The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-09-28
They Were Two
of a Pair
a = = a = = = = = a = y = .
BY CLARA DELAFIELD
t0. 1923. Western Newspaper unisA.)

Sc a UNIT ELIZABETH" pulled at biz
- pipe with worried air az he
sat at his desk In the newspaper Of
ice. 1t was case of "he healed 9TH
ers, himself he cannot heal"
Aunt Elizabeth, six feet one, sturdy
and strapping, had had a misunder-
standing with his fiancee. 1t was all
over the question how much independ-
ence girl should have.
In the columns of the paper, where
Aunt Elizabeth edited weekly review
of readers love problems, he advoeat-
ed entire freedom for girls. But 1t
was very different when Maisie in
formed him that, though they were en-
gagged. she intended going to as many
dances as she pleased, with other men.
And only the week before he had
given her the solitairel Yes, Aunt
Elizabeth and Maisie had had quite a
wrangle over 1t, and she had ended by
throwing the ring at him.
1t struck the opposite wall, rolled
under the buffet, and got lost for q
while. oh, 1t had been fierce eve
ming
And here, now, Aunt Elizabeth had
to solve a precisely similar case.
Il am an engaged girl wrote Aunt
Elizabeth's correspondent, land very
much worried over the question which
has arisen between myself and my
tiance as TO how much liberty an en-
gagged girl should have. / claim that
he has no right to stop my going to
dances till the date for our marriage
is fixed. He claims that I must give
up my whole time to him. Dearly as
/ love him, | do not wish to be at his
beck and call. Dear Aunt Elizabeth,
what shall I do?"
Aunt Elizabeth refilled his pipe and
pondered the problem. Presently he
wrote:
MY dear child, although l must adj
NIT that your fiancee seems to me
largely in the right, this Is a question
that should not arise between engaged
couples. If you truly love, each will
be willing to make sacrifices for the
happiness of the other. You should
not wish to go to dances against your
fance's desire. On the other hand, he
should not attempt to control your
movements in an arbitrary way. IL 10
a case of mutual accommodation. Try
to fall In with your f1ance's wishes,
and incidentally, advise him not to
express his wishes In a manner cal
culated to wound your feelings"
Aunt Elizabeth pulled at his pipe
and pondered. 1t seemed so easy to
say that: and yet he. the expert. had
hopelessly failed with Maisiel
Idly he turned over his correspond
ent's letter, and on the back he read:
Up. s. | am so dreadfully worried
over this whole affair that I have de-
cided to come to your Office and ask
for your personal advice" The word
personal" was underscored. "Desr
Aunt Elizabeth, you haya helped so
many girls, / am sure you will not
deny me this interview"
Aunt Elizabeth sat up. An electric
shock ran through his spine. What
was he to do? 1t would never do to
let her know that Aunt Elizabeth was
q man
When he had taken, the job, which
occupied his attention only one day III
the week-the others being devotedsto
different work with another pubiica-
tion-the editor had impressed on him
that not even 10 his dearest friend, was
he to let 1t be known that he was Aunt
Elizabeth.
"Oh, well, Aunt Elizabeth's. out," he
and at that moment the Of
fce boy stuck his head in at the door.
Lady here inQuiring for Aunt Eliza
BETH" he said with a grin.
Tell her she's out-gone away to .
answered Aunt Elizabeth.
The Office boy came back. "She--
she wants to know when Aunt Eliza
)eth's coming back" he said
"Oh, this day week." answered Aunt
Elizabeth.
In minute the boy was back once
more. "She wants to know where
he funerals being held" he said.
Damn - answered Aunt Elizabeth.
I'll fix her ~
He went out, to encounter-Maisiei
They stared at each other In blank
,ewilderment. "You-you here. DickT
hammered the girl"
why. I-er-I came to call on q
riend of -er-Aunt Elizabeth"
Dick stammered. But she's gone to
| funeral. She-er-she told me you
night call, and-Oh, yes, she wanted
ne to give you an answer she had
written to your communication re
eived this morning"