Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-04-14
TURKISH RUG
AND MEERSCHAUM.


The logs in the open hearth had about
exhausted their cheerfuness, and that
may account for the gium gaze with
which the Turkish Rug affixed the Nicer
| schaum Pipe, its friend aud fellow con
spirator in many a daring adventure.
| That these adventures must be imagined
! and rot lived by them, made the excite
ment and pleasure none the less, Of that
they could assure guaranteeing for n
most the only time in their histC-t,
/ Ii must have been fully two hours pre-
vious that the Turkish Rug went into a
sulk because a hot coal from the bowl
Of the Meerschaum Pipe had buried IT.
self where it could hurt most, right on
the deep red center, and everyone knows
that means the heart whether it be of
It Turkish Rug ar a human beng.
"What makes this beastly place so
dark grumblcd the Turkish Rug.
Billy turned off the lights and the
fire is about burned out. | suppose,
commented the Meerschaum Pipe calmly.
Yes, yOu always do suppose the most
sensible things. But why don't You tell
me what happened before Billy turned
off the lights: You must know I'm de
voured with curiosity, and taking that
with the outrageous treatment I've al
ready received, you'll be the death Of
me. The Turkish Rug groaned away
/ into silence,
I'm be only too glad to tell you how
/ know you are so curious grinned the
Meerschaum Pipe. You do waste "A lot
of valuable time when YOU 90 ON these
/ sprees---"
"Spreesr burst ont the Turkish Rug.
'Sprees'"'
well. sulks mean the same thing any
| way. and | believe you said you wanted
to know what happened here last night,
after you-fainted."
The tall old clock in the corner by the
! doorway had chimed the midnight hour
as the MeerSchaum Pipe spoke Some
/ last bright Goals fell to the hearth and
hared for second, making the Turkish
/ Rug look 50 attractive that the Nicer
! schaum Pipe decided not to tease any
more. The shadows settled deeper. and
they could only guess at the outlines Of
the empty chair of carved mahogany
with its worn green leather cushions
and could only surmise from many pre-
vlous events. that near at hand was u
pile of sofa cushions thrown heller Skcl-
ter, as the lazy vagabond who reposed
upon them had risen hurriedly.
The Meerschaum Pipe reused from his
reyerie. You remember She came in
about clock looking very charming in
Il new gown Crushed strawberry. ! be-
Iieye it was but you know more about
color than | do, and all | know is that it
matched her checks. | feel sure Billy
~
How do you feel sure:" interrupted
the Turkish Rug
"Oh, | know Billy pretty we'll and he
didn't clench me with his teeth like that
for nothing. He wanted to hug her.
that's what he wanted to 10.
Why didnt he them"
Reasons enough. In the first place.
he's afraid Of her, though she's not biz
enough TO reach his chin. and as slender
as our glldcd reception chair Then
again, hc was in his own house. and
Billy is strong on the conyeutionalitics.
Resides, he loves her, and is scared to
death he'll make some false moye-at
least he was.
DO YOU mean that he isn't afraid
now the Turkish Rug asked in voice.
that 4uaycred with emotion oh, do
20 ou''
No. he isn't afraid now. dear old
Billy. Wei, you know he fixed the pil-
lows the way he always does, and She
settled down TO toast marshmallows at
the end of that ivory thing some China
man used 90 scratch his back with
Jndge they were good, though, for Billy
neglected me quite awhile and he
/ | watched her profile SO steadily | won
dered If he didn't want to eat her too.
: On. she's got profile has Shct You
, see. l never get more than an upward
: glimpse of her, sort Of curyed-up chin
and tipped-up nose"
= | YOU can depend on the pipe of an nrtis,
| 70 know something about profiles. Hers
, / is better than most. Billy had just asked
her If She could toast bread as we'll as
! she could toast marShmallowS, and sh,
was telling him that she could toast il
/ well enough 20 serve with a rarehit ant
! anyway didn't he remember her rare
} | bits"
Yes. yes. ! heard that lit was JUS
then things got mixed up. Billy gave
me an awful d.G with his heel. VIVA
was the troublet | couldn't see oc heal
T. for he had planked the heaviest velye
h. cushion lie could find right on top of me
. What happened when she asked him
{. he didn' I rememher-
Il she burst into tears nothing make
a. believe about IT. either declared th'
: Meerschaum Pipe with considerable,
Il pride; hig deep SohS that made Bill,
- shake, too. That's when You got hurt
, dear friend. CT course ii was more than
= a man could stand. He Just gvabhc,
her Then she told him of her mj>cr
able existence in that hall bedroom. witt
- an ache all the time for the old hum,
+, that she was trying 10 help pay th,
st That's where she used to make thu
e rarehitS for Billy" The Turkish Rue
>, voice was very soft,
" 1t was wonderful how BiHy's FACE
lighted mp continued the NIeerSchanu
Pipe. with a little wonder where rh
Turkish Rug kept that tenderness ui
IF week days. He had waited for som
such confession a long time. The tim,
le happened 10 Ice ripe that was all. Bill,
$. had lust sold his Rose Girl' and Nh
u | Seat al Sunset his two biggest thing
" this year, You know SO he looked prettr
D. chlpper wh.le her SobS were stalking nm.
le What queer expressions You do use,
ii objected the Turkish Rug And afte
hoy ftltI i q e.