Smyrna times., 1929-12-25
Elsie Changed Her
Mind
BY CORONA REMINGTON

LLSlE DUGAN screwed her face
- up into knot and glared at
her reflection in the mirror. With
the palm of her hand she slapped
the smooth surface of the glass
once, twice, three times.
There! Take that and that and
thatl" she said, then crumpled up
into little heap. and burst into
tears.
'Oh, Lord. why did you make me
so ugly, and then give me flap
per's soul?" she moaned.
Ordinarily Elsie was a cheerful,
easy-going little Irish girl, but upon
certain occasions all the rebellion
In her nature flared up and she in
dulged in an orgy of despair.
Suddenly she rose from the bed
and ripped off her flimsy little eve
ming dress. Rolling it ruthlessly into
a ball, she threw it in the corner
Of the room.
"And it took a whole months sal
airy to buy it! If you aren't a flap
per, don't try to flap," 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.
"It wasn't your fault. You tried
to make me popular and make
those silly fool men see me and
dance with me-but it was too big
a job for one little green dress.
''But it's all off, little flapper
frock, we won't go to any more
dances or parties or anything. Well
go to church and Sunday school
and the rest of the time We'll stay
right at home and we won't try to
compete with a whole bunch of
bobbed-haired beauties who know
this tapping game. Painfully prac-
tical, that's what I am-out to
marry a middle-aged farmer with
a dozen savage kids left him by his
first wife. Ughr'
1t was late the next afternoon
that Frank Faulkner sauntered into
her Office.
"H'Io, Elsie" he greeted with all
the familiarity one employee has
for another. "Saw you at the dante
last night"
Elsie flushed scarlet and looked !
down at her typewriter, then up |
again.
"Yes, had a beast Of a time.
Tn not cut out for social things. !
I'm off it all forever"
ssThat's tough luck for me. |
Just came in to ask you to 20 TO
dinner with me tonight and we /
could take in show afterward. /
Wish you could, Elsie"
swell, that's different" she told /
him. I'D love to go if you want
me, but I'm just not going to any /
more parties and dances"
"Good. I thought you'd go with /
me. I'll wear my evening suit. If I
you say. I don't get many chances. 4
And well go to a sure enough hO- /
tel and make believe we're big
folk"
They laughed together happily.
81 think that would be great, and /
I'll wear my little green Dress
At six O'Clock Elsie went down
I'm answer to the dOOrbell and found I
her escort waiting for her.
'Isn't this funl" she said. her
whole face lighted with happiness,
@and oh. taxi! You extravagant
thfngr'
'I know, but this is our night"
He helped her into it with all |
the flattering Difference of real
gallant and her heart jumped at |
the attention.
'T feel like a princess" she
laughed
1t was a gay dinner. They
laughed and chatted and joked and
teased and felt like children play
ing grownup.
Afterward as he helped her on
with her wrap he said in boyish
tones:
'rHow would you like to drive out
to the park and sit around the
lake instead of going to a shOw?"
'Pd love it." Elsie declared. 81
wanted to suggest it. but was
afraid you might have had your
heart set on some particular show"
In the park by the lake it was
cool and quiet. The moon hang
lux OVER LIE Ndltl lilltM q oOAl
light over all.
"You know, Elsie, I've got q lot
I've wanted to tell you for ages.
I've had a disappointing sort of
time. I'm only a bOOkkeeper, but
I'm learning the cost of things and
saving a little money and some day
I'm going TO start out on my own.
7 adore vour rod hair and vOTr |
little fiery temper and your 10y
atty. IF you could love fellow
Just a little bit and let him he per-
fectly silly and write you wild love
letters and write him some back.
and then marry him after while
you're trembling.
Surely, | didn't frighten you, dear
'No, no." she murmured. "Just
make wild love to me: do. frankie.
I've got flapper's soul, but dread
fully humdrum. practical outside.
and I've lOnged fOr-oh, do keep on
saying wonderful. loving, crazy
things to me-"
"We've needed each other right
along" he said a while later 'If I'd
only had the courage sooner, but
1t gave me a little nerve when |
saw you didn't have such a good
time last night. I thought maybe
you weren't so dreadfully spoiled
after all. You might appreciate a
Fotla,,, n IiffIa and hogfdas Won I