The Clio messenger., 1920-04-08
HER CHIEF AIM
Ry JOSEPHINE S. BROOKS.
=, ,o, ,r, % % % o 90 % 90

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(S). 1920, by Mcclure Newspaper synoica'e'
Betty Cloyton settled down deeper
into her seat on the train anu isten-
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, BOD
Critely. the other, chief offender 10
Betty's ears, was unknown TO her.
Suddenly at the strangers words:
"I tell YOU, Bob, all girls are aiike'
fippant, frivolous, yes-and sense-
less. l want nothing to do with them"
Retty emitted "h'm!" of scorn.
At Betty's exclamation Bob turned
his head, and. staring astonishihgiy'
would have spoken, but Tor an up
raised finger of warning.
Chuckling, Betty produced pench
and tearing leaf from her diary,
wrote rapidly. Then, after seVerai
coughings and maneuvers to attract
the attention of the puzzled Bob, she
motioned TO the aisle. She slipped
softly along, and under pretense or
rescuing her handkerchief, she press
ed the note into Bob's lowered hand.
Bob, taking the advantage OF MS
friends sudden interest in the out
door view, read:
"If this-this man (O of yours Is TO
make one Of our week end party at
Meta's, just nod your head ana put
me in the seventh heaven OF Dliss.
Rest assured he'll get paid for de-
nouncing 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, Meta's sum-
mer home, Betty started for the door.
Then she, audaciously innocent, re-
NAMED there facing the aisle.
1t was no avail, the stranger gave
not one fieeting glance, which slight
to her charms peeved the fair girl.
Not so Bob, who gave 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, 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 heI
. victim drove her nearly to shame.
i 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 al
:, Ter every escapade, Betty's emotion
= changed at bed time to q fearful con
: dition. more especially after a re
> proach from Bob.
>. one glorious day when the soft fol
% age of the trees barely moved, Bett
,s rowed up the river 20 secluded spo
a where she hid in the thick of tn
a. woods. She longed to be alore Wit
IN her strange, disturbing thoughts-uI
,g utterably wild thoughts.
N Sounding clear on the breeZeless al
90 a musical voice reached her ears,
70 voice repeating poetry-his voice, Pal
Brent's! Her enemyl Oh, no-nevt
that.
- The girls face went scarlet. In he
! eagerness to punish and annoy, ST
had become entangled In the tolls.
| Miss Cloyton-Betty-isn't it. tin
i to show our real selves"
"Real selves? What do you mea
Mr.. Brent?" she queried, majesticall
ut "Why, end this farce. It's cruel
me. Forgive me, dear girl"
"Forgive you-what?" she slow
st emphasized.
"Betty, you know you love me-" al
the dark eyes twinkled roguishly.
er "Your conceit far surpasses your X
tie ness" she scorned.
"And you must know how deeply
return your love, DEAR" tormented {
by man.
Id, "Oh, yes, deeply, by scorning eve
girls presence, and denouncing then
sarcastically retorted Betty. Then
ire added. my chief aim was to"
a Betty, dear, your aim was trl
for you hit me-" beamed the irrepr'
slble Paul.
,ed Down Topped Betty on the gra
no dsgusted and speechless.
you're such catch why should
II" she snapped.
MNNhu NOT indppd=lt'a not so harI