The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-09-04
BEING
CLEVER,
o0
BY KlLDA MORRIS

ESSSsS$ssscSSsSsssssSssssssssssssssss3
copyright 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate.)
Emily was very cleves girl. Every
one had always said so, from her ador-
Ing aunt, who taught her the alphabet,
Ito her sociology professor in the uni
versity. She Was pretty, too, or rather
as her butterfly cousin. Kate, once re-
marked, "she would be stunning If
she'd give herself half chance" That
was the trouble with Emily. In any
save intellectual directions she never
gave herself half a chance. She had
never felt the slightest interest in boys
aand men except as teachers and hui
man beings with worthwhile minds.
At twenty-five Emily was that anom-
ally among womankind, a girl who had
never had any sort of love affair.
True, there had been one or two young
men in her classes who would have
liked to go farther than mere acquaint-
4 lnce, but Emily had never given them
the slightest encouragement.
ia When she went to visit Kate last
4 summer 1t was not because she wished
to share in the social life Of which
Kate formed SO capricious part, but
simply because she thought that Kate's
home in small town would be good,
quiet place where she could work on
her thesis undisturbed.
Nh However. Emily was mistaken.
There was not an evening when the
veranda was not filled with gay youth
come to pass the time, or there was not
B 4 dance at the club, party or play.
The days were just as full; tennis,
Ajoy rides" with one Of Rates ridicu-
bus boys. picnics, teas-in short Emily
found that she would have to state her
purpose in life quite fatty and ask
Kate to count her out. So she sat in
her room one afternoon, trying to con-
" centrate on thick volume with for
midable title, while the sounds Of gay
voices drifted up to her from the We
randa below.
Kate was there, of course, and two
Or three other girls. Also two young
men who should, thought Emily, have
been in better business. There was
something quite demoralizing about
the sound of their apparent pleasure.
Emily found it hard to work. Not that
she envied them, rather she felt sorry
Tor them. poor frivolous things! She
closed her book and sat with her eyes
On space thinking absently.
"Where's your cousln?" she heard
one of the men ask suddenly.
emily? Oh. she's boning over her
old books. at least she said she was
going to-"
"Poor thing!" commented another
girl. Il feel sorry for her. Just because
che isn't attractive and popular I sup
pose she has to be intellectual. 1t
a must be an awful strain!"
81 should say So" spoke up third
GIRL. II felt awfully sorry for her the
other night ut that picnic. Everybody
else paired off and had Il good time
She looked awfully lonesome"
SWELL" there was a shrug in Rates
voice. "I've done my best. can't help
lt If she isn't popular. Besides, think
she really likes to study. You can't
do anything for girl like that"
Emily felt her face burn scarlet. Sc
they Were sorry for her! Sorry for
her! Why, she had thought the pity
MI on her own side. How dared
they?
The voices below were rumbling on
"They say Grant Sturgis is coming
home next week. I haven't seen him
for years, but they say he is perfectly
cumming and an awful heart-smasher
There's some one to set your cap for
Kate. He has loads and loads OF
money"
1t was right then, in anger and the
spirit of revenge, that Emily conceived
her remarkable plan. To think was tC
act with Emily, and she lost no time
In writing orders in to various city
stores. Within few days mysterious
boxes began to arrive for her, the con
tents Of which she kept secret. II
Kate wondered about them it was
Without great deal Of interest. Books
10 doubt, or some more Of those i'm
pCssible tailored skirts and flat-heele(
n hoes that Emily always wore.
There was to be an informal dance
q the Country club one evening q
week later Rather to Rates surprise
l3mily said that she thought she should
Ike to go.
Gould you get man for me?" she
asked her pretty cousin.
oh, yes, of course. There's Emmett
Brown; will he do? I'm going with
Murray Jones myself, but when l gel
Mere! / can tell you, En-, there's
Just one man l want to flirt with to-
night. and that's Grant Sturgis. He's
the best looking and richest man in
Mmville, and all the girls are wild
saDOut him. want to cut them out
You doubtless WILL" Emily encour
AGed her. with an odd little smile.
Kate was so interested in her own