The Hope pioneer., 1922-12-28
Hints on
Etiquette
By CLARA DELAFIELD
%. 1922. western Newspaper union.1

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tS. 1929. Western Newspaper union)
Laura Ryebrant uttered plaintive
little exclamation as she sat down to
| her desk in the Office Of the Young
! Girls Companion and saw the mass of
letters awaiting her.
! Nevertheless, she buckled to her
task, for Aunt Esther's Page on Ell
quette and Department" had been q
| feature of the magazine for many,
many years. Laura had been Aunt
Esther" for nine months. since the
last Aunt Esther" left to get married.
But 1t was hard-hard In remem-
brance Of Jim's irrational behavior the
night before. Jim had been absolutely
In the wrong. She had told him she
would nevs ace him again. She had
perfect right to spend the evening
I with poor crippled Elsie James-and
he had suspected it was with another
man.
"And tisat's an insult no self-respect-
ing girl can ever, ever forgive" she
told herself.
She began to open the letters. which
asked tile old, old questions. Present.
ly she was busily writing:
"Sybil. My dear. have an
swered your question in these columns
over and over again. It is not correct
to accept any gift from young man
except books. flowers or candy. Ger.
. tainly you may not accept pair of
shoes from him. He will only think
the less of you for doing so"
Laura took up another letter and
sighed as she read it:
"Dear Aunt Esther: am in great
trouble and I do not know what I
ought 10 do. Me and my fellow have
had serious falling out. He accused
me of going with another fellow. He
did see me with the other fellow. hut
the other fellow stopped me in the
street and wanted me to 60 with him
and said no because was already
going with the first fellow. Now my
first fellow says met the other fellow
on purpose and I'm heartbroken. Dear
Aunt Esther. should try to explain
again or so with the other fellow?"
Laura took up her fountain pen and
wrote:
"!f your sweetheart has given way
to base suspicious Of you, 1t is his
place to make amends. not yours to
approach him. However hard 1t be.
you should not make the first over
lures. Fie will only think the less of
you for It,"
sand that's that! !" said Laura.
thinking Of Jim. And she wiped a lit
tie tear that wouldn't stay put in the
place where tears belong. She opened
another letter. Here was n young girl
in love with fellow" who was lag
gard in love. Ought she to hint deli
cately that she would like them to he
engnged?
"A girl must never, under any cir
cnmstanres, make the first advances"
Laura wrote. "Tllat privilege belongs
to the man exclusively. Nothing fills
right-thinking young man with more
disgust than to have girl throw her.
self at his head. You can only possess
your soul in patience"
These and many more such ques-
ttons did Laura answer, while the
hands of the clock crept round and
round. At last she put her pen down.
Lunch time had arrived.
Laura got up and sighed.
There came a zap at the door. "Come
int" said Laura.
And Jim stood before her-Ji1n,
looking rather sheepish, rather
ashamed Of himself. but so nice. On,
Jim. always looked nice! She could
never cherish rancor very long against
Jim. however badly he behaved to her.
Tmpulsively she stepped forward.
"Oh, Jim. darling, I'm so ashamed of
my meanness to you last night" she
said. 81 wish I'd tried harder to mako,
you believe in me"
He clasped her in his arms. Laura,
sweetheart, do believe in what you
told me-" lie replied. kissing her. II
know you are incapable of deceiving
me. 1t was just my base suspicious.
Laura, If you only knew how dear you
are to me-"
"Jim. do you know what the trou-
bles really been?" murmured Laura.
"Tve never felt quite sure you-you
wanted me to marry yous You-you've
only hinted, you know"
Jim looked astounded. "Why, dear,
thougfA that was always under.
Stood" he answered. "Of course do,
just as soon as I can get that raise.
And look what I've brought you! Six
pairs-saw them in shop window
and couldn't resist It," He RULED the
cover off box.
"Oh. Jim. how heavenly murmured
Laura in ineffahle contentment. Sand
just my color. tool"
How DO the Gals Stand It?