The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1918-11-06
BEING
CLEVER,
oo
Copyright. 1915 by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate.)
BY HlLDA MORRIS

ing aunt, WHO Taught ner the alphabet
to 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 II
she'd give herself half a 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
and men except as teachers and hui
man beings with worthwhile minds,
At twenty-five Emily was that anon.
ally among womankind, 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 90 farther than mere acquaint-
ance. but Emily had never given them
the slightest encouragement.
When she went to visit Kate last
summer 1t was not because she wished
to share in the social life Of which
Kate formed so capricious a part, but
simply because she thought that Rates
nome in small town would be good,
quiet place where she could work on
her thesis undisturbed.
However. Emily was mistaken.
There was not an evening when the
veranda was not filed with gay youth
come to pass the time, or there was not
4 dance at the club, a party or a play.
The days were just as full; tennis,
Joy 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 a 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
for them, poor frivolous things! She
closed her book and sat with her eyes
on space, thinking absently.
"Where's your cousin?" she heard
one of the men ask suddenly.
"Emily? Oh. she's bonlng over her
old books. at least she said she was
going to-"
"Poor thingr" commented another
girl. Il feel sorry for her. Just because
she isn't attractive and popular l sup
pose she has to be intellectual. It
must be an awful STRAIN"
Il should say So" spoke up a third
girl. Il felt awfully sorry for her the
other night at that picnic. Everybody
else paired off and had a good time
She looked awfully lonesome"
SWELL" there was shrug in Rates
voice. 1--WE done my best. l can't help
1t II she isn't popular. Besides, 1 think
she really likes to study. You can't
do anything for girl like that"
Emily felt her face burn scarlet. So
they were sorry for her! Sorry for
her! Why, she had thought the pity
all on her own side. How dared
they?
The voices below were rumbling on.
They say Grant Sturgis is coming
nome next week. I haven't seen him
1or years, but they say he is perfectly
summing and an awful heart-smasher.
,Ihere's some one to set your cap for,
Kate. He has loads and loads of
money"
II was right then, In anger and the
spirit OF revenge, that Emily conceived
ner remarkable plan. To think was to
act with Emily, and she lost no time
IL writing orders in to various city
s'ores' Within few days mysterious
Jokes began to arrive for her, the con-
tents OF which she kept secret. If
nate wondered about them it was
a great deal of interest. Books
no doubt, or some more of those i'm
possible tailored skirts and flat-heeled
'noes that Emily always wore.
inere was to be an Informal dance
4t the Country club one evening
week LATER Rather to Rates surprise,
S =, said that she thought she should
ike to go.
could you get a man for meg" she
'sked7her pretty cousin.
"oh, yes. of course. There's Emmett
brown; will he do? I'm going with
Murray, y Jones myself. but when l get
mere! l can tell you, En-, there's
Jus. one man l want to flirt with to-
,Isnt' ana that's Grant Sturgis. He's
NE nc pest looking and richest man in
,'niV'ile' and all the girls are wild
'Duut MN. want to cut them out"
iou doubtless WILL" Emily encour-
'suu her, with an odd little smile.
mute was so Interested in her own
'a~ziins toilet that she never stopped
n us wonder what Emily might wear.
naeed, she went off with her escort
' ea Emily was ready, and did not
W, "er until after the second dance.
-, :. w when she did see her she was not
. MI sure that 1t could be Emily.
. "nos that girl over there; the
ow" is one in yellow with her back I
81