The Washington herald., 1915-11-21
Sweet Violets" and when the Leaves Begin


to Turn.
When we left at 10 o'clock the three of US
would go down to Jacks little wooden station
and sit on the platform. swinging our feet and
trying to pump one another for clews as to
which, way Miss Ileen's inclinations seemed to
lean. That is the way of rivals-they do not
avoid and glover at one another; they con-
vene and converse and construe-striving by
the art polite to estimate the strength Of the
enemy.
One day there came dark horse to Paloma,
young lawyer who at once Haunted his SHIN
gle and himself spectacularly upon the town.
His name was C. Vincent Vesey. You could see
at glance that he was recent graduate of a
southwestern law school His Prince Albert
coat, light striped trousers. broad-brimmed soft
hat and narrow white muslin bow tie pro-
claiped that more than any diploma could.
Vesey was compound of Daniel Webster, Lord
Chesterfield. Beau Brummel, and Little Jack
Homer. His coming doomed Paioma. The next
day after he arrived an addition to the town
was surveyed and laid off in lots.
Of course. Vesey. to further his professional
fortunes, must minge with the citizenry and
outliers of Paloma. And. as well as the soldier
men, he was bound to seek popularity with the
gay dogs of the place. So Jacks and Bud Gun
nigham and came to be honored by his ac-
quaintance.
The doctrine of predestination would have
been discredited had not Vesey seen Ileen Hin
kle and become fourth in the tourney Magni6-
Gently. he boarded at the yellow pine hotel In
stead of at the Partisan Restaurant; but he
came to be formidable visitor in the Hinkle
parlor. His competition reduced Bud to an in
spired increase of profanity, drove Jacks to
an outburst of slang so weird that it sounded
more horrible than the most trenchant of Buds
imprecations, and made me dumb with gloom
For Vesey had the rhetoric. Words flowed
from him like oil from gusher. Hyperbole.
compliment, praise, appreciation. honeyed gal
lantry. golden opinions, eulogy. and unveiled,
panegyric Wed with one another for pre-emi-
nence in his speech We had small hopes that
Ileen could resist his oratory and Prince Albert.
But day came that gave us courage.
About dusk one evening was sitting on the
little gallery in front of the Hinkle parlor. wait
ing for lleea to come. when heard voices in
side. She had come into the room with her
father. and Old Man Hinkle began to talk to
her. had observed before that he was a
shrewd man. and not unphiosophic
Iy," said he. Il notice there's three or four
young fellers that have been calm to see you
regular for quite while Is there any one of
EN- you like better than ano.her?"
Why, pa" she answered. Il ike all of EN-
very well. ] think NJ. Cunningham and Mr.
lacks and Mr.. Harris are very nice young men,
They are so frank and honest in everything they
say to me- haven't known Mr. Vesey very
long, but think he's very nice young man.
he's so frank and honest in everything he says
to me"
Now, that's what I'm gittin' at says old
Hinkle. You've always been sayin' you like
people that tell the truth and don't go humbug-
gin you with compliments and bogus talk.
Now suppose you make a test of these fellers.
and see which one of EN- will talk the straight
est to you" But how'll do it, pap"
I'll tell you how. You know you sing
little bit, lily; you took music-!essons nearly
two years in Logansport. 1t wasn't long, but
it was all we could afford then And your
teacher said you Didn't have any voice, and it
was waste of money to keep on. Now. sup
pose you ask the felers what they think of your
singin', and see what each one of EN- tells you.
The man that'l tell you the truth about it'll
have a mighty lot Of nerve and'll do to tie to.
What do you think of the plan?"
"All right. pa, said lleen. q think it's
good idea. I'll try it,
Ileen and Mr.. Hinkle went out of the room
through the inside doors. Unobserved. bur-
RED down to the station. Jacks was at his tele-
graph table waiting for the eight O'Clock to
come. 1t was Buds night in town. and when
he rode in | repeated the conversation to them
BOTH was loyal to my rivals, as all true ad-
nirers of all Ileens should be.
simultaneously the three of us were smitten
by an uplifting thought Surely this test would
eliminate Vesev from The contsst H. ,,,,b be-