The Sauk Centre herald., 1924-12-25
The Pertness
Of Lucy
(Copyright.)
BY JANE OSBORN

&C " w M pretty girl, Lucy,
grandmother said, regarding her
granddaughter narrowly, "and you
ought to have more beaux"
"Why, grandmother" protested
Lucy. Il have as many men friends
as the other girls"
"Not enough, and not the sort you
want" replied her grandmother. "The
trouble with you, Lucy, is that you
aren't pert enough. know your moth
er would be shocked at me for say
ing that. She's so proud to think that
you aren't one of these modern flap
pers-smoking cigarettes and carrying
flask and the rest-that she is per-
fectly content with you the way you
are"
Maybe you don't konw," Lucy in
terrupted proudly, "that I've had
three proposals this summer"
"Pooh," said the grandmother.
Wasn't one of them worth consider
ing; besides it's not good plan to
count your scalps. But, as 1 was try
ing to say, there's big difference be-
tween the brazen f1apper and a girl
that Is as meek as primrose. Men
like pertness-did when I was young,
and l guess they do yet"
why, grandmother
take it or leave it." said Grand
mother Mills, as she bent her IRON
gray head over her colorful embroid-
cry stretched before her.
"I'll probably take it." laughed
Lucy, as she rose and drew on her
coat. Il generally do take your ad-
vice-and profit by it. Now I'm off to
the Red Cross headquarters. We've
been getting some boxes ready to send
West. I've got to go and help pack"
Lucy walked slowly down the street
and did deal of thinking as she
walked. She concluded that her
grandmother was right. Probably she
-Lucy-was pretty, but the men she
knew didn't always seem to find her
so. There was Radnor Jackson-Rad-
nor was not one Of the men friends
Of whom she had boasted to her grand
mother. There was no reason why
Radnor shouldn't admire her: they
were together often enough and Lucy
was always very pleasant. But un-
doubtedly she wasn't pert enough.
The only other person at headquar-
ters was meek little high school girl
who had come that afternoon to help
her. A pale young man came into the
rooms, peered around through his
spectacles, and asked Lucy If the
boxes had been sent West yet. Lucy
recognized him as the new minister of
nearby country congregation. He
had some contributions to make in the
way Of garments made by his Ladies'
Aid society.
"You were perfect lamb" Lucy
said, clapping her hands, ito bring
those things all the way in." And
then putting out two imploring arms !:
"There are some things up on that
closet shelf that we want to put in
the boxes, and just can't reach them.
Would you hop up on that chair and
lift them DOWN.
would thought" said the young
man, forgetting for the instant that
he was clergyman in clerical col
lar. He fingered with Lucy for ten
unnecessary minutes, and left casting
back smiles Of happy admiration.
So far pertness had worked very
nicely.
In the course Of another hour the
three boxes were packed and Lucy
and her meek little assistant faced
each other wondering.
"How can we get them fastened
shutr asked the girl. I'VE ought to
have q man."
"I1l get one" said Lucy. "Wait-"
Lucy went to the door and, glanc-
ing out, espied an Immediately
dressed man Of about sixty passing.
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