Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1917-09-07
What Every
Man Wants
By John Elkins


NADIA Holmes was not exactly a pop
alar girl. 1t troubled her a little be-
cause she was young and fond of COM
panionship as the normal human being
Of twenty is liable to be. 1t also trou-
bed her aunt, Mrs. Anna Walker, who
had invited NADIA to spend the sum-
mer with her at her country home on
the Hudson. The residents of the
small town were mostly commuters
whose business took them to New
York; but there was also large num-
Der whose interests were entirely in
the town of Hillcrest. Mrs. Walker
was widow with just enough to live
comfortably on her income in the little
town, and being alone had conceived
the idea of getting acquainted with her
listers child whom she had only seen
at rare intervals since she was ten
years old.
The well-intentiOned ordinary wOm-
an Of middle age is not always equipped
with a mental probe delicate and finely
tempered enough to touch the soul
structure of the human being living
day after day by their side under the
same roof, so 1t was that Aunt Anna
understood her niece about as clearly
as an infant would comprehend San
skirt. She could not see that an ex-
sremely sensitive temperament always
Kept the girl from making the first ad-
gances or even following up such adj
Vances with any persistence lest her
Dvertures might not be welcome. Yet
NADIA was a decidedly pleasant, cheer
full person to have about the house. and
withall a confirmed optimist.
Mrs. Dan Herrick came in one day
and unburdened her mind to Aunt
Anna concerning her niece. Mrs. Her
:ick's son, Austin, was one of the most
eligible young men In the place. He
had called few times on NADIA and
Aunt Anna had hoped it might lead to
something more serious, but 1t had
been some time now since he had been
there. and her expectations had ended
IN disappointment So when Mrs. Her
rick began to speak of NADIA, her aunt
at once became interested.
"T think everything Of Miss Holiness"
enthused Mrs. Herrick. "She's q per-
feet dear, and I can't understand why
she isn't more of favOrite with the
young people. Confidentlally I rather
hoped that Austin might take fancy
to her, and once when I spoke of her
to him what do you think he said"
81 don't know, I'm sure" answered
Mrs. Walker, trying not to show that
she was consumed with curiosity.
"Well, you see mother" he said, "fel-
lows don't seem to care for a 'gOOdy,
gOody girl | don't mean that NADIA
Holmes is insipid or embarrassing but
they somehow feel she is SUPERIOR
Most of us like n girl that's a bit
'devilish,' Austin Herricll,' I said, try
eng to make him feel little ashamed
well, | must say things have come to
q fine pass when young man says
right out that he likes girl to be
'devilish.' That may be real cute be-
forehand, but it won't go so well after
you're married. I declare things have
changed considerably since l was O
girl"
"'Oh, no, they haven't he laughed.
Men felt just the same. but they
didn't dare say it to their motherSr y"
"WelI, well !" exclaimed Mrs. Walker
In equal surprise. "What is the world
coming to? Why, NADIA always struck
me as being full of fun and spirits. She
says the Quaintest things, sometimes
she keeps me laughing by the hour"
''Yes, that was another thing Austin
spoke of. He mentioned her saying
things that got the fellows all balled
up. They couldn't tell whether she
was horribly sarcastic and meant to
give them slam. or said it In an inno-
cent unintentional way"
81 should think they could get devil
ishness out Of that without looking any
farther" replied Mrs. Walker with
some acidity.
"He says it isn't the kind they like.
She makes them bit afraid of her"
"Ch that's It," musod the aunt.
"'Well, I don't always quite understand
her myself, but I know how we'll she
Gh0uISt anu 1 b'll IllllN. w llultNti
they may think. don't believe 1t trOu-
Des NADIA much. She's perfectly happy
with her books and writing"
writings" broke in Mrs. Herrck
questioningly.
"There, didn't mean TO let the cat
out of the bag. Don't say anything
about it. She's trying to do little for
magazines"
IT knew she was clever" responded
the other considerably impressed.
eyes" said the aunt, ard like to keep
her with me as long as she lives, but
she has a great idea Of being indie
pendent. IF ever she does get married
she'll make some man good wife"
When Mrs. Walker mentioned to
NADIA that Mrs. Herrick had been
there, and TINT Austin had not been
very well, she noticed the concerned
way in which the girl asked if he had
been really III.
"Well, would II worry you much II
ne had?" was the dry query.
The quick way in which her niece
L.,