Evening star., 1926-03-21

NHE most myStlfylnS woman l.
ever knew was one who hadn't
the slightest idea she was
i puzzling anybody, and she
showed genuine amaZement
when she found out that her conduct
was generally thought impossible to
understand.
What's more, the other women We're
as befogged about her as the men
were, or at least they said so. They
talked about her by the hour-there
were times when they didn't seem to
be able to talk about anything else
and don't suppose that in the whole
history Of the world one particular
question has been asked oftener than
the question the women in our town
were asking one another-"Well what
do YOU think Of Geraldine now"
For MY part. I never pretended to
understand Geraldine Wygate at ALL
that is to say, / sometimes under
stood what her motives were, | sup
pose. But I didn't understand why
she had them.
She was an only child. but not
spoiled one. Her father was what
moderate sized town used to call "a
fairly rich man." and he was able and
willing to give Geraldine just about
anything a young girl could ask for.
deal.
She didn't once show the slightest
personal interest in any Of the boys
or young men, and none of us eX-
hibited any symptoms of that kind of
interest in her. When 1t came to that,
Geraldine lived inclOsed on the other
side of a blank wall. and at "a she was
still living In the same Enclosure.
She wasn't a beautiful girl by any
means, but she wasn't homely. either.
She was small and light t-stepping and
quick. with bright, dark eyes that
never seemed to look at anything more
than a second or two. She had pretty
hands and wavy hair-colOred hair and
her features were plea sa ant--the type
we used to call 'piquant.' So 1t
wasn't her looks that kept the young
men from falling in love with her. 1t
was that queer. invisible wall sur
rounding her. though she hadn't put
1t there herself on purpose by any
means.
The mothers of the young men liked
Geraldine. Wygate. They were al
ways telling us what ''self-respect-
ing" girl she was-so much more ad-
mirable than the pushing" sort we
seemed to favor. and they wondered
why we didn't show her more atten-
We weren't able to give very SatiSfac-
tory answers. though my cousin. Joe
Buell., once came pretty near the truth
of the matter.
X x * !,
TT was a Sunday afternoon. and Joe
and I We're killing time until it got
a tie enough for US to start on round
of Sunday ca1S'-a customary pro-
cedure with US. Aunt Sallie asked us
If we were going to the Wygates', and
when we said No" she asked Joe,
why not?" a little sharply.
Il don't see any reason you can't
show Geraldine more attention than
you do she said. Geraldine Is a
fine. self-respecting girl
You might as we'll ask me to show
more attention to sister Bella Joe
told his mother. Bella would be just
as pleased. and so would L."
Geraldine Wygate will make some
man a good wife," Aunt Sallie said:
and she glanced over to where Bella
sat on the arm of a big chair, swing
ing her feet and looking out of the
window. Il wish Bella were like her
in certain ways! It's greatly to
Geraldine's credit that instead Of
seeking out the younger men herself
she lets them do the seeking
"Oh. dear" Bella said: then she
laughed and turned to me. II sup
pose you understand Mammals scold-
ing me. Do you know what she
means by positive advances"
NO. Bella
She means a formal note I wrote
to an old friend" Bella explained
THAT Is to say. never met him un-
I'll yesterday afternoon; but within
half an hour I felt I'd known him al
ways. He's that kind of man. So.
of course. since I was so well ac-
quainted with him, ! wrote him a
note as soon as l got home and
asked him to drop in before. long.
That's what Mamma means. In her
day II was unmaidenly not to wait
until the gentlemen begged the priv
ilege Of calling. Times have changed.
Mamma, especially when a truly
glorious person comes to town."
who is he?" I asked.
Hes a godlike creature whose
beautiful name is Bellworthy Cam
eron," she said, Intentionally extrav-
sgant. Hes related to the Gamer
ons that live here. and he's just come
to make his fortune in our thriving
city. He's going to be in old Judge
Cameron's law Office. Ida Cameron
l& some of US meet him yesterday,
and he's absolutely regal vision!"
HE sounds pretty awful" Joe said,
"the way you tell it!"
Bella laughed. I'm not sure he
isn't. That's why wrote the note;
wanted to find out if any man