West Plains High School - Zizzer Yearbook (West Plains, MO)

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BECAUSE OF FASHION I say old man, who is this? inquired Ted one evening, as he held up a picture bc- fore me. My cousin Janet, I answered, scarcely looking up from my book, for I was busy cramming for the final exams. College was to close in a few short weeks and I hadn't much time to lose rummaging through desk drawers and mooning over family portraits and I told Ted as much to keep him quiet. The few weeks before commencement soon passed and all the fellows were laying plans for the summer. I approached Ted with this subject one afternoon as we walked from the baseball field to the dormitory, Ted, what are you going to do this sum- mer? I said. Don't know, Howard , he answered, nothing much until August. Dad needs me then but I haven't the faintest idea what I shall do before then. Now Ted isn't blessed with a family like my own, for his family consists of only Ted Maitland, Sr., and Ted Maitland Jr., so his va- cations are usually rather lonesome. But next day a letter from my father told me that there would be a swell time for both of us. This letter informed me that Dad had invest- ed in a new motor car and that since I had been so kind as to make a decent record in college that year I might run the car across country from the city to my home. Overjoy- ed I rushed into the room where Ted was sorting out his things preparing to pack, grabbed a pillow and soaked him in the head with it, that being the only efficient way to attract his attention when he is occupied. I say, cut it out, he roared, then seeing my radient face , what's up? Lots, for both of us, I said, you and I are to motor home in our new car. I've planned it all out. ,We can stop and rest whenever we get tired for I have relatives scattered all the way long. There's Uncle John, and Aunt Ruth, and Cousin Janet, and several others. I ran on. Ted began to show interest and soon was more eager than I. And so it happened that we started out the day after commencement with high spirits and camping outfits. One day, about a week later, I was wear- ing Ted's coat for mine didn't seem to be anywhere in sight and the evening was chilly as we sped along the road, when I discovered in the pocket a picture. Oh, ho, I thought Ted seems to he growing sentimental in the springtime. I drew out the picture and was surprised to see that it was the same that he had found in my desk some three weeks before. What in thunder did he take that for? I pondered, but next day a light dawned on me when Ted said, Say, Howard, I would like to meet that cousin Janet of yours. When shall we get there? Day after tomorrow I replied trying to be calm--and so Ted the practical, Ted the sober, Ted the athlete, who had never been known to look at a girl, was in love, was crazy about a mere pic-ture. The next time I had opportunity I got the picture and looked at it. Not so bad after all, I thought, Dreamy eyes, golden hair coiled low on her neck with little curly tendrils round her face. Any- body who didn't know might easily be toucu- ed. But oh, 1 could hardly contain myself when 1 watched Ted's apparent anxiety and I kept saying to myself, Just you wait till he sees her, Howard Curtis just you wait. Guess I'll have to let you take Janet out motoring since 5ou seem to be so crazy about her, I said in order to see how he would take it. Why how did you know that? he gave himself away in his surprise I didn't know, I just wanted to find out. Oh, well, old man, I' d just as soon you'd know. I guess you think I'm a big simp to be crazy about a picture. But my soul! such eyes and hair and besides how awfully stylish! He went on with his raptures, spieling off things I didn't know he had in his makeup. How do you know she's stylish? I in- quired, you couldn't see anything but her face and hair, That's just it Her hair 'the way it was fixed and all. He raved on in a manner that would make anybody sick, except a pair of newly weds on their honeymoon. That night as We lay beside the car sleep- ing I awoke and. thinking of Ted's love affair. broke into a roar of mirth. Ted, awakened by the noise which might have aroused 'the dead murmured drowisly, what did I say? Oh nothing, I merely sneezed , I lied and went to sleep again thinking of the morrow when Ted should meet his heart's desire. The morning dawned, bright and clear and was one like any mortal soul miglat wish to be his fateful day. I watched Ted don white flannels, a necktie a stickpin and var- icus other fancy fixin's, and brush his chest-

