Ellsworth American., 1920-04-21
HER CHIEF AIM
BY JOSEPHINE S. BROOKS.

- ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ s~ SN ~ ~ -
t94 1899. by Mcclure Newspaper syudioateD
Betty Cloyton settled down deeper
into her seat on the train, and listen
ed with all her little, shapely ears
to the animated flow of talk between
the two men In front of her. One Of
them proved to be her old friend, Bob
Critely. the other. chief offender TO
Betty's ears, was unknown TO her.
Suddenly at the strangers words:
Il tell you, Bob, all girls are alike
fippant, frivolous. yes-and sense
less. want nothing to do with them"
Betty emitted q ''h'ml" of scorn.
AT Betty's exclamation Bob turned
his head. and. staring astonishingly
would have spoken, but for an up
raised finger Of warning.
Chuckling. Betty produced pencil
and tearing a leaf from her diary,
wrote rapidly. Then, after several
coughings and maneuvers to attract
the attention of the puzzled Bob, she
motioned to the aisle. She slipped
softly along, and under pretense of
rescuing her handkerchief, she press
led the note into Bob's lowered hand.
Bob, taking the advantage of his
friends sudden interest In the out
door view, read;
IF this-this man % of yours is to
make one of our week end party at
Meta's, just nod your head and put
me In the seventh heaven of bliss.
Rest assured he'll get paid for de-
don't recognize me-"
In one second Bob's head went a.
bobbing yves" AT which Betty set
tied back with a blissful sigh.
When nearing Joyville. Metals sum-
mer home. Betty started for the door
Then she, audaciously innocent. re-
mained there facing the aisle.
1t was no avail. the stranger gave
not one tieeting glance, which slight
to her charms peeved the fair girl.
NQt so Bob. who gave a sigh of re-
lief that he need fear no rival in his
friend. -4+az=ss
1t was later that evening when Betty
met the stranger, who gave no sign
that he had ever seen the girl. lovely
vision though she was. at the tea table
He grew absorbed In his partner of
the hour.
When Betty Cloyton once made up
her mind to accomplish a thing. 1t was
sure to come to pass. Therefore, every
day she played some prank.
If she slyly overheard Paul Brent
bewailing girls nonsensical, indecent
fashions, Betty appeared in an ex
tremely abbreviated skirt, and in the
most diaphanous quality of waists In
such garb she would waylay the enemy
| of her sex, and begin flirting outrage
ously, talking frivolously. and inter
spersing her words with bits of slang,
until the indifference and scorn of her"
victim drove her nearly to shame
Overhearing one evening his explo-
sive views of jazz. the audacious beau
ty suggested the forbidden dancing;
even enticing one Of the girls to help
her pay Paul Brent for his denounc-
ing their sex"
1t was remarkably singular that af-
ter every escapade Betty's emotions
changed at bed time to a fearful con-
dition, more especially after re-
proach from Bob.
One glorious day when the soft foll-
age of the trees barely moved, Betty
rowed up the river to a secluded spot
where she hid in the thick Of the
woods. She longed to be alone with
her strange, disturbing thoughts-un-
utterably wild thoughts.
Sounding clear on the breezeless air
musical voice reached her ears, a
voice repeating poetry-his voice, Paul
Brent's! Her enemyi Oh, no-never
that.
The girls face went scarlet. In her
eagerness to punish and annoy, she
had become entangled In the tolls.
Miss Cloyton-Betty-isn't 1t time
to show our real selvesr
Real selves? What do you mean.
Mr.. Brent?" she queried, majestically.
why, end this farce. It's cruel of
me. Forgive me, dear girl"
pA6A'S sOu-NAdl! SDe SLOWLY
emphasized.
Betty, you know you love me-" and
the dark eyes twinkled roguishly.
Your conceit far surpasses your lei
ness" she scorned.
And you must know how deenIv
return your love, dear" tormented the
man.
"oh, yes, deeply, by scorning every
girls presence, and denouncing them
sarcastically retorted Betty. Then she
added. MY chief aim was to-"
Betty, dear, your aim was true
for you hit me-" beamed the irrepres.
sible Paul.
Down Topped Betty on the grass
disguised and speechless.
You're such a catch; why shouldn't
II" she snapped.
why not, indeed-it's NOT so hard -