The Monett times., 1921-09-23
PROBLEM IN MASKS
e
BY CAROLINE II. WILSON.

f. 20 1921, by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)
How utterly absurd exclaimed
Cecile, impatiently tossing her book
onto the table.
"Why, what is absurd, and what are
1 You reading, anwayf" asked Florence.
THE Masquerader,' apd 1t is pre-
posterous to suppose that the wife Of
one man could mistake the other man
for her own husband. It is ridiculous,
say
| "Oh, l don't know" said Florence
II agree with Cecile," exclaimed We
roma, Western girl, and pupil Of
Sargent's gymnastic school. "Some
| trick of speech, some mannerism, or
peculiarly of department, would sure
ly give one away"
"That's So" chimed In Rachel. "Just
look at this room full Of girls, for in
stance. No two of us are alike. Mary
| calls everyone my dear and exclaims
'Oh, grief' every time that anything
| goes wrong, Florance's pet express
sion is 'Gummy.' Cecile Is generally
mute. Ruauu Cuulu ut iuChlihCN ga!
where by her laugh. and suppose l
have my share of peculiarities."
"Then Florence talks all the time
| and when no one else will listen to her
talks to herself"
SWELL" added Maud, coming to Ra-
chefs defense, you Just try being
somebody else, as Mr.. I4oder did, and
| you will notice those things"
"Gummy!" exclaimed Florence. II
have just the idea y Then she paused
"Yes. / have It,"
"Well what is lt?" asked Cecile, In
terested to see If anyone could solve
the problem that had perplexed her
"We will have stunt show at din
ner tonight, and impersOnate each 9th
err. Then we will see If 1t changes
Loder taking the place of Chllcote sue
ceSsfully."
agreed. We have half an hour to
dress" said Maud, 80 let us fy.to our
rooms
1t was planned that Maud was to
take the part Of Cecile. the quiet one,
and the youngest of the college house
family Maud the boisterous tOmboy,
who was fully 3 feet 8, was struggling
into shrtwaist of Cecie's. A short
skirt, which came nearly UP to her
knees, completed the ludicrous effect.
Cecile,' in her room before the mir
ror, had very woe-begone counte-
nance.
Florence came into the room laugh
ing upr0ariouSly, perhaps rather over
doing the part of Maud. Maud, the
tomboy, came in silently and slipped
into Ceclle's place Her lips We're
tightly compressed to restrain from
laughter.
That meal was merry one. Flor
ence, initiating Maud, who was always
quoting Shakespeare, presumably to
air her knowledge of Professor Kit
tedge and his English two-class,
amused everybody.
Mary talked on every subject dear
to a freshman, cuts" "qulZZes" and
"summonses to the dean"
Rachel trying to be Western, fiatted
her as, rolled her RS, talked about
cowboys and branding cattle, and fin
ally waxed eloquent on womans rights.
Verona, vainly trying to disguise her
Western mannerisms, talked enthusi-
astically about the latest exhibition OF
pictures by Spanish artist-in Bos-
ton.
"Well one might for a very short
time, if he was physically like the one
he was impersonating. But think it
would be deadly wrong even if it were
possible"
"Well still think 1t was right.
Think of the relief to Chilcote's wife.
And think of his power in Parliament,
which Loder more than sustained"
said Florence.
"a gentleman to see Miss Cecile,"
announced the maid at the door.
II consider 1t an awful overthrow
to the novel," said Maud, "but we've
seen ourselves as others see us, at
any rate"
| Just then Cecile CAME back to the
room, looking flushed and twirling a
big diamond on her finger.
"Girls, have changed my mind. 1t
Is possible and right to wear mask.
Mr.. Morris says he asked me to be his
wife because he thought me a sweet
little thing, not too priggishly pedan-
tic"
Here! Here!' yelled Maud, at the
top of her lungs. "And you graduat-
ing from Sanders theater tomorrow
with magma cum laude and final hon
ors to Latin and French, all covered
in three years and half You de-
ceiving little blue stocking
Just to Be Neluhborly.
tlAI v r.