Smyrna times., 1931-03-11
WEEKLY SOCIETY STORY FOR
EVENING ROUND THE LAMP
READING TO WHILE AWAY
TIME AFTER DAYS CHORES
"How Joan Was Won Over" An
Interesting Short Story, Writ
ten by Jannis Parker

opened noiselessly by an immacu-
late, whitehead nurse. Although
luxurious, the waiting room was
like all waiting rooms, cold, formal,
stilted.
She went to the dressing room.
The mirror threw back a small oval
face framed in a cap of pale blond
curls that clung to the low fore
head and grew longer at the nape
of her neck.
AS she picked among the maga-
zines on a taboret, wondering why
dentists offices only boast the sort
no one is interested in, the door
bell rang again. Joan didn't look
up as the nurse uShered in young
man, just kept turning the pages
slowly, but somehow she couldn't
get interested in the pictured
pygmy tribe before her. She
looked up listlessly, and then her
eyes widened.
"Jim!"
"Hello, JOAN" He was drawing
pigskin gloves from tanned hands.
Didn't know you came to Doctor
SlHpSOn. uuuyY eli
Joan, with a little vindictive toss
of her head, hurriedIy turned the
magazine pages. Il forgot we
weren't talking"
"Oh, but we were! You said.
Jim! and | said, 'Joan' and then
| remarked it was odd we both had
the same dentist"
lonlyo1 cl-apfi0ol
Young lady, I'm not here be-
cause 1 followed you, but because
have a most annoying cavity" He
thrust the tip of his tongue into
what was apparently the cavity, TO
prove his words.
1T really doesn't matter" She
took a sudden interest in the pyg-
mics.
"Oh. YES. it does! Not TO you,
perhaps. But after all, it's my cav
ity."
Joan noncommittally crossed her
knees. Her hand encountered a
darn in her stocking. She hastily
recrossed them.
''Too late" he said. i saw it.
lie looked lovingly at her Joan,
dear, why don't you chuck all this
Independent stuff and let me take
care Of you?"
Let's not 90 over it all again,
Jim. When your mother insinu-
ated that every girl You meet is dy-
ing To marry you
why, Joa." tie interrupted,
.fhat's only her mother love"
We'll, all womanfolk craving to
marry you was enough for me-"
And too much for me. Look
mere. | love you and you love me
II do not! | did but | don'ti"
Then you never did :"
why. | most certainly did, |
ought to know u
you're just what Is known as
tickle, | guess"
''FickleI"
Then you must still love me.
Joan stopped short; flushed a
deep red. "Well. not enough to
20 through life having your mother
tell me | married into royalty"
You take mother too seriously
and you don't take me seriously
enough. I'm her son, and | know
sne's funny that way"
You certainly are her son and
you're funny lots of ways"
His hands clenched. Yes. am
II you think that JUST because
have plenty of money and lots of
silly girls mother refers to would
like to marry it. and that just to
show her you aren't interested in
either me or my money that you
insist on paying for your own din
ner-" he paused for breath.
Joan's lovely golden head was
thrown back and she was laughing
at his torrent of words. Then
she remembered and quickly put
on a long. straight face.
Look here. are you marrying my
mother or me?"
That's just what I've wondered
these many times"
"Well, you're marrying mel To
day AS soon as | have this cavity
filledp
And what about my appoint
ment? suppose my teeth don't
matter !"
He made an expressive gesture
Your teeth, They're like pearls.
lust made to nibble the meals
provide. Joan. I'm famished. aren't
your"
Joan bridled. I'll never eat an.
other meal with you as long as
live Not after what you said the
other night"
"What did say?"
Never mind. You said that the
way we fought now. that when we
were married we'd probably wipe
each. other out"
You must be in love to gel mad
M things like that"
Mad? simply realized you
were right. We do fight most OF
the time No. Jim. we'd be miser
ahle."
I'D rather be miserable witt
you than happy with anyone else
Please have lunch with me today
mo ;"
"Weu. well. welI!" The doctor
/ burst through fhe French doors. al
isn't often one has rs patients The
/ children of ones best friends" He
searched their faces and. although
/ when he next spoke his voice was