The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1924-05-31
With a FIapper's
Soul
By CORONA REMINGTON

into q knot and glared at her reflec
ton In the mirror. With the palm Of
her hand she slapped the smooth sur
face Of the glass once. twice. three
times.
''ThereI Take that and that and
thatl" she said, then crumpled up into
q little heap and burst into tears.
"Oh, Lord, why did you make me
SO ugly. and then give me a fiapper's
soulf" she moaned.
Ordinarily Elsie was q cheerful,
easy-going little Irish girl, but upon
certain occasions all the rebellion In
her nature hared up and she INDUCED
In an orgy Of despair.
Suddenly she rose from the bed and
ripped Off her fiimsy little evening
dress. Rolling 1t ruthlessly into q
ball, she threw Il In the corner Of the
room.
"And II took a whole months sal
airy to buy IT.! II you aren't a fiapper,
don't try to tiap," she grimly advised
herself.
Then she walked across the room,
recovered the poor little bit Of green
chiffon and taffeta and started
smoothing It out.
1T wasn't your fault. You tried to
make me popular and make those silly
fool men see me and dance with me,
but-but II was too big a Job for one
little green dress"
She talked to the garment as II II
were some living thing that she had
crushed and offended.
"But it's all of, little happer frock.
We won't 60 to any more dances or
parties or anything. Wen 60 to
church and Sunday school and the
rest Of the time Wen stay right here
at home and we won't try to compete
with q whole bunch Of bobbed-haired
beauties who know this Tapping game
from A to lizard. Painfully practical,
that's what I am-cut out to marry a
middle-aged farmer with half q dozen
savage kids left him by his first wife.
Ugh!"
She glanced at the clock on the
dresser.
"After one and have to be at the
Office by eight"
II was late the next afternoon that
Frank Faulkner sauntered into her
office.
,"H'lo, Elsie" he greeted with all the
familiarity one employee has for
another. "Saw you at the dance last
night"
Elsie flushed scarlet and looked
down at her typewriter; then up
again.
"Yes, I had q beast Of a time. I'm
not cut out for social things. I'm of
II all forever"
That's tough luck for me. just
came In to ask you to 60 to dinner
with me tonight and we could take In
q show afterward. Wish you could,
Elsie"
"well, that's different" she told
him. I'D love to 60 II you want me.
but I'm just not going to any more
parties and dances"
"Good. ! thought you'd 20 with me.
I'll wear my evening suit, II you say.
I don't get many chances. And we'll
90 to q sure enough hotel and make
believe we're big folk"
They laughed together happily.
II think that would be great and I'll
wear my little green dress"
At six o'clock Elsie went down In
answer to the doorbsl and found her
escort waiting for her.
"Isn't this funi" she said, her face
lighted with happiness, "and oh, .
taxil You extravagant thing!"
II know, but this II our night"
He helped her In with all the nat-
tering Difference Of . real gallant and
her heart jumped at the attention
II feel like q princess" she laughed.
Arrived at the hotel. they ordered
many strange things they found listed
on the menu, then spent blissful mo-
ments before the waiter returned won
dering what they would be like.
Regular pig In q poke smiled
Elsie.
1t was a gay dinner. They laughed
and chatted and joked and teased and
felt like two children playing grownup.
Afterward az he helped her on with
her wrap he said In boyish tones:
How would you like to drive out to
the park and sit around the lake in
stead Of going to q showi It's so hot
tonight and besides I want to talk"
"Td love It," Elsie declared. II
wanted to suggest 1t, but was afraid
you might have your heart set on some
particular show"
In the park BY the lake II was cool
and quiet. The moon hanging over
the water threw q soft light over all
"You know, Elsie, I've got q lot I've
wanted to tell you for ages. I've had
q disappointing sort Of . time. I'm
only q bookkeeper, but I'm learning
the cost of things and saving q little
money and some day I'm going to star,
out on my own. I adore your red hall
and your little nsry temper and youl
loyalty. II you could love q fellow
Just a little bit and let him be per
fectly silly and write you wild Low,
letters and write him some back ant
then marry him after . while-why-'