The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-12-20
SHE FLAPS TO CONQUER.
By Agnes johnson.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler
Syndicate, Incl


Syndicate, Inc.)
Florence had just taken what to
her was a radical and serious re-
solve. Hitherto she had been con-
scious of some obscure failing, some
want of address or undeveloped
personality. She had grown weary
of being a wallf'ower, of being ig-
nOred by men except for the per-
functory courtesies due her sex.
Like many eligible but unmarried
girls, she well knew the heart-sick-
ening feeling Of being social re-
cluse; but 1t had never until now
occurred to her that this form of
Punishment might be self-iafiicted,
as unnecessary as it was cruel.
For many years reader OF Sc
rious books, sne had been contented
in the thought that she was thor
oughly progressive, and II anyone
had limited that her devotion to the
classics had caused her to lag into
an isolated idealist, it is highly
probable she would have resented
the charge. Yet she was given to
aloofness, having a marked prefer
ence for her own society; she was
always cOldly logical when in COM
pany, and was not wholly free of
that trait known as the intolerance
Of intellectuals.
Often she had scoffed at faddists
| and their gullible victims, as she
called them; and in her lonelieAt
moment, when her heart craved
companionship, and the feeling Of
being deserted particularly piQued
her, she inwardly despised the ex-
IRENE tendencies Of today, both as
| affecting department and wearing
| apparel.
The genteel standards Of old
were passing on to decay, and wom-
en- we're fools for allowing them
selves to be led about SO easily.
But of late q change had come over
her, for she'd been cruelty deceived
by the gloomy god called career.
So she began to analyse the cause
of her ennui. And, being of ro-
! mantle turn of mind, her fancy
would lead Her to speculate ON shy
John Aldens with Valentino possi-
=; bilities. but, alas, only to end in
futile signs.
Only for q short period had Flor
ence known (for it could not be
! said she enjoyed) the friendship OF
q gentleman friend. The courtship
! had proved q failure because, &C
! cording to her sister Stella, the rus
/ tic chap involved had been so avart-
cious as to rival the most grasping
character ever conceived by the
great Moliere. And the observant
Stella, who was several years Flor
ence's junior, vivacious, popular,
critical, and in every sense of the
word a modern girl, had frequently
leased the elder girl about her long,
| plain dresses, fat heels, cotton
stockings and unbobbed hair, say
ing that men no longer cared for
that type of girl.
why" Stella would say, "your
whole general appearance fairly
shrieks conservatism. And, be-
sides, you're too serious. II you
should chance to meet a fellow who
takes a shine to you, he would
probably prove to be such . dumt
I Oscar or calculating prude. that
you'd want to chuck him in . week
or SO. Your John was an awful
crumb-"
.stella." mildly dissented Flor
ence.
"The poor egg didn't know
beans" pursued Stella. Il don't
wonder your heart Il famishsd--
oh, can. see it. 20 don't got hot.
hesded.- as Florence made ready te
unleash her pride by protesting
"Bslieve me-" continued the cryptic
one, you'll be outaluck until YOU
j fall in line with other girls. Yor
think that Knowing no end of book,
i and the ability to quote tricl
phrases d the goods, but it's al
hOkum.
/ All this and sundry remark
from the dapper Stella, % utterl,