The story
There was great excitement in the little farming village when the daughter of the best known resident returned from the great city. She was dressed in the height of fashion, sported a poodle dog and lorgnette, and, all in all, was an object of interest. The local paper chronicled her arrival and added that she filled a position of great importance with a big mercantile firm in New York. The young woman made only a brief stay, but won the hearts of nearly all the rural swains. Hopefully they showered presents upon her, and vainly they proposed to her. In fact there was genuine grief when she went away, and another truthful news item informed its readers that the girl was engaged to ‘a prominent public official of New York.’ The girl went back to the city, leaving aching hearts behind her. There she ‘resumed her position of great importance’ which it might be explained was that of saleswoman in a department store. The fine clothing which delighted her country friends was returned to its owners, for the girl had practically been dressed by a syndicate of friends. It must be admitted, however, the rural paper told the truth concerning the ‘prominent public official.’ A man answering that description did love her, and in due time they were married, but there are many kinds of public officials.
Summary from The Moving Picture World · 11 January 1913
