Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1919-07-03
"E-lOO"
BY VICTOR REDcLIFFE
lo0pyrlEht. lore. b westsrn Ne.wspapsr. Onion,

been at her post for q month nearly
every eligible young man in the vii
lage was deeply smitten. Particularly
there were three who openly expressed
! their admiration These were Nat Lai
ton, Guy Purvin and Thad Wilson
close friends, clean, reputable young
! fellows, and one day after mutual
! exchange of condolences they made O
decision, whimsical in measure, YET
J nctuated by honest esteem for the
lovely and beloved Miss Dale.
Its settled, then that we each
] write to Miss Dale?" spoke Guy Pur-
( vim.
! "All at the same time and each Clear
| ly and squarely telling how much he
! thinks of her and asking her to marry,
submitted Thad Wilson.
! "And no hard feelings toward the
! one who is lucky enough to be the
chosen one" added Nat Laiton. who
rather plumed himself on being the
handsome one of the group. His sister
Breda was close friend of Irma, and
he counted on this special pleader to
further his claim, If it came about
right
Now Breda was a chatterbox, and
the fact of the three proposals got
about among the young people of
Brentwood speedily. The three devo-
tees anXiously awaited their fate. In
turn they managed to meet Miss Dale
on the street within the following few
ct IL @f will
her accustomed friendly smile, in no
way did she indicate the receipt of the
proposals, nor afford them opportunity
to breach the subject. 1t was Breda
iaiton who reported TO her brother
and his rivals as they were playing
tennis on the Laiton lawn.
you three" spoke the imperious
little tyro, and grouping them in
rustic seat she proceeded to deliver In
turn three papers.
'The mischief" calculated Nat,
opening the paper apportioned to him..
"ME proposal to Irma -
mine, too-returnedp observed
Guy, with wry face.
'Same herep complained Thad
"And look-tiley are all marked with
a big blue-penciled initial. Mine is
M"
"And mine f." reported Guy.
"'G' is on mine" apprized Nat. Il
say, what does it mean?"
"That is what / am to explain to
you" chartered Breda, with a mis-
chievous smile. "Simply, Irma has ac-
knowiedged your presumptuousness by !
treating your love confessions Just as |
she would the school compositions of |
her pupils. You must understand that |
she has four gradings and averages |
M means moderated; F. means i
fair-S0; 'G' means good-9O. There
is a fourth grading, e. which means
excellent-100. None of you seems to
have attained that standard, however.
"U-um," sourly commented Thad,
who was the lowest. Fellows, guess
none of us graduates into the affec-
lions Of Misses Irma Dale this term !"
Dainty Irma Dale met the trio after
that graciously, kindly, but did not fur
Their allude to the compositions. The
story got about the village, and the vic
inns were chaffed mercilessly. Bruce
Aston heard of it. They had never
dreamed that this quiet, unobtrusive
young man was possible rival. With
Irma, of all those paying attention to
Ter he had been favorite from the
start. Only occasionally they had met,
nut after he had seen Irma home from
,nrties twice and had gone with her
IL n botanical expedition with her
lass in the woods one spring day,
Bruce Aston resolved to tempt fate !
" becoming number four. He was
lot daunted by the experience of the
ioneerS in the attack upon the affec-
ions of the pretty school teacher. In
modest, respectful note Bruce de-
heated his interest in Irma. He :
oped she would not deem him pre-
he wished to give her time
0 think over the proposal, He would
all at the little red schoolhouse on
ertain afternoon when he knew the
cholars would disband an hour ear
er than usual The last group of the
upils was disappearing Ia the dis
NICE as he neared the humble struc-
Ire. CHANGING through an open win
DIV his fond glance rested upon Irma
her desk. Her pose was one of deep
editation and his heart gave great
ap as he noted that she held in her
and the letter he had sent her the
~ previous.
1rma greeted her visitor with blush
I'd Bruce thought this encouraging.
ne invited him to a chair on the plat
rm, there being no other seat except
nong the benches. Then she nervous
arranged some books before her. At
at moment the glance of Bruce fell
,on his letter. 1t lay open at her
lie, and across its face was con-
lcuous blue-pencil marking, e."
ruce experienced a decided thrill.
Is eyes glowed, his tone wavered as 81
said:
Does that mean excellent Miss
,le?" II.
She tried to smile casually. but he