The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-09-29
A T0OTHS0NR TALE.
By Annette c. Symmes.
Copyright, 1921, by Wheeler Syn
dicatP Incl

By Annette G. Symmes.
| Copyright, 1921, by Wheeler Syn
dictate, Incl
When Cousin Phrony Butterf1eld
made her annual visit to the Blakes,
Little Phrony, as she still continued
to call her namesake, in spite OF
that winsome damsels 20 years,
was unanimously elected to the
pleasing task of giving Cousin
Phrony a good time" A rather
bleak and cherries girlhood which
merged into a Womanhood hlled
hard and unappreciated toll as the
bond slave of a brother whose body
was crippled by rheumatism and
whose soul was warped worse than
his body long before the latter
knew a rheumatic pang, had
brought Cousin Phrony to her mid
fifties with a girls keen relish for
good times-and she wanted the
kind of good times girls have, too!
Only little Phrony could stand her
namesake's pace, when she attempt
ed to cram into a fortnight enough
iaunting to last the other so weeks
of the year-and little Phrony
frankly admitted that Cousin Phro-
ny was more fun than any girl she
knew.
Its wicked, 1 know" Little
Phrony said to herself, but I'm
glad Cousin Hiram is dead! And 1
wish he'd died beforei And do
wish, too, that Cousin Phrony would
sell that wicked farm and move
somewhere where she wouldn't
have to take her amusement in
chunks!" But Cousin Phrony chung
to the farm, and came regularly
after having each year for her visit.
This year the first few days pass
ed rather drably, owing to the
guests attendance at a dental Of
fee, where an under set of store
teeth" were being fashioned for her.
But the night after she bore them
home in triumph she announced
cheerfuIIy that tomorrow she ''wuZ
in hopes t she'n Phrony could have
a real good time"
Little Phrony knew where to
take her cousin, and from the mo-
ment when they descended from
the trolley into the gay crowd at
the beach resort, Cousin Phrony
was in her element. The changing
music of a merry-go-round drew
her into the big pavilion. her eyes
clinging to the gaily-painted beasts
and their riders
Little Phrony, knowing what the
woman really wanted, proposed a
ride and after a very slight resist
ance Cousin Phrony gave in, and
settled her generous weight upon
a gaudy elephant, because it'd
take an elephant to hold her upI"
The spectacle of the dear soul, in
her black-striped muslin, her hat,
a discreet combination of hat and
bonnet, and her comfort" shoes,
careening in circle with delight
written broadly all over her rosy,
wholesome face, was striking
enough to compel the attention of
a good-looking young man nearby.
When the ride was over, and the
two descended, he followed them.
From the roIIer-coaster to the
whip, and from that to the rip
ping wave" the joyous pair pro
ceeded. And, an inconspicuous on
locker, the young man observed
their innocent diversions. He saw
how Cousin Phrony enjoyed it all,
and how simply Little Phrony en-
tered into the fun, without a
thought Of caring because the no
tice her unusual companion might
arouse, and a warm little light
giowed in his eyes It was If he
were being confirmed IN an opinion
and profoundly glad of it.
And when they dined, he sat AT
the table next them.
Now Cousin Phrony had not yet
subdued her new store teeth" The
upper set she was used TO, but the
new lower set bothered her to that
zxtept that the delicious fried