.
Well. ] simply yielded my consent to tt
axe a fool OF myself. because four g
ris set themselves TO the task OF "
rcing nue. 10 do so. Each one of al
EN- promised 20 make II easy for me ci
their support, giving me the most OF
their time and dances at the ball, IN
ough how | was TO sweep that three sn
rds OF tail around In a dance did II
I know, and they failed to explain su
We are any OF us liable 20 do some ne
Ing and afterward cannot under III
md how we were silly enough TO
We done Il. and this was a case I'm tn
int with me. | knew all the while ha
II ! should refuse 10 wear such wi
'tume. but ! didn't have the stamina tn
me TO Withstand these girls. Be W.
es. | feared that II failed to APP alb
lr In II after the pains Sue had tax we
In designing and making IL l would
AK the thread that bound her 10 me. ins
IN the hight Of the bail | was oblig w
to carry my costume TO the building ha
ere II took place and put II on there. fa'
d | gone through the streets with II tea
| should have been mobbed. The 4
ment | entered the ballroom every en-,
was fixed upon me. The girls who INA
persuaded me to wear the bird the
cd by their promise to support me. sui
all clustered about me. each claim int
the honor of the first dance with Su
though they all at last gave way to ha,
!. thi
shall never forget that dance. Had bee
cen the kind of fellow to make a rea
: of myself In order to afford amuse- me
ut for others ] would have consider tha
myself to be covered with glory sor
ng quiet. serious. studious digni. no
person, was in an agony. Every upI