The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1922-04-06

perplcXiies to his father and found
himself too diflident to set them forth
However, when lie left the house
Il few minutes later. he boldly showed
an inch of purple border above the
pocket: then, as he saw himself about
To encounter several old lady pedes-
trims he flushed and thrust the hand.
kerchief down into deep concealment.
Having gone block farther, 4e pulled
it up again: and so continued to oper-
ate this badge of fashion, or unfashion,
throughout the morning; and suffered
Il great deal thereby.
Meantime, his father. rather relieved
that Ramsey had not told his secret,
whatever it was, dismissed the episode
from his mind and joined Mrs. Mil
holland at the front door, ready for
church.
"Where's Ramsey?" he asked.
Ties gone ahead" she answered,
buttoning her gloves as they went
along. ~ heard the door quite a little
while ago Perhaps he went over to
walk down with Charlotte and Vance.
DID you notice how neat he looks this
morning?"
"Why, no, didn't; not particularly.
Does hep?
Il never saw anything like 1t be-
fore" said Mrs. Milholland. "IIe only
has three neckties, but | saw him sew
eral times In each of them He must
have kept changing and changing.
wonder" She paused.
I'm glad he's begun to take little
care of his appearance at last. I'll
have to take a look at him and give
him word of praise. | suppose he'll
be in the pew when we get there"
Rut Ramsey wasn't in the pew; and
Charlotte, his sister, and her husband,
who were there said they hadn't seen
anything of him. 1t was not until the
members of his family were on their
way home after the services that they
caught glimpse of him.
They were passing u church little
Distance from their own here the con-
gregation WAS just emerging to the
open, and among the sedate tlrong
descending the broad stone steps ap-
peared an accompanied Ramsey-and
a red. red Ramsey he WAS when he
beheld his father and mother and sis
ter and brother-in-law staring up at
I'm from the pavement below They
were Hind enough not to come to an
absolute halt, but passed slowly on,
so that he WAS Just able to aeoid pa
radlng up the street in front of them.
In hoarse whispers, Mrs. Milholland
chided her husband for an eXclama-
ton lie had uttered. John On Sun
day. You ought to be ashamed"
81 couldn't help IT," he exclaimed.
"Who on earth Is his clinging vine?
Why, she's got lavender tops on her
shoes and"
"Don't look round !" she warned him
sharply. Don't"
"Well, what's he doing ut a Baptist
church? What's he fidgeting Mt his
handkerchief about? Why can't he
walk like people? Does he think it's
obligatory to walk home from church
anchored arm-in-arm like Swedes on
Sunday Out? Who is this conveyed
fat girl that's got him, anyhow
Flush! Don't look round again,
John"
"Neyer fear" said her husband, hav-
ing disobeyed "They've turned off !;
they're crossing over to Billiard street.
Who is it?o
II think her names Rust" Mrs. Mil
holland Informed him. 81 don't know
what her father does. She's one of
the girls In his class at school. 1t
would be pleasanter If he'd taken a
fancy to someone whose family be-
longs to our own circle"
Taken a fancy - he echoed, hooting.
"Why, he's terrible! He looked like
a red-gilled goldfish that's Topped It,
self out of the bowl. Why, he"
81 say | wish if he felt that he had
to take girls anywhere" said Mrs. Mil
holland, with the primmest mir Of
speaking to the point-''if this sort Of
thing must begin, wish he might have
selected some nice girl among the
daughters Of our, own friends, like
Dora YOcum, for instance"
Upon the spot she began to undergo
the notifications of mother who
has expected her son, just ont of in
fancy. to look about him with the eye
Of n critical matron of fOrty-fiye.
Moreover, she was indiscreet enough
TO express her views to Ramsey, a
week later, producing thus a scene of
useless great fury and no little sound.
II do think it's in very poor taste
to see so much of any one girl. Ram
sey," she said, and, not needing his
protest that he only walked home from
school with Mllla, about every other
day" and that 1t didn't seem any
crime to him just to go to church with
her a couple o times, Mrs. Milholland
went on: But II you think you really
must he dangling around somebody
quite this muoh-though what in the
world you find to talk about with this
funny little Milla Rust your poor IA
Their SAYS he really cannot see-and
Of course it seems very queer to us
now when your mind ought to be en-
tirely on your studies, and especially
with such an absurd looking little