The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1919-06-06
Too Frivolous
~
ByR. RAY BAKE1
Copyright, 1919. bY tile Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate.)

fare the man behind the wicket cam
shoot an answer mt you in terse tones.
He has to get out a little pamphlet
and search through it, and after per
h9ps fifteen minutes have passed he
can give you the requested informa-
ton.
just where ~Castlcgrove derived its
name certainly is not known to any of
its denlzens. Surely there is no edi-
flee in the town that could by the
most ambitious OF im~aginations be
called a castle. The nearest thing to
II IS a church, WHICH is just a plain
little white building-the kind YOU
find at crossroads in the country.
True, there can be ana generally is
as much religion in one Of these little
frame structures as in many of the
more |pretenti0us houses of worship to
be found in the cities. However. Mt
the time OF which / write there was no
minister occupying the C~astlegrove
church pulpit. The pariShloners were
limited in humber, because the popu-
lation of CasiIcgroye and fits cuyirons
had dwindled very noticeably since
the church. was built. and the ones
that were left could not afford to paw
a pastors salary, and a minister must
eat,
In the backwoods Ohio town came
Genevievc Walters. City life didn't
agree with her mother, so Mr.. Walters
bought some land that for p~oliteness'
sake was called a farm, and which
came cheap, in spite Of the nattery.
ana the family moved from the fairly
large city sixty miles away in which
they had resided over since Genevieve
could remember. Mr.. Walters bought
out n of the two general stores.
succeeded in getting the appointment
as postmaster. which had been held
by the former proprietor, and man.
aged to wrcst n fair living from the
combination.
The moving of the Walters family TO
Castlegroye brought another person to
the village once a week. This person
was Bert Holbrook. who was in love
with Geneyieye. He lived in her old
home town, where he held a fairly
lucrative position as pharmacist, and
he managed to get down at regulnr
intervals To see his hearts desire.
usually on Saturday, which was his
day off IN account Of having TO work
Sundays.
The two young people had kent com
pany for two years, but there had
been no direct talk Of an engagement.
II wasn't that Bert was timid about
such matters, but that he found n
marked flaw in Geneyieve that he
wished to see corrected before they
became betrothed. She was too |
frivolous according to his ideas. He
loved her none the less, but he feared
she would experience difficulty in
settling down.
Il do like TO see a girl smile" he
told himself repeatedly but | he
lieve 1t would be a genuine relief 10
see Genevieve scowl or cry Just once.
II would relieve the monotony. She's
smiling all the time, and it's an at
tractive smile, too: hut Is shows She
never has a serious thought. Then.
she's always telling something funny
she's seen or some joke she's heard"
with the removal Of the Walters
family TO Castlegroye Bert felt CON
vinced that at last Geneyieve was 20
ing to become settled" one couldn't
very well be frivolous in that town.
But Geneyieve failed to improve, so
far as her sweetheart could notice.
She smiled just as much and saw lust
MS many funny things in life. He
couldn't wait forever, however. So AZ
last he decided he would ask her TO
take a chance as Mrs. Holbrook, al
though re felt sure it was he that was
taking the chance.
1t would not be quite right To in.
trude on the scene Of his attpmnted
proposal, so wen wait and listen TO
his thoughts as he expressed them
aloud under the rumble Of the wheeIs
of the train on which he j@ourneyed
hone that Saturday night. He had
a habit of talking aloud when some.
thing troubled him and this was n
Of those times.
"A fine messw he said, as he half
reclined on one seat with his feet an
another and glared de.iectedly ont the
window into the darkness flashing
past. Talk about righteousness
G%eneyleve certainly has them MI
beaten. Can't even listen to n nro.
posal of marriage without laughing
IN our face. One would naturally
think that when a fellow starts talk
Ing love a girl would stop playing n
plano; but not Genevieve Waltersl
She keeps right on and looks I'm Al
you and grins. I'm through, that's
all. | cant keep this up forever. Me
for a sensible girl"
And Bert meant It. His was a path-
er grave demeanor at oil times. He
took life seriously and could not un-
derstaud the Kind OF people who strive
to see the funny side at every oppor.
tunlty.
He was sincerely In love with Gene
We've, but he was afraid to try matrI.
Inony with her. So he decided the
haut thf-.- ..a.fI l.. - -