Life — August 13, 1925 — page 22: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

20 rendezvous with him for the fol- lowing night at Euphrosyne’s home, all in one compact sentence. “That,” he observed, “is just what I ain't got nothin’ else but.” The following night, when Florian arrived at Euphrosyne’s home, he was pleased to observe that ncither his rival nor his counsel had yet ar- rived. The fair Miss Washyngton herself opened the outer door to admit him, and he felt that all was well, She greeted him cordially. “That,” she observed, as she took his hat and stick, “is just what I ain't got nothin’ else but.” é Florian was pleased. It had been ; his one fear that this paragon of wealth and beauty might be lacking in the wit, culture and wealth of words that he required of those with whom he was to do much of this life’s talking. At the same time her opening words gave him the chance at once to acquaint her with the epigram- matic style that had made him the talk of Birmingham's foremost drawing-rooms. “That,” he countered, with a pause of a bare second, to give the essential and artistic impression of extemporaneous- ness, “is just what I ain't got nothin’ else but.” They were off, Florian and Euphrosyne, to a flying start. Lawyer Kipp and the Vicksburg Grant arrived, and Florian was pleased to sce that he still was receiving most of the Washyngton smile. And then, just before the cakes and ice cream were to arrive, he decided to put it all to the test that he and Lawyer Kipp had planned with such care for the suave intruder. He addressed Mr. Grant directly and pointedly, as a lull came over the conversation. “That,” he said, “is just what I ain't got nothin’ else but.” There was that moment of indecision which great com- manders report is to be found in every battle as the tide of victory poises itself, undecided in which direction to sweep. And then the Vicksburg sucker arose and swallowed ‘the bait, hook, line and sinker, “Says which?” he asked. Even Florian, though the sight was like music and nectar and rose- mary to his eyes, was unable after- wards, so elated was he, to give more than a broad picture of the manner in which his adored Euphrosyne had risen to her feet, handed the startled Mr. Grant his hat and practically ejected him from the house. His “That,” he Plan had worked even more perfectly » QW whispered, and rapidly than he had dared hope. “is just what A little later, as he and Euphro- I ain't got syne sat hand-in-hand on her ex- nothin’ else pensive sofa, while Lawyer Kipp was but” burning the midnight oil in his own home drawing up the papers that were to consummate the transfer of her fortune to the Florian Shapley Enterprises, Inc., she spoke briefly and scathingly of Grant. A dull, witless person, this Grant, and of a supreme in- solence in venturing to call upon her at all, she pointed out in words that Florian knew well and used himself. ncy, she said, a man so completely ignorant of the best, the only tradition of Birmingham folk speech. “That,” she repeated indignantly, “is just what I ain't got nothin’ else but.” They sat in silence. And then Florian gave utterance to the words they had both been waiting to hear, those words so simple in themselves and yet so full of meaning to the two persons directly concerned, those words so old and yet so ever new, those words that some dusky Adam said to some dusky Eve, those words that will remain when all else is gone. “That,” he whispered into her pretty ear, “is just what I ain't got nothin’ else but.” A.JLM. A WOMAN is like an automobile, it isn’t the initial expense, it’s the upkeep. ee ihe id A WOMAN is like a large country estate, it isn't the initial expense, it's the upkeep. CP ED A WOMAN is like a golf club, it isn’t the initial expense, it’s the upkeep. CP O_O HE difference between love and marriage is the difference between a beautiful sunset and a three-alarm fire. comicbooks.com