Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1921-08-12
Ethelwyn's "Yellow
Dog
BY DORA NOLAN.

There is tradition in the tive-dollar
trimming room of the kareful-Fit Cor
set company that Mrs. Ludden has
been the forewoman Of that depart
ment since some time in the dark ages,
and that she is the sole support Of an
invalid husband Of whom she never
speaks. Anyway Sadie Carson, who
has worked in the trimming room for
five years, had it from girl whose EN-
years, and that girl had it from some
one else.
Mrs. Ludden is a small woman with
gray hair and gOld-rimmed eyeglasses,
which she always removes when she
has something to say. She held them
In her hand for fully two minutes on
the day Ethelwyn Smith announced
her engagement to Michael DAILY, pre-
vented from making herself heard by
the surprised CALCULATIONS occasioned
by the size of the solitaire which
blazed in its platinum setting on Ethel
wyn's left hand.
When Mrs. Ludden at last did sue
coed her thin, gentle voice spoke the
words which have also become ira
dition in the five-dollar trimming room.
Sadie Carson had it from the girl be-
fore her time, and she ditto. from
someone else, that upon like occasion
Mrs. Ludden always put the same ques-
ton, Il hope you are marrying for love,
Miss Smith,"
Ethelwyn Smith was a dark haired.
dark-eyed beauty who believed in en-
phasizing her own good points. To this
end she penciled her black eyebrows,
rouged her pink cheeks and powdered
literally the white skin of her throat.
Ethelwyn's reply to Mrs. Ludden's
query brought forth louder and more
startled "Oh's" and "Ah's" from the
group of girls clustered around her.
and caused that lady to replace her
eyeglasses with jerk.
mo-" replied Ethelwyn, II don't love
Michael DAILY, and what's more, I don't
believe in this love stuff at all Most
women get married like they were
walking in their sleep, and when they
wake up and find out the truth about
what they got, they stick to him like
the man that owns yellow dog-and
folks call that love! He may be NUT
| and not good for much and his owner
| knows 1t, but he won't let anyone else
shy sol" Ethelwyn paused for breath,
then continued:
'T'm marrying with my eyes open.
Mike Days structural iron worker,
and he earns the most money Of any
man know, and he's the best spender
and the best locker, and won't ever
have to make any apologies for him
no yellow dog stuff for mel"
The girls listened wide-eyed and
open-mouthed. Mrs. Ludden's lips were
drawn into a straight line as though
she were in pain, but when she opened
them and removed her eyeglasses 1t
was only to call her force to work.
1t was piece work in the trimming
department, and Mrs. Ludden did not
encourage conversation. Ethelwyn
only came in afternoons, for she boast
ed, PA won't take any board from me
and l only work to earn my clothes"
Ethelwyn's clothes testified to the fact
that she was rapid worker, and the
sparkle Of her engagement diamond
that afternoon seemed to fill the room
with its brilliancy and the heart OF
every girl with envy.
Michael DAILY was all his fiancee had
claimed for him-a tall, powerfully
built young man, with wiry brown
hair, which was in continual state of
standing on end as though protesting
- h. =,
into which 1t was daily borne. He was
waiting outside that night for Ethel
wyn, and shook the hand of each girl
heartily as she offered her congratula-
lions.
1t Is to be feared that the sight of
him did not lessen the envy which the
diamond had occasioned. Only Mrs.
Ludden was free from it, for strangely
enough she envied no one In this whole
world as she hurried home to shrunk-
en- figure watching from his chair by
the window for the big event of his
day.
1t was a week later that Sadie Car
son burst into the trimming room one
morning all out of breath, bringing
1
as I was coming by that new building
down to the corner of Jasper street.
There was a crash. and / looked and
seen him lying there, all twisted up
with a great piece of iron across his
legs, and 1t was Mike DAILY. l knew
right Off because his hair stood up SO
stralght-and doctor came. and an
ambulance came and took him away!''
well, pity him-if he lives. That's
all got to say. Ethelwyn Smith'n
chuck him over now like--like yellow
dog" Jennie Sims harsh voice broke
the silence which followed Saddles
spasmodic tale.
Jennie Sims, with her scrawny fig
ure and sour disposition, was never
favorite. Now she was given the
cold shoulder while words Of pity for
ElNn HphNEvApn nc AIIrOo