The Parker post., 1916-11-18
PREPAREDNESS
BY EARL REED SiLVERS.

Nai GU i" ''AlCSt III PupOi, JCIlGN uONE
single sentence. and then placed the
note carefully iii his wallet He be
lieved i'll preparedness
In the library he was greeted by his
older brother VINO, in the manner
which older brothers have, nodded
briefly.
'Where're you going?"
ITO Edythe's."
You're engaged, aren't your"
Yes, but it isn't announced"
'What'll she say about your trip ia
Westfield?"
Nothing What can she say?"
You lived in the same house with
Mildred Merritt, didn't your"
Yes"
The older brother stretched Ian.
guidly. Well, take this advice from
someone who knows Edythe doesn t
like the idea Of your having been SO
much with the other girl. She's 60
ing TO ask you to give an account of
every minute you spent Ill her COM
pany, and if you make one break
you're Il gOner And whatever you do.
don't forget where you are and call
Edythe Mildred" -.
oh, that's all right. | believe IN
preparedness
Jim patted his wallet and departed.
The girl met him at the door.
Jim" she said softly ..'.-.,, .-.
AS no one was in sight, he ayailed
himself OF the usual prerogatfve of
engaged couples
You look great" he announced en-
thusiastically 49,.
She smiled and led him to the big
leather sofa. -:':.: .ts...
Now. tell me about your trip"
What do you want to knOw2' ~
Everything"
We'll, | tried to get old man Smith
to sell those 3. and H. bonds for ten
whole days, but he got stubborn and
wouldn't do thing"
But what did you do all the rest
OF the time?"
Oh, just hung around"
How" '..-~-...
Well. l went skating quite lot
Did you skate with Mildred Mer-
ritt?"
Let me see. think perhaps did. -
How many times?"
Il didn't count. OF course, | had
to skate with her sometimes. We
lived in the same house"
Yes. and you saw her every night,
didn't you?"
Not every night"
How many"
"Edythe, dear let's not talk about
that. I'd rather hear what you were
doing"
She stamped her foot
Tell me-
Every night but one"
Edythe arose.
oh! Do you want to go to the
movies?" she asked. ....
What And this the first time I'VE
seen you in two weeks r.,
You don't seem to care much Ever
since you've been here, you've been
talking about another girl"
He crossed the floor to where
hands. You know, dear, that there's
only one girl in all the world"
Are you sure?"
"Positive.' T.. ~'
She smiled into his eyes.
All right, we'll forget about your
trip. Now, let's talk OF something
else
So they talked OF other things for
an hour or SO. Then Edythe started
to talk about her dresses Jim lis.
tened tor a time before protesting,
but finally he could bear it no longer.
Listen. Mildred" he said uncon,
sciqusly. Il don't care about the old
dresses. Let's talk" T.
He paused, wide eyed. %" -.
Edythe had sprung from the couch,
righteous Indignation i'll her coal.black
eyes. -.
You called me- Mildred" "..,.,
What"
You called me Mildred Now
know that you were with her all the
time-that you. were thinking Of: her
when you spoke to me- - .a.
But | wasn't. -:. .-,-
You were You called me- Mil
dred." ..~
He smiled indulgently =. =.
Il was only fooling.'' 80. >+
"Ycu weren't. I'm going upstairs"
You're not Edythe, dear 49,.
Why don't you call me Mildred
again."
Il was only fooling You know |
was"
You weren't fooling" ....
Don't you believe me?"
No" .,' -