The vidette. (Iuka, Tishomingo County, Miss.) 1912-1967, 1923-01-25
Hints on
Etiquette
By CLARA DELAFIELD
20. 1922. Western Newspaper union)


20. 1922. 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 a
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 nev.f zee him again. She had
perfect right to spend the evening
with poor, crippled Elsie James-and
he had suspected 1t was with another
man.
"And that's an insult no self-respect-
ing girl can ever, ever forgive" she
told herself.
She began to open the letters, which
asked the old, old questions. Present
ly she was busily writing:
"Sybil. My dear, have an
swered your question in these columns
over and over again. 1t is not correct
to accept any gift from a young man
except books, flowers or candy. Ger
fninIu oppant noir nf
shoes from him. He will only think
the less of you for doing So"
Laura took up another letter and
sighed as she read 1t:
"Dear Aunt Esther: I am in great
trouble and 1 do not know what
ought to do. Me and my fellow have
had q serious falling out. He accused
me Of going with another fellow. He
did see me with the other fellow, but
the other fellow stopped me in the
street and wanted me to go with him
and ] said no because l was already
going with the first fellow. Now my
first fellow saysI met the other fellow
on purpose and I'm heartbroken. Dear
Aunt Esther, should try to explain
again or go with the other fellow?"
Laura took up her fountain pen and
wrote:
"If your sweetheart has giyen way
to base suspicious of you. it is his
place to make amends, not yours to
approach him. However hard it be,
you should not make the first over
lures. He will only think the less of
you for It,"
"And that's that!" said Laura,
thinking of Jim. And she wiped lit
tie tear that wouldn't stay put in the
place where tears belong. She opened
another letter. Here was young girl
in love with "fellow" who was lag
gard in love. Ought she to hint deli
cately that she would like them to be
engaged?
"a girl must never, under any cir
cumstances, make the first advances"
Laura wrote. "That privilege belongs
to the man exclusively. Nothing fills
right-thinking young man with more
disgust than to have a girl throw her.
self at his head. You can only possess
your soul in patience"
These, and many more such ques-
tions 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 tap at the door. "Come
nj" said Laura.
looking rather sheepish, rather
ashamed of himself, but so nice. Oh,
JIM always looked nicel She could
never cherish rancor very long against
Jim, however badly he behaved to her.
Impulsively 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 make
you believe in me-"
He clasped her in his arms. Laura,
sweetheart, l do believe in what you
told me-" he replied, kissing her 81
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
ble's really been?" murmured Laura.
1--WE never felt quite sure you-you
wanted me to marry you. You-youve
only limited, you know"
Jim looked astounded. "Why, dear,
I thought that was always under
Stood" he answered. "Of course l do,
just as soon as l can get that raise.
And look what I've brought you Six
pairs-saw them in shop window
and couldn't resist it." He PULLED the
cover off box.
"Oh, Jim, how heavenly" murmured
Laura in ineffable contentment. And
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