Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-04-30
HER Chief AIM
BY JOSEPHINE S. BROOKS.
NO 0N0NpNpNPNPNf
1N, lN2O. by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate


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
Grizzly, the other, chief offender to
Betty's ears was unknown to her.
Suddenly at the strangers words:
81 tell you, Bob, all girls are alike
flippant, frivolous, yes-and sense
less. l want nothing to do with them"
Betty emitted "h'mW 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 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
ed the note into Bob's lowered hand.
Bob, taking the advantage of his
friends sudden interest in the out
door view, read:
"Tf this-this man ~ of yours Is to
make one of our week end party at
Metals, just nod your head and put
me in the seventh heaven of bliss
Rest assured he'll get paid for de-
nounclng us girls. Above all things
don't recognize me-"
In one second Bob's head went a.
bobbing eyes" At which Betty set
tied back with blissful sigh.
When nearing Joyville, Metals sum-
mer home, Betty started for the door,
Then she, audaciously innocent, re-
NAMED there facing the aisle.
It was no avail, the stranger gave
not one fleeing glance, which sllght
to her charms peeved the fair girl.
Not so Bob, who gave a sigh Of re-
lief that he need fear no rival in MS
friend.
It 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 thing, it was
sure to come to pass, Therefore, every
day she played some prank.
If she slyly overheard Paul Brent
bewalling 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 heE
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 nell
her pay Paul Brent for his denounc
ing their SEX"
It was remarkably singular that af
ter every escapade, Betty's emotions
changed at bed time to fearful con
dition, more especially after re
proach from Bob.
One glorious day when the soft foil
age of the trees barely moved, Bett
rowed up the river to secluded spO
where she hid in the thick of tn
s,sswOods. She longed to be alone wit
her strange, disturbing thoughts-un
utterably wild thoughts.
Sounding clear on the breezeless al
a musical voice reached her ears,
voice repeating poetry-his voice, Pau
Brents! Her enemy! Oh, nO-neve
that.
The girls face went scarlet. In he
eagerness to punish and annoy, sh
had become entangled in the tolls.
Miss ClOyton-Betty-isn't it tim
to show our real selvesT
"Real selves? What do you meal
Mr.. Brent?" she queried, majesticall!
"Why, end this farce. It's cruel c
me. Forgive me, dear girl"
"Forgive yOH-whatT she slowl
emphasized.
Betty, you know you love me-" an
the dark eyes twlnkled roguishly.
your conceit far surpasses your ic
ness" she scorned.
"And you must know how deeply
return your love, DEAR" tormented tn
man.
"Oh, yes, deeply, by scorning ever
girls presence, and denouncing them
sarcastically retorted Betty. Then sh
added. MY chief aim was to"
Betty, dear, your aim was tru
for you hit me-" beamed the irrepre
sible Paul.
Down Topped Betty on the gras
disguised and speechless.
you're such a catch; why shouldn
II" she snapped.
"Why not, indeed-lt's not so hard
he goaded.