The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-01-23
TT THOUGHT you were like
what you are like"

" AAA- 1Oa IL A
Not very definite, is it2 I'm
afraid you shed more light a
minute or so ago. when you said how
different from Mildred you thought 1
was. That was definite. unforuately!'
"I didn't say it," Russell explained.
Z thought it, and you read my mind.
That's the sort Of a girl I thought
you were-one that could read a
mans mind. Why do you say 'un-
fortunately you're not like Mildred?"
AHce's smooth gesture seemed to
sketch Mildred. Because she's per
fect-why. she's perfectly perfect. She
never makes a mistake, and every
body looks up TO her-oh, yes, we all
fairly adore her. She's like some big,
noble, cold statue-way above the
rest Of us-an1 she hardly ever does
anything mean or treacherOus. OF all
the girls I know I believe she's played
the fewest really petty tricks. She's"
Russell interrupted; he looked per
picked. You say she's perfectly per
feet, but that she does play some
Alice laughed, as If at his sweet
innocence. "Men are so funny!" she
informed him. "Of course girls all do
mean things sometimes. My own ca
reer's just one long brazen smirch Of
EN-. What I mean is. Mildred's per
fectly perfect compared to the rest Of
us"
ct see," he said. and seemed to need
a momen or two of thoughtfuIness.
Then he inquired. What sort of
treacherous things do you dO?'
Il? Oh, the very worst kind! Most
people bore me-par-icularly the men
in this town-and I show it."
But I shouldn't call hat treach-
cry, exactly"
well. they do" Alice laughed. Its
made me a terribly unpopular charac-
ter! I do a lot Of things they hate.
For instance, at a dance I'd a lot
rather find some clever old woman
and talk to her than dance with nine
tenths Of these nonentities. I usu-
ally do it. too"
But you danced as if you liked it.
You danced better than any other
girl L"
This fattery of yours doesn't quite
turn my head, Mr.. Russell" Alice
interrupted. Particularly since Mil
dred only gave you Ella Bowling TO
compare with me-
"Oh. no." ne insisted. There were
others-and of course, Mildred, her
self"
'Oh, Of course. yes. I forgot that.
WeIl-' She paused. then added:
"I certainly ought TO dance well"
why is it so much a duty?"
when l think of the dancing
teachers and the expense to papa
All sorts OF fancy instructors sup
pose that's what daughters have
fathers for, though isn't it? To throw
money away on them?'
You don't Russell began, and
his look was n Of alarm. You
haven't taken Up-
She understood his apprehension
and responded merrily: oh, muir,
der. no! You mean you're afraid
break out sometimes in a piece oil
cheesecloth and run around a
thirty times. and then. for an en-
core, show how much like snakes ]
can make my arms look
81 said you were a mind reader
he exclaimed. That's exactly what
was pretending to be afraid you
might do"
Pretending? That's nicer of you
No: it's not my mania"
What is?"
"Oh, nothing in particular that
know Of just now. of course, I've
had the usual one; the one that every
girl goes through"
Whats that?"
Good heavens. Mr.. Russell. you
can't expect me to believe you're re
ally a man of the world if you don
know that every girl has a time in
her life when she's positive she's di
vinely talented for the stage! It's
the only universal rule about women
that hasn't got ar exception. l don
mean we all want to go On the stage
but we all think we'd be wonderful
if we did. Even Mildred. Oh. she
wouldn't confess it 10 you; you'd have
to know her a great deaI better thar
any man can ever know her to find
out"
u IT see," he said. Girls are Away;