The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-12-06
lie DAILY
SHORTSTO.RYI
Happy-Go-Lucky Roberta
ey a. LOUIS RAYsoLD
Nevgpaper Syndicate

theg kitchen range.
And I'll never settle down until
3 / lot married." flashed Roberta,
because then I'll sure enough have
to!'s
ut Is aIl very well to scorn my
advice said Aunt Julia severely
"Bdt this going here, there and ev-
efyWhere, first with one and then
With another doesn't get you any
where. It's going steadily with one
that does It.
But Roberta was not impressed i.
Marriage, as endured by her two Gl'
der sisters, held no such alluring
charms as TO make her crazy to try
1t. At the same time that Aunt
Julia was speaking her mind TO he:
niece, Brantons elderly practitioner
was putting his hand on Ais success
gors shoulder and telling him
few things that would be OF advant-
age to him as he took up the work
the older man was laying down.
AT first, the place viii doubtless
strike you as dead little hole" he
said, but remember, things "vGnt
always what they sesL1, and as
sure you there's good opportunity
for the right man to build UP
practice. Brenton's coming town.
Thanks. doctor" said young
Douglas Campbell, I'll try to make
good"
And with his first patient, who
happened to be Aunt Julia, the new
doctor made exceptionally goud.
Roberta did not u,et the much
talked OF Doctor Campbell until
SseVsral weeks after his arrival. But
long before she saw him she heard
his praises sung. I'm fact," 0hs
said to herself one afternoon as ne
drove by the window and reused
$Auut Julia to flights OF o-a:1ry N
his behalf, "l'm getting bit fed up
with that man"
And then one night he CAME 10
supper. Possibly the doctor accep-
ted the invitation more readily be-
cause lac had recently caught
glimpse of decidedly gOOl-lCCk-
ing girl at Miss Julia's.
Aunt Julia certainly prided her.
self on the doctors acceptance. and
she and Roberta's mother plotted TO
do themselves proud in the way Of
I q fried chicken and snowy biscuits
and damson plum jam and Lady
Baltimore cake.
Roberta hung around a:d watch
ed the preparations wth amuse-
n;snt. So much fuss over Il man
young enough to be their so1. She
chopped he was worth It. 81 suppose
I can start the victroIa going after
supper and we can Dance" she Sug.
\ gested hopefully.
Both her mother and her aunt
turned olOok at her. Dance"
they questioned in unison. "You
forget the doctor Is man.; said
Aunt Julia gently, mot one of your
= boy friends. And II you ever want
TO win the attentions of worth
while person, Roberta, YOU '2aEt TO
be less nighty. But I'm not sure
it's in you child she finished with
q sigh. Roberta regarder mar vCly
thoughtfully. Then she iimpIed
Her aunt's words had the effect Of
q challenge.
Exactly five minutes before sup
Z per time the guest arrived. Sup
per was served on the dot. but
Roberta was ten minutes late. And
ss41er entrance lost none OF its effec-
Z ttyeness hereby. Her mother paus-
ed In the act Of pouring the doc.
tors cup OF tea-her aunt broke of
f,abruptly in the midst of q flow Of
conversation. What had happened
to Roberta
IN place of the curly mop OF hair
Customartly adornlng her well-shap
ed head she wore couture 80
sleek and demure to have become
q Puritan maiden, Her plainest
dress had been shorn Of its fancy
collar and turned in at the throat.
Her very expression, as she slipped
into her chair, was of the butter
Observation-Disclosures var
siety And throughout the meal her
conversation was limited to "Yes"
( and 'No" and "Ir you please"
quite contrast to her usual lively
infested comments on things in
general. After supper she gave
her mother and aunt no chance to
rebuke her by accompanying them
to the kitchen as they cleared the
table, but seated herself in tho
living room and made a great pre-
tenJ Of doing something with
Aunt Julia's knitting needles:
Out In the kitchen her aunt and
mother doing the disheG discussed
her queer ways and hurried their
work that the doctor might not be
left too long at his own devices.
But the doctor was not exactly
bored. He was thinking to him
self that there was mistake some
where. Suddenly across his mind
flashed, apparently irreverently,
the words of the old doctor:
Things aren't always what they
seem!" The words Of tho doggerel
hummed in his brain.
Turning to Roberta: do you
enjoy dancing?" he asked suddenly
Enjoy dancing? Dancing?" ac-
eentuated Roberta. Then politely,
do you III
II should say So" said the doc
tor. II can't tell you how I've
missed It,
'I didn't suppose a grave person
age like doctor. ever did any thing
50 frivolous as dance" commented
Roberta primly.
Try mo and see" said the man,
smiling and nodding at the victrola
4 In fh0 corner