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VI LITERARY

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nut pompadour with the utmost care. 'l'l1en 1 ventured a remark. You act as though you thought the vil- lage of Merryville was the city of Paris. Oh, 1 just thought I'd like to appear civi- lized since we're reaching civilized country. He tried -to act indifferent, but his rosy com- plexion turned to scarlet. At about ten o'clock we reached Merryville at last and approached the rambling old house, Well, here we are, I said, and watched Ted covertly. Here's cousin Janetfs home. ls there a large family? Ted inquired. Well hardly, since Janet ls the family. What! she lives all alone? No wonder the poor innocent seemed surprised. Not usually, I said, She always has scads of visitors. I could see that the old boy was nervous as we entered the hall and I exchanged greetings with the housekeeper whom I had known since I was a kid. Just sit down a minute, Mr. Howard, she said, while I call Miss Janet, I think she's out at the tennis court. Tennis! Joy, Oh bliss! The wild one shouted under his breath. Another chance for you, I said, ap- pearing not to have heard him. Say old man, I can't just see you intermingled with golden hair and tennis racketsf' He didn't reply but seemed to be engaged In examining the spacious room and the grounds outside and probably turning over what I had said about her living alone and thinking that perhaps-but there's no telling what he might have been thinking. Just here we heard light footsteps and I could almost hear the poor fellow's heart go pit-a-pat The door opened. We looked up. There entered a portly lady with gray hair parted smoothly on her forehead and 3 good natured smile playing forever about her mouth, which, when opened, disclosed two rows of even white teeth, her latest purchase from the new dentist. she informed me later. Howard, dear boy, I'm so glad to see you, she cried as she kissed me, and who is this? She turned to Tei. Ted Maitland. I beamed upon him, My cousin Janet. At first the poor kid dldn't seem to grasp the situation. He turned red and white, then hot and cold. bowed, mur- mured, Pleased to meet you. and sank into his chair. If I hadn't been so tickled I would have pitled the poor fellow. Our hostess was speaking. I guess you poor boys are hot and tirrd. Howard, you may have the blue room I was glad to get Ted into our room for I was afraid he might faint. I've heard of such things. He flopped down on a chair and was silent for a long time. Then he slowly reached in his pocket and pulled out the picture and looked at it. Yes, lt's her picture, I said, but it was taken thirty years ago. He gave me such a look as I have never seen before nor since, but said nothing. Finally, after I had un- packed my things and was preparing to dress for dinner, he awoke from his reverie and said dully, But 'the hair! Oh say now, you don't mean to tell me that you don't understand about fashion? Why, may, they rotate, like farm crops or merry-go-rounds, you know, and the same styles come back about every thirty years. Here Ted's silence was broken and he gave me such a lecture as I've never heard, outside a pulpit, on the ways of acting lies without telling them. As we went down to dinner I said, Will lou want to go motoring with her this after- noon or would you rather play tennis? He, forgetting that he wasn't on the football tleld gave me a kick that I can almost feel yet. About then the lady appeared. Dinner is just ready, come into the dining room. Your cousin Edith is with me now, Howard, but she seems to be late to dinner as usual. That child almost lives on that tennis court. I play a little myself to take off weight , she laughed. We had hardly seated ourselves when the door opened and there entered a girl arrayed in pink with dreamy eyes, golden hair coiled low on her neck, and little curly tendrils 'round her face. If Ted had fainted before, he would have died now, I know, for he dropped his fork with a c-latter and I could see his hair rise on his head . Oh Aunt Janet, I surely would have hurried lf I had known we had company, and her silvery laugh was good to hear She lsn't a gn0st , I whispered to Ted so he wou1dn't make such a fool of himself. but really. I didn't know that Edith did look so much like my cousin Janet's youthful pic- ture. And l never have been able to figure out whether the joke was on me or my churn, for he l1ad truly met his heart's desire. He had his motor rides and his tennis sets and now Edith has his diamond ring. Ted merely smiles about the picture episode and says that lt was all because of fashion. GENEVA PEASE.