The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1941-03-01
The Old-F fashioned
Girl
50
By JAMES SIMPSON
ASSOCIATED Newspapers-WNU Service. ,
ASSOCIATED Newspapers-wNU Service.
" 7 DAN never had a beau" Joan's

VlSlIOr. ana you know one CAM
include girls like that in our parties.
Anyhow, doubt if Joan would care
about the crowd any more than the
crowd would care about her. Poor
kid! 1 often wonder what will be-
come of her"
"Oh, WELL" said Emily's house
guest, who was deity making up
her face before the mirror. "Old
maids aren't looked down on the
way they used to be. She will prob
ably find school to teach or type
writer to pound after a while, and
very likely she'll be happier than
you or 1. Only l just can't believe
Joan is satisfied for it to go that
way. I never knew a young girl
who didn't like beaus."
well, Joan doesn't. If she did
she wouldn't be so standoffish, would
she? Can't you just imagine Clark
or David falling for an evening in
the parlor?"
But after ALL broke in the soft
tones of Joan, who had stepped
quietly into the room, she's only %
much too young to have to consid-
er how young she looks"
Emily laughed. Thanks, old
dear!" she said blithely. "But it's
these late hours, you know. 1 ad-
NIT you look younger, although
you're actually year older, but
you'll have to admit that while
may grow old bit faster I have
more fun as go, won't your"
ooh, don't know" Joan sighed.
after all, what fun is there in vast
ing time on lot of men who don't
really interest your"
They'll interest you if you in
terest them" Emily laughed a
bit sharply. But it must be mutual,
Joan, dear. There's the bell. 1t
must be David and Clark. Now, he
is real catch, Joan, and every girl
at the party will envy me tonight.
Won't you go down and entertain
them while we finish dressing?"
When the gay little party had gone
Joan sat out on the vine-screened
porch alone lost in thought. She had
overheard a part of the conversa-
ton about her and it hurt a little
Would a fellow like Clark Howard
think her hopeless? When she had
said that she didn't care a lot for
dances he had asked her curiously,
We'll, what would you care to do
on an evening like this, Miss Joan?"
And Joan answered half bitterly,
half earnestly:
''Why, I'd like to sit out on the
porch with handsome young man
and listen to the radio. And very
likely I'd make some fudge"
She wondered now if he were hav-
ing a wonderful time dancing with
her pretty sister, who was always
clever and amusing.
is the fudge cooking?" a voice
broke in And could l substitute
for the handsome young man?"
But" exclaimed Joan, with her
engaging honesty, you are the
handsome young man! And l can
put the fudge on Immediately,
only" she hesitated. l ':...'.-.
'Oh, l know. You mean to re-
mind me that shouldn't have run
away from the dance, but your sis
ter had a waiting list of partners.
And l really never get chance to
talk to you, you know, since you're
so uninterested in our modern fri
volities"
An hour passed all too quickly for
Joan, and when Clark thought he
had better get back to the dance
he suggested that he come over an
other evening, and Joan laughingly
agreed.
I But that was the first of several
stolen evenings for Clark and Joan.
They found world of mutual inter
ests and Joan made delightful fudge.
Or sometimes it was delicious des-
sert with coffee, or sandwiches and
tea. They said nothing to the 9TH
ers, Joan because of a shy fear of
surprised, sarcastic comments, and
Clark because, as he said, che
didn't want to spoil it,"
But the time came when Clark'S
visit to Westfeld was about to end.
tits a great little town." he said
to Joan, land | hate to go, but after
all, I'm rather anxious to get back
to my practice, for I've a new in
centive now"
When Joan glanced up question
ingly he suddenly reached for her
hand and drew her toward him in
the seclusion of the vine-clad porch.
1--WE found something in West
field" he declared, that l didn't
know was to be found anywhere,
genuine, true, sweet, old-fashioned
girl. You're the incentive, Joan!
Please say you love me too, dear!"
That night as Joan entered EN-
ily's room the latter was saying to
Martha, II declare, we've seen
practically nothing of Clark How
ard these last few weeks and hear
he's leaving tomorrow. l daresay
Rose Trennen has got him."
About Clark Howard" Joan put
in, her cheeks flushing. 81 think l
have some news for you. We're to
be married Christmas"
An amazed silence, which Emily