Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-02-13
GEORGE, DIPLOMAT
Young Man Well Knew There
Was Little to Be Gained BY
Wearing the Willow.


Geraldine and George had quarreled
Row 1t started, why It started, and
at what precise moment the fireworks
went Off we are unable to elucidate.
but the fact remains that the afore'
said couple parted In anger and went
their respective ways.
When pa ventured to mildly inquire
as to why he had not seen Georges
manly figure decorating the parlor
Geraldine drew herself up like real
broken hearted heroine and remarked
in north pole accents that she never
cared to see that person again. Fur
thermore. she expressed fond wish
that her pa and ma and brothers and
sisters would cut the aforesaid George
of their visiting lists. And then. to
show that this incident had no effect
on her youthful spirits. she shut her
self up in her room and didn't speak
to soul for two days. Accordingly.
II came to pass that George was iso-
lated from the family.
Now, Geraldine WIS some girl. and
one would surmise that George would
do the right thing and NOPE and growl
at losing such a treasure, butF'he
didn't. This startling Information
came to Geraldine through very dear
friend. George was having the time
of his life. Why. wasn't he seen with
a strange blonde on Main street. and
didn't he take her for walk and
buy her some ice cream!
What is more to the point. didn't he
throw reason to the four winds and
insist on buying her dollar box OF
candy--a dollar box, mind you! And
aferward wasn't he seen on upper
Main street holding this strange girls
hand? When Geraldine had digested
this choice morsel of information her
indignation knew no bounds. That
night she sat down and dispatched a
short note of nine pages to George,
telling him that, inasmuch as they
had once been friends. he might at
least have some regard for her feel
ings and discontinue his scandalous
Irritation with total stranger.
She also told him other things. logi'
cal from her point OF view. but calcu'
lated to make peaceful man sit up
and gasp When George received this
chapter of her life he almost had a
at. He lost no time in replying to
Geraldine. telling her among other
y, In hot in
free country he was at perfect liberty
to court so girls If he chose.
Other letters of the same tenor in
ashes tos envelopes passed between the
pair until one morning George re-
ceived a missive that almost burned
his fingers. This is the last straw"
he exclaimed after reading 1t. It'll
go up there tonight and tell her a
few things"
The Family were seated around the
table after dinner. trying to figure out
who should suffer for Geraldine's new
hat, when the bell rang and little sis
ter bounded into the room and an
nounced. Its George!" An awful ST.
pu rose slowly to his feet. Grim de-
termination was written on his face
and terrible light cleaned in his
eyes. I'll attend to this scamp" he
spoke slowly, as II with terrible eff.
fort
Poor Ma buried her face in her
hands and sobbed. But Geraldine's
brothers spoke up and demanded that
they be accorded the honor Of making
George a fit subject for the new hos
pital.
A terrible war of words ensued until
Geraldine silenced every one by her
actions Rising up with tragic air, she
said: Leave this affair to me. l am
the one who has been injured, and it
is fitting that I should give him his
Just deserts With few well chosen
words I'll make him feel his coward
ly position, and when he departs from
this house tonight 1t will be forever
Then, with queenly gesture, 'she
strobe to the front door and ushered
George into the parlor
Five minutes passed. Ten minutes
passed. Pa and ma and the rest Of
the family couldn't stand the suspense
any longer, so they rose us and in
vaded the parlor, determined to see
the scoundrel> humbled in the dust
When they entered Geraldine met
them half way and, taking George
by the hand. said. with peculiar
smile which spread over her pretty
face, "You see. folks, it's all a mis-
take. George has explained every
thing so we are engaged" and she
looked up at the former rascal as II
his first name was Romeo.
Oh, what's the use? Maybe the
other girl was his sister.-New York
Telegram.