Smyrna times., 1913-03-26
A Practical
Joke
II Turned Out Seriously In
Two Respects
BY ARTHUR D. PURDY

gest little devil In p. We We're all
frolicsOme. | was. 50 far as know.
lhe only serious one in the lot. sup
pose that this was the reason fell
in love with Sue. OppOsltes take to
each other. and by good rights Sue
should have returned my proffered af
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 10 the pinnacle OF &C.
stasy. then cast me down by cold treat
ment.
II seemed 10 delight her to make me
miserable. and why / couldn't under
stand. l 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 l considered stupid. Why. then.
had she picked me out to tOrmentf
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 to let up somewhat In
her endeavors 10 make me miserable
Our set agreed 10 end the winters
festivities by a fancy dress ball De
| Gliding upon or getting up a costume
was entirely out Of my line. for had
no inventive faculty In such matters.
In my dilemma Sue kindly came TO
my assistance. leave II 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 10
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 20 material. she said
II would cost little or nothing. / asked
her what the costume was 10 be. but
she wouldn't tell me, assuring me that
l would be much pleased with Il.
really cared very little what repre-
sented, whether II was Louis XIV.
Oliver Cromwell or George Washing
ton. l was quite content 10 leave the
whole matter to Sue. believing that she
would provide a 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 a surprise There
was not the least doubt as 70 my caus-
ing a sensation In II or that It would
be considered the most striking cos
tune at the ball. was to represent a
bird Of paradise.
On a light framework was the body
OF the bird. Its 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
streamers composed OF many hues shOt
out IN the rear. resembling either ths
tail Of a bird OF paradise or a rainbow
whichever the beholder chose
confess I was very crestfallen. Tn,
prospect OF disporting myself in thi,
gaudy apparel was especially dis
agreeable TO me. I refused TO use Il
Sue had two or three OF her cir
friends with her. who at once mani
Tested great astonishment that I die
not appreciate Il. and Sue herself look
ed very much put out that all her trou
Bile should have been for nothing. BE
tween them they succeeded in per
suadlng me 70 put Il on. did so anS
was no sooner decorated with Il thar
they all cried at once: Splendid
Beautiful. II will be the finest thin
In the room. What an original ideal'
= Well. simply yielded my consent Z
make a fool Of myself. because fOu
J girls set themselves 10 the task o
forcing me 70 dc so. Each one o
them promised 70 make It easy for m
by their support. giving me the mos
OF their time and dances at the bal
though how I was 20 sweep that thre
yards OF tail around In a dance di
not know. and they failed 10 explain.
We are any OF us liable 10 do sOm'
thing and afterward cannot undel
stand how we were silly enough
have done Il. and this was a case I
point with me. | knew all the Will
= that / should refuse 10 wear such
costume, but didn't have the stamin
In me 70 withstand these girls. 81
sides. feared that II I failed TO az
pear I'm II after the pains Sue had tai
en- in designing and making II / woul
break the thread that bound her TO M
On the night OF the bail was oblii
ed TO carry my costume TO the buildiu
where II took place and put II on ther
Had I gone through the streets with
on I should have been mObbed. I'll
moment I entered the ballroom evei
eye was fixed upon me- The girls WI
had persuaded me 10 wear the biz
stood by their promise 70 support m
and all clustered about me. each clair
ing the honor Of the first dance vii
me. though they all at last gave way
Sue.
I shall never forget that dance Hs
1 been the kind OF q fellow 10 make